Role Overview
The Operations Manager will provide operational leadership across apprenticeship delivery, learner progress, compliance, quality assurance and team performance.
The post-holder will work closely with senior leaders, tutors, skills coaches, compliance, MIS, quality and business development colleagues to ensure that apprenticeship programmes are delivered effectively, in line with the latest apprenticeship funding rules, Ofsted expectations, internal quality standards and employer needs.
This role requires someone who can balance people leadership with operational detail. You will need to be confident using data to identify risks, holding staff accountable for progress and compliance, supporting improvements across the learner journey, and ensuring that Solveway is always ready for audit, review or inspection.
The successful candidate will play a central role in helping Solveway continue to improve outcomes for learners and employers, while supporting our ambition to deliver apprenticeship provision that is consistently high-quality, well-sequenced, compliant and impactful.
Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Lead the day-to-day operational management of apprenticeship delivery across assigned programmes and teams.
- Ensure that learners are making timely progress from enrolment through to gateway, EPA and achievement.
- Provide clear direction, structure and support to delivery staff, ensuring expectations are understood and consistently met.
- Monitor caseloads, learner progress, staff performance and delivery risks, taking early action where intervention is needed.
- Support the implementation of efficient systems, processes and reporting arrangements across the learner journey.
- Ensure that operational delivery reflects Solveway’s values, standards and commitment to learners and employers.
Team Management and Performance
- Line manage and support a team of tutors, skills coaches or delivery staff, depending on the final structure of the role.
- Conduct regular one-to-ones, team meetings, performance reviews and caseload reviews.
- Set clear expectations around learner progress, review quality, employer engagement, compliance, EPA preparation and evidence collection.
- Use performance data to identify strengths, risks and areas for improvement across individuals, teams and programmes.
- Support staff development through coaching, CPD planning and performance support.
- Ensure delivery staff maintain appropriate occupational competence, sector knowledge and understanding of apprenticeship requirements.
- Address underperformance professionally and promptly, with a focus on improvement, accountability and learner outcomes.
Learner Progress and Achievement
- Ensure learners have a clear, structured and well-supported journey from onboarding to completion.
- Monitor learner progress regularly, ensuring that learners are building the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for their apprenticeship standard.
- Ensure progress reviews are meaningful, timely and involve employers appropriately.
- Oversee learners at risk of falling behind and ensure effective intervention plans are in place.
- Work with delivery teams to improve learner retention, timely achievement and EPA readiness.
- Ensure learners understand their programme, their progress, their evidence requirements and their next steps.
Employer Engagement
- Ensure employers receive a professional, responsive and consistent service.
- Support strong employer relationships through clear communication, timely progress updates and effective issue resolution.
- Ensure employers are properly involved in progress reviews, workplace projects, skills development and EPA preparation.
- Work with the business development and delivery teams to understand employer needs and support high-quality delivery.
- Respond to employer concerns or complaints promptly and ensure appropriate action is taken.
- Use employer feedback to inform continuous improvement.
Quality Assurance and Ofsted Readiness
- Support the ongoing improvement of teaching, learning, assessment and learner support.
- Work with senior leaders and quality colleagues to ensure apprenticeship delivery aligns with Ofsted expectations, including curriculum intent, implementation and impact.
- Ensure programmes are well planned, sequenced and informed by learners’ starting points, initial assessment and prior learning.
- Support staff to confidently explain learner progress, curriculum sequencing, employer involvement and the impact of training.
- Contribute to internal quality reviews, deep dives, learner and employer feedback activity, and self-assessment processes.
- Promote high standards in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, safeguarding, Prevent, British Values, equality, diversity and inclusion, and SEND support.
- Ensure personal development and careers education are meaningfully embedded across the learner journey.
Funding Compliance and Audit Readiness
- Ensure apprenticeship delivery complies with current apprenticeship funding rules and internal compliance requirements.
- Oversee key compliance areas, including:
- Ensure learner records are accurate, complete, timely and audit-ready.
- Work closely with compliance and MIS colleagues to resolve data issues, evidence gaps and funding risks.
- Support internal audits, external audits and evidence checks.
- Maintain a strong culture of compliance, ensuring public funding is used appropriately and learner documentation supports the funding claim.
Data, Reporting and Continuous Improvement
- Use data to monitor learner progress, staff performance, employer satisfaction, compliance and operational risk.
- Identify trends, issues and areas requiring intervention.
- Produce or contribute to regular performance reports for senior leaders.
- Ensure data is used not just for reporting, but to drive timely action and improvement.
- Support the development of improved systems, dashboards, workflows and operational processes.
- Help create a culture where staff understand the importance of accurate records, timely updates and evidence-based decision-making.
Safeguarding, Prevent and Learner Support
- Promote a strong safeguarding culture across apprenticeship delivery.
- Ensure staff understand their safeguarding, Prevent, British Values and wellbeing responsibilities.
- Make sure learner concerns are escalated appropriately and recorded in line with Solveway procedures.
- Work with safeguarding, SEND and pastoral colleagues to ensure learners receive appropriate support.
- Ensure vulnerable learners or learners requiring additional support are identified early and supported effectively.
Performance Expectations
- The Operations Manager will be expected to manage performance against agreed organisational KPIs, which may include:
The post-holder will be expected to actively review performance data, identify risks early and take practical action to improve outcomes.
Requirements
We are looking for someone who has strong experience in apprenticeship operations, quality, compliance or delivery management.
You will need to be organised, confident with data, comfortable managing people, and able to balance learner experience with funding compliance and performance expectations.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience working in apprenticeships, further education or work-based learning
- Strong understanding of apprenticeship delivery and the learner journey
- Good working knowledge of apprenticeship funding rules
- Understanding of Ofsted expectations and quality improvement
- Experience managing tutors, skills coaches, assessors or operational delivery teams
- Confidence using data to monitor performance and drive improvement
- Strong understanding of progress reviews, training plans, off-the-job training and EPA preparation
- Experience supporting audit readiness and compliance checks
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a busy training provider environment
- Strong communication skills with staff, learners, employers and senior leaders
- A practical, solution-focused approach to problem solving
Desirable Criteria
The following would be advantageous:
- Teaching, assessing, coaching or training qualification
- IQA or quality assurance qualification
- Experience using Aptem or similar learner management systems
- Experience across IT, Digital, Data, Accountancy or AI-related apprenticeship standards
- Experience supporting Ofsted inspection preparation or quality reviews
- Experience improving apprenticeship achievement, retention or compliance performance
- Experience developing operational processes, dashboards or reporting systems
The right person for this role will be:
- Calm, organised and dependable
- Confident holding people accountable in a constructive way
- Strong on detail without losing sight of the bigger picture
- Learner-focused and employer-aware
- Comfortable working with compliance and quality requirements
- Able to lead change and improve processes
- Positive, professional and approachable
- Able to work collaboratively with senior leaders and delivery teams
- Committed to high standards and continuous improvement
Benefits
- Supportive team environment with ongoing coaching and feedback.
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- A positive and collaborative working environment.
- Company Events: Be part of a supportive, collaborative team culture with regular company events and team-building activities.
- Convenient Location: On-site parking available for those working in-office.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a consistent work schedule that supports work-life balance.
About Solveway
At Solveway, we’re a growing apprenticeship training provider with a clear focus on delivering high-quality programmes that genuinely help people and businesses progress. We work with employers across areas such as accountancy, IT, data and AI, combining strong sector knowledge with a personal, supportive approach. This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to expand our offer, build new employer partnerships and develop innovative training solutions. For the right person, Solveway offers the chance to be part of a friendly, ambitious team where your contribution will be visible, valued and directly linked to the success of our learners, employers and the wider business.
