Who We Are & What We Stand For
Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.
We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.
We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.
At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work/life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.
Setting the standard for quality across education and training.
The Education, Schools and Inclusion team play a pivotal role in the education of adults and children across Gateshead. They offer specialist advice on school improvement, educational psychology services and special educational needs as well as input on school organisation and admission, adult learning and early years childcare. Their work has direct impact on thousands of people across Gateshead and are led by Service Director, Suzanne Dunn.
Driving excellence. Improving outcomes. Making a lasting difference.
You will join Learning and Skills, a committed and collaborative team within Education, Schools and Inclusion, dedicated to delivering high-quality learning opportunities that improve outcomes for young people and adults across the borough. The team works closely with curriculum leaders, senior managers, partners and external organisations, sharing a clear focus on continuous improvement, strong learner experiences and inclusive practice. This is a supportive environment where expertise is valued, ideas are encouraged and everyone is committed to making a positive difference.
Shaping high-quality education through strong leadership and improvement.
This is a pivotal role with strategic and operational impact, responsible for driving quality, compliance and continuous improvement across a diverse education and training offer. As Quality and Business Improvement Manager, you will provide leadership, insight and challenge, ensuring high standards in teaching, learning and assessment while strengthening systems, processes and partnerships that support excellent learner outcomes.
What You Will Get To Do
* Lead and manage the quality and service-wide delivery of educational provision within Learning and Skills, ensuring consistently high standards across teaching, learning and assessment.
* Develop, implement and monitor the self-assessment report (SAR) and quality and business improvement plans, driving continuous improvement.
* Manage and develop a team, ensuring high-quality outputs and consistently effective service delivery.
* Coordinate and enhance internal and external quality assurance activities, including OTLA, external awarding bodies and end point assessment organisations.
* Lead on externally funded and subcontracted provision, ensuring quality, compliance, effectiveness and strong learner outcomes.
* Monitor, analyse and report on learner experience and outcomes, including careers information, advice and guidance, and actively respond to learner, employer and parent/carer feedback.
* Work with senior managers to analyse data, identify trends and implement improvements to support learner success.
* Evaluate and continually improve processes to deliver the best possible learner experience.
* Lead and support continuous professional development at all levels, with a strong focus on improving teaching, learning and assessment, business support functions and the overall learner experience.
* Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade.
What You Will Bring
* Strong knowledge of Further Education quality frameworks, including the Ofsted FE and Skills Inspection Toolkit, teaching, learning and assessment, education policies and procedures, and quality improvement and assurance frameworks.
* A Level 5 teaching qualification.
* Significant experience working within a large learning environment, covering 1619 provision, adult learning and apprenticeships.
* Proven experience in quality assurance and improvement, including quality monitoring, audits, audit sampling, and the practical application of QA within the FE sector.
* Expertise in business improvement, including writing and implementing procedures and processes that improve effectiveness and outcomes.
* Strong data analysis skills, using data to identify trends and drive improvements in learner outcomes.
* Excellent communication and personal effectiveness, with the ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally, work independently with initiative, and develop teaching, learning and assessment strategies that improve performance.
What’s In It For You
* Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
* Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
* Generous Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
* Flexible Working Hours: Up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs).
* Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities.
* Health & Wellbeing Support: Discounted gym memberships and mental health resources.
* Cycle to Work Scheme: Tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
* Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Salary sacrifice car scheme for a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle after 12 months service.
* Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Via VIVUP employee benefits platform, with options on white goods, electronics and more, after 6 months service.
Our Commitment to You
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to create a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high‑volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.
Recruitment Process
The Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process.
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