Job Overview
Regular attendance at your base location will also be necessary. There will be opportunities for remote work, with the final arrangements to be confirmed with the successful candidate. You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
About the Job
The Adult Learning Service provides learning opportunities to help our residents build the skills, knowledge, behaviours and confidence that shape their future success. We use a mixed economy delivery model, taking responsibility for the development and direct delivery of key curriculum areas where beneficial, while commissioning external partners to deliver other programmes. In this role you will oversee the commissioning, compliance, and quality assurance of government‑funded programmes, ensuring they meet local residents and employers’ needs while adhering to national funding rules.
Responsibilities
* Oversee the commissioning, compliance, and QA of government‑funded programmes.
* Ensure programmes meet the needs of local residents, employers and comply with national funding rules.
* Manage engagement, QA, monitoring, and development activity with delivery partners.
* Develop highly effective relationships and partnerships with external partners.
* Work closely with other council teams such as the Economic Growth Team and a breadth of external stakeholders.
* Line‑manage officers and staff responsible for the oversight of delivery partners, QA, data reporting, and programme administration.
Qualifications
* Degree‑level qualification or equivalent in education, skills, public service management / administration or a related discipline.
* Project or programme management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM).
* Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
* Excellent IT / digital skills, including Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and the service's Management Information System.
* Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to support staff development through coaching, mentoring, peer support, and structured training.
* Ability to critically evaluate internal and external provision and use data and evidence‑driven insights to inform commissioning decisions and monitor provider performance.
* Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure.
* Passionate about leading a team, driving quality performance, and inspiring and motivating others with a solutions‑focused mindset and strong initiative.
Benefits
* A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable.
* 30 days annual leave, plus the opportunity to buy additional leave.
* An excellent local government pension scheme.
* A wide range of staff discounts, including groceries, travel, cinema tickets, leisure activities, and more, giving the possibility to save over £1,000 a year via the West Sussex Choices benefits platform.
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