About DFT Operator
Join Our Team at DFTO
DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.
DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 8,500 services a day and delivers over 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year
Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia and WM Trains.
We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.
Primary Purpose of Job:
The Industry Skills & Apprenticeship Manager is a key leadership role within the DfT Operator, sitting within the Learning, Leadership & Capability directorate. The post-holder will lead the design, commissioning and management of industry skills programmes and apprenticeship pathways that support the rail integration agenda and build a future-ready railway workforce.
A distinctive element of this role is ownership of the early engagement agenda – proactively building relationships with schools, colleges, community organisations and prospective talent to create pipelines into rail careers. The post-holder will report directly to the Director of Learning, Leadership & Capability and will play a pivotal role in shaping how the DfT Operator invests in skills as part of its integration responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities:
Industry Skills Strategy
- Develop and implement an Industry Skills Strategy that maps current and future capability needs across the DfT Operator workforce and supports the rail integration agenda.
- Work closely with workforce planning, operations and engineering teams to identify technical and professional skills gaps across the integrated railway.
- Maintain an up-to-date intelligence picture of rail industry skills standards, occupational frameworks and regulatory requirements (including those set by the Office of Rail and Road and RSSB).
- Represent the DfT Operator at national industry skills forums and working groups, contributing to the development of cross-industry standards and qualifications.
Apprenticeship Programme Management
- Own the end-to-end delivery of the DfT Operator's apprenticeship programme, from design and procurement of training providers through to completion and progression.
- Maximise the use of the Apprenticeship Levy, ensuring strategic investment in apprenticeship standards relevant to the rail sector (including engineering, operations, leadership and business functions).
- Manage relationships with approved training providers, universities and Further Education colleges, holding providers to account for quality, completion rates and learner outcomes.
- Ensure full compliance with Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and OFSTED requirements, maintaining accurate data and reporting.
- Develop a diverse portfolio of apprenticeship standards including Level 2 through to Degree Apprenticeships (Level 6/7), reflecting the breadth of the rail workforce.
- Work with line managers and HR Business Partners to embed a strong apprenticeship culture, equipping managers to support apprentices effectively.
Early Engagement & Pipeline Development
- Lead the DfT Operator's early engagement strategy, targeting young people aged 11–24 through school engagement programmes, T-Level industry placements, work experience, careers fairs and outreach events.
- Build and manage a network of school, college and university partnerships, with a particular focus on widening participation and reaching underrepresented groups.
- Develop compelling, age-appropriate content about rail careers that excites young people about the breadth of opportunity within the integrated railway.
- Coordinate with the Culture, Engagement & Inclusion Manager to ensure early engagement activities reflect the organisation's DEI commitments.
- Manage the T-Level Industry Placement programme, working with FE colleges to host quality, structured placements for students in relevant technical routes.
- Liaise with the Careers & Enterprise Company, National Rail's careers programmes and DfT's broader workforce pipeline initiatives to align activity and avoid duplication.
Qualifications, Standards & Accreditation
- Oversee the DfT Operator's engagement with industry qualifications and accreditation bodies (e.g. City & Guilds, NSAR, IMechE, CIRAS) to ensure learning programmes carry appropriate industry recognition.
- Manage the development and review of bespoke internal qualifications and competency frameworks where national standards do not fully meet operational requirements.
- Ensure all apprenticeship and skills programmes align with the relevant Apprenticeship Standards and End Point Assessment (EPA) requirements.
Stakeholder Management & Partnerships
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with Train Operating Companies, Network Rail, HS2, the Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).
- Engage with trade unions on skills investment, apprenticeship terms and workforce development planning, fostering a collaborative approach to building capability.
- Work with the Communications team to profile apprenticeship and skills success stories, reinforcing the DfT Operator's reputation as a leading employer in rail.
Programme Governance & Reporting
- Manage the apprenticeship and skills development budget, ensuring effective allocation of Levy funds and other funding streams (e.g. DfE co-investment, UKSPF).
- Deliver regular management information on programme performance, Levy utilisation, early engagement reach and learner outcomes to the Director and HR leadership.
- Maintain robust programme governance including due diligence on training providers, contract management and risk management.
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:
Essential Skills & Experience:
Apprenticeship & Skills Expertise
- Substantial experience in apprenticeship programme management, including Levy management, provider relationships and compliance with ESFA requirements.
- Thorough working knowledge of the Apprenticeship Standards system, End Point Assessment process and the regulatory landscape for apprenticeships in England.
- Experience developing or commissioning learning and skills programmes in a large, complex organisation.
- Understanding of T-Levels, industry placements and the broader 16–19 technical education landscape.
Early Engagement & Outreach
- Proven track record of designing and delivering early engagement or educational outreach programmes targeting young people.
- Experience building partnerships with schools, colleges, universities and community organisations to develop talent pipelines.
- Ability to create engaging careers content and represent the organisation as an inspiring employer at educational settings and public events.
- Commitment to widening participation and reaching young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
Stakeholder & Partner Management
- Strong relationship management skills with experience working across multiple organisations, including training providers, funding bodies and industry partners.
- Experience engaging with trade unions and works councils on workforce development matters.
- Ability to influence senior leaders and build cross-organisational coalitions around skills investment.
Operational & Commercial
- Budget management experience, including management of Apprenticeship Levy accounts and external funding.
- Strong data literacy with the ability to monitor programme performance, identify risks and report on outcomes.
- Experience operating in a regulated, safety-critical or technically complex industry is advantageous.
Desirable Skills & Qualifications:
- CIPD, ILM or equivalent qualification relevant to L&D, skills development or HR.
- Experience working within or alongside the rail industry, transport sector or a similarly safety-critical environment.
- Familiarity with NSAR (National Skills Academy for Rail) frameworks and rail-specific competency standards.
- Knowledge of the Civil Service skills agenda, including the Government Campus and public sector apprenticeship targets.
- Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, APM) or equivalent experience managing complex multi-workstream programmes.Understanding of Ofsted's
- Education Inspection Framework as it applies to apprenticeship provision.
Vacancy Details:
Duration: Fixed Term contract/secondment up to 31st October 2027
Location: Hybrid
Salary: up to £64,000
Closing date: 5th May 2026
Reports to:Group Head of Learning, Leadership and Development
DFTO Benefits:
Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)
DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution
Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry
Additional Information…
Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.
Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact dean.palmer@dftoperator.co.uk .
Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.
