Job description
We have an exciting opportunity to work in The Manchester College’s quality team. The Manchester College is part of the wider LTE Group, which is the first integrated education and skills group of its kind and is made up of a number of business units: The Manchester College (TMC), Novus, UCEN Manchester, Total People/MOL.
This is a permanent, full-time position (35 hours per week) based at our City Campus Manchester (you will be required to work across all campuses).
Quality Managers have clearly defined, specialist individual quality assurance and/or improvement responsibilities on which they will provide leadership. For this position, you will line manage one or more of the teams’ advanced practitioners’ and will have responsibility for the college’s quality assurance and improvement methodologies, specifically in relation to assessment in all its’ guises. You will be the cross-college lead for ensuring teachers are skilled and confident in preparing all our students for externally set examinations across all levels. You will be an advocate for sharing best practice in assessment across the college and will work closely with Quality Directors and Heads of Department Quality in relation to IQA practices. You will also be leading, managing and assessing the impact of intervention strategies, including enhanced support reviews and risk-based interventions.
As a Quality Manager, you will be responsible for working individually and as a team to raise standards across The Manchester College by designing and leading sector-best quality assurance and quality improvement arrangements and providing continuous challenge and support to the senior managers responsible for provision for students. Quality Managers are the guardians of standards across The Manchester College and will be required to work fearlessly in the relentless pursuit of improving the quality of experience and achievements of our students.
Based within TMC’s quality team, you will report to one of the Directors of Quality; work within the central quality team led by the Vice Principal. Quality and Standards.
Amongst wider responsibilities, you will:
1. Being a leading advocate for teachers and students, ensuring consistently high-quality learning, teaching and assessment is our priority.
2. Design, develop, implement and manage a broad range of highly effective quality assurance and quality improvement processes to evaluate reliably the quality of provision, identify and target areas for improvement and secure continual improvement in the quality of the learning experience we provide for our students and the outcomes they achieve.
3. Work closely with Teachers, Heads of Department and Assistant Principals in the College to ensure a high-quality learning experience that satisfies the requirements of both internal and external quality standards and performance criteria and the requirements of examination and awarding bodies. Provide reliable advice and guidance, coaching (including to colleagues in more senior positions) and training as appropriate.
4. Take and share responsibility for the achievement of key quality-related targets (KPIs). Closely monitor and report on progress being made towards those KPIs linked to individual lead responsibilities.
5. Work collaboratively with colleagues in different curriculum areas, cross-college service areas, Group shared service areas and external organisations to ensure full staff commitment to and active participation in all quality improvement processes.
6. Implement the full range of quality assurance and quality improvement processes, including internal quality reviews, SAR validation and Curriculum Progress reviewing, learning walks, deep dives and work scrutiny; role-modelling the highest standard of evaluative practices, including the accurate analysis of key data.
7. Work in a range of Quality link roles to concentrate impact. These may be linked to curriculum departments and support areas, shared service areas or campuses, providing those areas with both challenge and support.
8. Work to secure improvement in areas for which Quality has no direct (management) responsibility by influencing a wide range of colleagues, including influencing upwards. Provide regular, useful and accurate guidance and illumination of what excellent provision looks like.
9. To influence and where appropriate work closely and collaboratively with heads of department quality and heads of department curriculum within the College.
10. Support Assistant Principals and other managers responsible for SARs and CPRs to produce high quality, honest and rigorous evaluations of their provision and action plans based on clear objectives and SMART targets
11. Lead on specific aspects of quality improvement. Examples of these include improving learning and teaching (through evaluation process, coaching and CPD), assessment and verification, self-assessment and quality assurance, externally funding projects to support curriculum enhancement, digital learning, data management to support quality processes.
12. Support a strong team ethos and culture built on ‘doing with and not to’ and by contributing fully to key Quality processes managed by other members of the team such as moderation of the Deep Dive process, leading and teaming on enhanced support reviews, SAR validation and the planning and successful delivery of impactful training and development activities.
The right person for the role will have:
13. A recognised teaching qualification.
14. A degree level qualification.
15. Numeracy and literacy skills (to at least level 2 or equivalent).
16. At least 3 years of successful teaching / management experience in a FE setting, with evidence of clear impact on student outcomes.
17. The ability to reliably and objectively evaluate the quality of provision, interpret complex performance data accurately and write high-quality, high-level reports and papers.
Benefits
18. 35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
19. 3 well-being days per year.
20. Significant pension contribution.
21. Retail discounts.
22. Employee Assistance Program.
23. Cycle to work scheme.
Safeguarding
The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.
Equal Opportunities Statement
At The Manchester College, we’re committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. The Manchester College is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester’s and the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.
If you wish to apply for this role, please complete the application form and attach your CV, as well as a 500-word statement to demonstrate how you meet the job specification.