Operations Director

Job Description

Role Overview:

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead a national, remote operational team to achieve balanced scorecard objectives.
• Ensure regulatory and contractual duties are fulfilled; overseeing timely payroll processing, pay alignment, and implementing safer recruitment practices.
• Oversee and authorise recruitment activity to attract talent.
• Create a fair and respectful work environment by implementing and enforcing consistent policies and addressing personnel concerns and feedback promptly.
• Promote team well-being and overall welfare through targeted programs and initiatives, leading to a healthier and more productive team.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of team training and career development, working with external delivery partners to make sure targets and expected standards are achieved.
• Provide targeted support, mentoring, coaching, and guidance to your direct reports, enabling them to develop as leaders and individuals.
• Lead engagement-related activities across your area, including annual surveys, action plans, and initiatives designed to improve team engagement and retention.
• Deputise for the Managing Director and undertake projects and initiatives as directed.
• Create and maintain a strong safeguarding culture.
• Ensure operational quality and compliance measures are managed in line with agreed targets, driving interventions to continuously improve Qualification Achievement Rates
• (QAR) and Apprenticeship Accountability Framework (AAF) performance in line with regulator and company targets.
• Oversee and drive quality improvements across operations and act as the operational lead during Ofsted inspections.
• Ensure contractual compliance and adherence to funding body, inspectorate, Awarding Body and End Point Assessment (EPAO) regulations and expectations.
• Monitor delivery to make sure that it consistently operates in line with Busy Bees policies and procedures.
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including apprenticeship employers, learners and other key stakeholders.
• Lead on divisional account management review meetings and implement initiatives to ensure standards are achieved in line with Service Level Agreements.
• Ensure apprenticeship programs are delivered to the highest standards
• Monitor feedback from customers and implement improvements based on their input to achieve Net Promoter Scores and customer satisfaction in line with company targets.
• Collaborate with employers to understand their workforce development needs and tailor learning programs to suit specific industry requirements.
• Represent the organisation at industry events, ensuring the business maintains a positive reputation for high-quality education and training delivery.
• Develop and implement long-term growth strategies for education and training.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the apprenticeship sector, including expanding into new industries, regions, or markets as appropriate.
• Lead the development of new apprenticeship pathways and programs to meet evolving workforce demands and trends.
• Project manage growth initiatives through any long-term M&A activity, ensuring and overseeing the effective integration of businesses.
• Lead the development of innovative training delivery models, utilising new technologies or delivery methods (e.g., hybrid learning, digital platforms).
• Continuously evaluate and enhance curriculum to ensure it remains relevant to the industry needs and provides competitive advantages for learners and employers.
• Leverage data analytics and performance metrics to identify growth opportunities, track progress, and make informed data-driven decisions.
• Monitor performance metrics for Regional Managers and operational teams, providing guidance and support to achieve targets; drive operational improvements and share best practices nationally.

Required Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in senior operational leadership role in apprenticeships/skills.
• Experience leading growth across remote operations in a national role is essential.
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and direct diverse teams towards achieving operational excellence.
• Skilled in maximising operational and commercial performance outcomes in the short, medium, and long term.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident coaching, training, and mentoring team members. Sets stretching goals to drive improvements and performance.
• Engages others in change by painting a compelling picture and demonstrating optimism through challenges.
• Must be flexible in working hours, including ability to travel nationally and work early mornings and evenings if required.