Senior Account Manager - Adult Learning

About Us

WSCC has applied for significant funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to offer a range of Skills Bootcamps. Skills Bootcamps are free courses for adults typically lasting up to 16 weeks, available across a range of sectors.

They help people develop priority skills that are in demand at both local and national level. They are developed by training providers in partnership with employers and provide flexible training, typically at levels 3 to 5 or equivalent and level 2 in some sectors.

Part of Government's nationally funded skills offer, the courses will be free to West Sussex residents aged 19 and over who are either in work, self-employed, recently unemployed or returning to work.

The Opportunity

Salary: NJC Grade 12 £46,731 to £49,764 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term / Secondment until 31 March 2026

Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full time

Location: Base location County Hall Chichester with travel countywide, including working from home on a hybrid basis.

Please note: Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.

Closing date: 30 December 2024

Interview date: 09 and 10 January 2025

Do you have experience of delivering substantial projects?

Do you have financial management and analytical experience?

Are you passionate about leading a team and driving quality performance?

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Account Manager to join our Adult Learning Service and lead on the delivery of a Skills Bootcamp programme across West Sussex.

This is initially a fixed term position until 31 March 2026 as a result of the programme funding - subject to future funding, the role may continue beyond this date.

As a Senior Account Manager, you will oversee and manage the delivery of Skills Bootcamps, working in collaboration with local employers, training providers, delivery partners, and wider stakeholders.

You will act as a leading professional and be an expert in matters related to the provision, including a comprehensive understanding of DfE (Department for Education) requirements and Ofsted expectations. You will have a key role in the commissioning of Skills Bootcamps and associated procurement of Skills Bootcamps delivery partners.

You will manage engagement, quality assurance, monitoring, and development activity with our delivery partners, developing highly effective relationships and partnerships with them. You will work closely with a range of other council teams and services - this includes the Economic Growth Team who provide business liaison and promotion of Skills Bootcamps, and a breadth of external stakeholders to help ensure the programme is meeting the needs of local employers, and those who live and work in West Sussex.

By drawing on professional knowledge and keeping up to date with developments and best practice in the field, you will apply this knowledge to a range of long and short-term opportunities and challenges across a range of Adult Learning and skills related issues.

You will line manage a small team, including a Quality Officer and Management Information / Programme Support Officer, who work to deliver Skills Bootcamps.

This role will suit someone with a track record of successful project and stakeholder management particularly in a skills environment. Some experience in marketing and communications is desirable.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Managing and co-ordinating funded programmes.
• Overseeing the planning, branding, marketing, and logistical arrangements of the programme.
• Providing informal training and up-skilling directly to other employees, and recruiting staff where required.
• Supporting the commissioning and procurement of delivery partners.
• Engaging with stakeholders and managing relationships for the delivery of the programme.
• Using market intelligence information, negotiation skills, and financial/business acumen to deliver value for money across all services provided to customers.
• Work closely with colleagues to support identification of gaps in provision.
• Responsibility for managing the budget for the programme and ensuring that it is used to meet the performance objectives of the project.
• Ensuring the project deliverables set by the funding or grant provider are met and reported appropriately.
• Developing, agreeing, and overseeing frameworks through which the programme will be delivered; this includes quality assurance, compliance, quality improvement, and reporting.

For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached. Please refer to the key skills in your cover letter.

Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05469.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Andrew Bishop, Adult Learning Manager, at

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

This post is subject to three years referencing and an occupational health check.

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.