Skills Development Lead

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is looking for an outstanding leader from the Further Education or adult skills sector to help shape, deliver and champion a devolved skills system that truly meets the needs of our people, communities, and economy. This is a high-impact strategic role. As Skills Development Lead, you will work at the forefront of regional and national skills policy development – leading innovative skills programmes, shaping commissioning strategies, and collaborating with senior partners, including the Departments for Education and Work and Pensions, FE colleges, independent training providers, employer representative bodies and employers. If you want to drive meaningful change, support inclusive growth, and improve opportunities for residents across the region, this could be the role for you.

What You’ll Lead

You will take responsibility for designing, commissioning, and delivering a portfolio of programmes that raise skill levels, tackle inequality, and support priority sectors. These include:

• Adult Skills Fund
• Tailored Learning
• Skills Bootcamps
• Free Courses for Jobs (Level 3)
• Adult Skills Innovation Fund
• Skills Capital programmes
• The Local Skills Improvement Plan
• Other regionally commissioned skills and employment initiatives

You will ensure programmes are high‑quality, compliant, impactful, and aligned with our strategic priorities.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Shape and implement future skills policy, supporting deeper devolution of skills and employment.
• Lead the development and delivery of targeted skills programmes that improve economic activity and employment.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money across all provision.

Commissioning, Contracting & Performance

• Lead commissioning and procurement activity for adult learning programmes.
• Oversee contract management, including performance, compliance, quality assurance and risk management.
• Ensure all programmes deliver against KPIs and funding requirements.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as a key regional point of contact for FE colleges, independent providers, employers, DfE and local partners.
• Develop strong partnerships that create sector‑based talent pipelines and respond to emerging needs.
• Represent the Authority at boards, committees and national policy discussions.

Budget & Programme Management

• Manage programme budgets and ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Secure new funding opportunities that support growth and innovation across the sector.

Key Skills & Experience

• Deep knowledge of adult skills funding, including ASF, Tailored Learning, Free Courses for Jobs and Skills Bootcamps.
• A strong track record in leading programmes, commissioning activity and managing large‑scale projects.
• Experience of quality assurance frameworks including Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework and self‑assessment processes.
• A strong grasp of local and national skills policy, funding rules and performance management.
• Excellent communication, partnership‑building and influencing skills.
• Strategic and political awareness, with the ability to represent the Authority regionally and nationally.
• Experience of managing budgets and ensuring compliance across funding streams.

Above all, you will be passionate about the role skills can play in tackling inequalities, supporting individuals, and boosting productivity.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead and influence a devolved skills system with national visibility.
• A collaborative, forward‑thinking team committed to creativity, innovation and impact.
• Hybrid working (typically 1‑2 days a week in our Huntingdon office).
• Generous local government benefits including pension scheme and annual leave.
• Support for continued professional development.

This is a role where your work will directly shape the regional skills landscape and make a real difference to people's lives.

Key Dates

• Closing date: Thursday 23rd April 2026
• Interviews: Held in our Huntingdon office or online via Microsoft Teams (We may close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.)

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud supporters of the Care Leavers and Armed Forces Covenants. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will support candidates who need adjustments during the recruitment process.

Right to Work

Please note: this role does not offer visa sponsorship. You must have an existing right to work in the UK to apply.