Must have:
* Substantial quality leadership experience in apprenticeships or skills‑levy funded programmes
* Proven success preparing for and leading through Ofsted inspections
* Deep knowledge of the Education Inspection Framework, DfE funding rules, and quality frameworks
* A track record of driving genuine improvement in learner outcomes
* Strong influencing and communication skills at all levels
* Relevant teaching, assessing, and IQA qualifications
Right mindset:
* You care about outcomes, not just processes
* You ask "why" constantly – you don't follow processes without understanding them
* Ambitious – you want to define what great looks like, not just meet minimum standards
* Comfortable challenging the status‑quo constructively
* Balances rigour with pragmatism – quality matters, but so does moving fast
You don't need AI experience. We're a Data & AI training company, and we'd love you to be curious about how technology could improve quality. If you're interested, we'll put you through our own AI Skills programme as part of your development.
We're not looking for someone who prioritises rigidity and box‑ticking. We want someone who understands the landscape deeply and uses that knowledge to build something better.
Details
iO Sphere | London (ideally) | Hybrid | Full‑time
You know the quality landscape inside out – Ofsted, funding rules, what good teaching and learning actually looks like. You've led inspections, built quality systems, and driven real improvement. But you're frustrated. You've seen too many providers treat quality as box‑ticking, too many processes that exist because "that's how it's always been done."
You care about the thing that actually matters: how do we make sure our 1000th learner has a better experience and better outcomes than our 999th?
About iO‑Sphere
Traditional training is broken. People finish courses with theory but no real capability – the experience gap. We solve that.
At iO‑Sphere, learners don't sit through lectures. They come to work in PRISM, our fully simulated company with 500m+ rows of real data, where they tackle realistic business problems and build practical skills they can use immediately. Combined with high‑touch coaching from people who've actually done the work, we deliver real capability development – not just content consumption.
We're one of the UK's fastest‑growing Data & AI training companies, running skills‑levy funded programmes for working professionals in Data Analytics, AI Skills for the Future, and Data & AI Strategy.
We're building something genuinely different – and we need a Head of Quality who wants to define what great looks like, not just maintain minimum standards.
The Role
You'll own quality across our skills‑levy provision. Not just compliance (we're setting up a separate function for that) – but the quality ethos. How do we keep raising the bar on learner experience and outcomes as we scale?
This isn't a traditional FE quality role. We need someone who:
* Obsesses over learner outcomes and continuous improvement
* Knows the rules well enough to ensure we're compliant, but doesn't confuse compliance with quality
* Asks "why" before following processes blindly
* Wants to build systems that scale, not just tick boxes
* Can hold us to a high bar while moving fast
You’ll likely do some compliance work in the first few months as we build out separate functions, but your long‑term focus is quality – teaching, learning, and outcomes.
What You'll Do
* Drive quality and continuous improvement
* Build and deliver a quality strategy focused on learner experience and outcomes
* Create systems that ensure quality scales – so our 1000th learner gets an even better experience than our 999th
* Lead Self‑Assessment Reports and Quality Improvement Plans that drive real change, not just paperwork
* Use data to track what's working, what's not, and where to focus
* Raise the bar on teaching and learning
* Lead teaching, learning, and assessment standards across all programmes
* Oversee internal quality assurance that supports consistency and innovation
* Shape coaching standards and help our team keep getting better
* Champion what great applied learning looks like for working professionals
* Ace our Ofsted inspections
* Serve as Ofsted Nominee and lead our inspection readiness
* Ensure we're fully prepared for our first inspections under the new framework
* Build a culture where quality is everyone's job, not just a function
Build and lead the Quality team
Lead and develop a high‑performing Quality team. Work closely with Product, Coaching, and Ops to embed quality thinking everywhere. Challenge outdated practices – if a process doesn't add value, question it.
The Impact
We're at an inflection point. 700+ learners trained, 4.9‑star Google reviews, and real momentum. 2026 is when we scale – new programmes, new products, bigger team. You won't be inheriting a rigid system. You'll be building a modern one. Your strategy will shape the entire organisation.
Salary: £50,000‑£55,000
Location: London (hybrid). We're open to other locations too for great candidates. In‑person observations will happen at our training centre near Liverpool St Station.
Hours: Full‑time. We're also open to part‑time for the right person.
Eligibility: Unrestricted right to work in the UK required. We cannot offer visa sponsorship.
At iO‑Sphere, we value diversity and believe the best outcomes come from varied backgrounds. If you share our passion, we encourage you to apply.
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