Skills and Apprenticeships Systems Lead

Operational Compliance Manager (Skills & Apprenticeships)

Location

Multi-site

Sunday 8 November 2026

£32,942 to £36,977 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £42,523.55 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The Registry supports the whole student journey, from initial enquiry and admission through to final award and beyond. We work as an integrated, student-focused service, using our expertise, insight and technology to deliver excellent services and support student success. Our teams work collaboratively across the University, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture that promotes wellbeing, development and opportunity for all.

About the Skills and Apprenticeships team

The Skills and Apprenticeships team plays a critical role in supporting the delivery of the University's Further Education, Skills and Apprenticeship provision. The team is responsible for ensuring the integrity of learner records, compliance with funding and regulatory requirements, management information reporting, and the effective operation of specialist FE and Skills systems.

Working closely with academic departments, curriculum teams, employers, external agencies and Digital Solutions & Services (DS&S), the team supports the University's commitment to delivering a high-quality, compliant and data-driven apprenticeship and skills service. As the University continues to grow and transform its Skills and Apprenticeship provision, the team is increasingly focused on improving systems, enhancing data quality, streamlining processes and maximising the value of digital technologies.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in the management and development of the University's FE and Skills systems landscape.

As Skills and Apprenticeships Systems Lead, you will act as the a business owner for FE & Skills systems, providing oversight of systems, processes, data quality and compliance. You will work closely with Digital Solutions & Services (DS&S) and key stakeholders across the University to ensure systems are fit for purpose, support regulatory and funding requirements and deliver high-quality management information.

Key responsibilities in this role include leading the strategic development, enhancement and continuous improvement of the University's FE & Skills systems to ensure they remain effective, efficient and aligned with organisational priorities. The postholder will oversee data integrity, quality assurance and compliance, ensuring that systems support accurate reporting and meet all regulatory and funding requirements. Acting as the key business lead for system changes, integrations and developments, you will work closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement and deliver impactful solutions.

The role will also involve leading business impact assessments and supporting the successful implementation of change initiatives, helping teams adapt to new processes and technologies. You will drive process improvement, standardisation and automation to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery, while coordinating activities linked to critical regulatory and operational cycles. In addition, you will provide functional leadership and direction across FE and Skills systems support activities, ensuring a high-quality, responsive and customer-focused systems environment.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to influence the future direction of a critical area of University operations, helping to deliver transformation, improve efficiency and ensure the continued success of Skills and Apprenticeships provision.

This role can be primarily based at either our Buxton campus or Derby campus.

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. However, should you choose to be based at our Buxton site, the role will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

We are seeking an experienced systems, data or service professional with a strong understanding of FE, Skills or Apprenticeship administration and a proven appreciation of the importance of regulatory compliance, data integrity and effective business processes. You will be confident working with complex systems and datasets, translating operational requirements into practical solutions and driving continuous service improvement.

You will be an effective collaborator, able to build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, providing expert advice, influencing decision making and constructively challenging existing ways of working to deliver positive change. With significant experience of FE, Skills or student record systems, you will bring a strong understanding of data quality, governance and compliance requirements, alongside experience of developing and improving processes, reporting and management information.

The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to assess risk, balance priorities and understand wider business impacts. You will be confident working independently, taking the initiative to lead service enhancements and support organisational transformation. A degree, or equivalent relevant professional experience, is essential.

FE Systems Business Ownership & Assurance

• Act as the Registry’s senior business owner for FE & Skills systems as a connected service landscape.
• Ensure systems and processes support regulatory, funding and operational requirements.
• Own business risk related to system use, data quality and process design.

Data Integrity, Compliance & Reporting

• Provide oversight of data quality, integrity and assurance across FE & Skills systems.
• Interpret regulatory and funding requirements (e.g. ILR) and ensure systems are used appropriately to meet them.
• Design, specify and assure management information and reporting outputs.

Stakeholder & Service Leadership

• Act as the primary escalation point for complex or high‑risk system and data issues.
• Work with Registry, curriculum, apprenticeships and other stakeholders to translate business needs into system and process requirements.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on FE & Skills systems capability and limitations.

Coordination with Digital Solutions & Services

• Act as the senior business interface with DS&S on: incidents; system changes; integrations; and release impacts.
• Lead business impact assessment and readiness for technical changes.
• Ensure business sign‑off and communication around system developments.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise or automate processes.
• Reduce reliance on manual, person‑dependent activities.
• Ensure key processes are documented, owned and resilient.
• Plan and coordinate Registry activity around annual and peak cycles (e.g. enrolment, compliance windows).

Leadership & Oversight

• Provide functional oversight and direction to FE & Skills systems support roles.
• Set priorities, standards and expectations for operational delivery.
• Contribute to service planning and development.

General

• Promote good governance, data protection and University values.
• Undertake duties appropriate to the seniority and accountability of the role.
• Tocomply withthe requirements of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Prevent, Health and Safety, Quality and other University policies including Equal Opportunities, Risk Management and Equality and Diversity.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent work based experience

Experience

• Significant experience of working with FE, Skills, Apprenticeship or Student Records systems within a Higher Education, Further Education or Skills environment
• Experience of managing or leading activities relating to data quality, compliance, regulatory reporting or systems governance
• Experience managing, developing or improving complex business systems
• Experience designing or overseeing processes and reporting

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Strong understanding of data integrity and quality, governance and compliance and regulatory impact
• Ability to assess risk, impact and priorities across a service area
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Ability to operate with autonomy and professional judgement, managing competing priorities
• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple teams and stakeholders

Business requirements

• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days

Experience

• Detailed experience with Educational MIS (e.g. ProSolution or equivalent)
• Experience working with IT or digital teams on system changes or integrations
• Experience leading service improvement or change initiatives
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Paul Grocott, Operational Compliance Manager (Skills & Apprenticeships) via p.grocott@derby.ac.uk

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

If you are successful, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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