Teaching and Learning Manager

Job description

Job description

PermanentFull Time 37 hours per week

Learn Devon | Devon County Council

Shape Skills. Drive Quality. Strengthen Devon's Economy.

Are you an ambitious and influential leader with a passion for quality improvement, curriculum innovation and economic impact?

Learn Devon is seeking an exceptional Teaching and Learning Manager to lead our quality assurance, curriculum planning and performance improvement functions at a pivotal moment for adult skills and employment across Devon.

This is not a traditional curriculum management role.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can connect teaching and learning excellence with economic growth, ensuring that our curriculum is shaped by the priorities of the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA), Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), employer demand and the wider skills, employment and economic ambitions of Devon. The role will work at the intersection of education, workforce development and economic prosperity, ensuring that Learn Devon remains responsive, relevant and impactful for residents, employers and communities.

About the Role

As Teaching and Learning Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across curriculum quality, performance, planning and improvement. You will oversee Curriculum Officers, the SENCo and IAG Team Lead, working with senior leaders, economic development colleagues, employers and partners to ensure provision delivers strong learner outcomes and supports Devon's wider skills and employment priorities.

You will lead a robust quality assurance framework that drives continual improvement, supports inspection readiness and secures excellence in teaching, learning and assessment. Using labour market intelligence, funding opportunities and strategic skills priorities, you will help shape a curriculum that meets current and future workforce needs across Devon.

This visible leadership role requires influence across organisational boundaries, collaboration with economic development teams and the ability to translate strategic priorities into high-quality education programmes that support residents into learning, employment and progression.

What You'll Be Doing

Strategic Quality Leadership

• Lead and continuously improve Learn Devon's quality assurance framework, ensuring outstanding standards in teaching, learning and assessment.
• Drive service-wide improvement activity using learner outcomes, performance data, self-assessment and quality intelligence.
• Support the preparation for external inspection, accreditation and quality reviews, including Ofsted, Matrix and funding body requirements.
• Champion evidence-based practice, innovation and professional development across the curriculum workforce.
• Maintain oversight of quality monitoring, curriculum reviews and performance improvement planning.

Curriculum Planning and Development

• Lead the strategic planning and development of Learning Devon's curriculum offer.
• Ensure provision aligns with DTCCA priorities, LSIP intelligence, employer demand and Devon's evolving labour market.
• Assist in the development of a three-year curriculum planning cycle that anticipates future skills requirements, funding opportunities and economic trends.
• Use data, community intelligence and stakeholder feedback to identify emerging needs and shape responsive programmes.
• Ensure curriculum pathways support progression into employment, higher-level learning, apprenticeships, self-employment and economic participation.

Skills, Employment and Economic Development

• Work closely with colleagues across Employment and Skills, Economic Development and external partnerships to deliver a genuinely place-based approach to skills.
• Support the delivery of county-wide economic and employment priorities by ensuring the curriculum contributes directly to workforce development and inclusive growth.
• Build productive relationships with employers, sector bodies, community organisations and strategic partners.
• Represent Learn Devon within local, regional and national skills networks and partnership groups.
• Contribute to the evidence, intelligence and strategic discussions that shape future investment in skills and employment across Devon.

Leadership and Performance

• Provide inspirational leadership to Curriculum Officers and wider delivery teams.
• Manage performance, budgets and resources effectively.
• Lead improvement projects and change programmes across the service.
• Ensure robust monitoring of learner outcomes, participation, achievement and social impact.
• Embed a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a leader who combines educational expertise with strategic thinking and a strong understanding of the wider skills and economic landscape.

You will bring:

• Significant experience of leading quality assurance and improvement within education, training or skills provision.
• A strong understanding of Ofsted, the Education Inspection Framework and adult skills funding requirements.
• Experience of curriculum planning and service development.
• The ability to analyse performance data and translate insight into action.
• Experience of leading teams through change and improvement.
• Excellent partnership and stakeholder engagement skills.
• An understanding of skills policy, workforce development and the role education plays in supporting economic growth.
• The ability to think strategically while maintaining a relentless focus on quality and outcomes.

Why Join Learn Devon?

This is a rare opportunity to influence not only the quality of learning but also the future skills pipeline for Devon.

You will join a forward-thinking service committed to:

• Improving life chances and social mobility.
• Supporting businesses and economic growth.
• Developing inclusive pathways into learning and employment.
• Delivering outstanding teaching and learning.
• Shaping a skills system that responds to the needs of communities, employers and the economy.

Be Part of Devon's Future

If you are passionate about educational excellence, strategic leadership and the power of skills to transform lives, communities and local economies, we would love to hear from you.

Join Learn Devon and help shape a high-quality, evidence-led skills system that delivers for learners, employers and the future prosperity of Devon.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Ian Woodland, Senior Manager for Teaching and Learning for an informal discussion before applying.

This conversation will provide an opportunity to learn more about the role, its strategic priorities and the leadership expectations associated with the post.

Please contact Ian at [email protected] to arrange a suitable time.

How to apply
Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.

Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.

Please click here to see the Job Description

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages .
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council's use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice .
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page .
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required.For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.