Performance & Quality Manager

Job description

Performance & Quality Manager, fixed term to 31/3/2027 (extension subject to continuation funding)

We are seeking an experienced and motivated professional who combines strong programme and contract management capability with a commitment to delivering high-quality vocational learning, skills development and meaningful employability outcomes for young people.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of the skills and employability landscape in west Wales, alongside the ability to ensure that programmes meet rigorous quality, compliance and performance standards associated with public funding.

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent professional experience in education, training, employability, or programme management.
• Demonstrable experience managing vocational training or employability programmes, ideally within publicly funded initiatives supporting young people, such as the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme or similar initiatives supported by the Welsh Government.
• Strong contract and project management experience, including planning, monitoring, and delivering programmes against agreed targets, timelines, budgets, and compliance frameworks. The postholder will be confident in ensuring programmes meet funder requirements and withstand audit scrutiny.
• Proven experience overseeing the delivery of vocational curriculum and accredited qualifications, ensuring programmes are aligned with industry standards and provide learners with meaningful progression opportunities.
• Experience working with recognised awarding bodies, such as City & Guilds, EAL Awards, Lantra, OCR or NCFE/CACHE, including maintaining centre compliance and supporting effective delivery of qualifications.
• Strong knowledge of quality assurance and performance management processes within vocational education or training provision. Significant experience with assessor and/or internal quality assurance practices (TAQA).
• Experience leading and developing teams, with the ability to coach, motivate and support delivery staff, including trainers, assessors, and advisers, to achieve high standards of performance and learner outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills, with the ability to establish productive relationships with employers, local authorities, training providers, schools, and other organisations involved in supporting young people into employment or further learning.
• Strong financial awareness, including experience managing programme budgets, overseeing funding claims, and ensuring financial processes meet the requirements of external funders.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to interpret performance data, prepare reports, and present information clearly to both internal and external stakeholders.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Microsoft Teams, and experience using CRM or learner management systems to monitor programme delivery and outcomes.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current regional and sectoral skills needs, particularly those related to the Pembrokeshire economy, eg within Tourism/Hospitality, Energy, Land-based/Heritage industries.
• Understanding of youth employability pathways and school-to-work transitions, including the challenges faced by young people who may require additional support to access employment, training or apprenticeships.
• Awareness of the wider policy and funding landscape for skills and employability in Wales, including the priorities of the Welsh Government and the delivery frameworks associated with programmes such as the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme.

Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.

Employment Checks

This post is subject to a DBS disclosure check.

Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:

• We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant's full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
• Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
• By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council's Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.

This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.

Support & Additional Info

• Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing [email protected] .
• Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing [email protected] .
• Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
• Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.

Welsh language skills are desirable. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.