Learning Hub Lead in Chelmsford

*Please note: This job is countywide; managing our Premises and Cafe teams.

Whilst your contractual base would be your local ACL centre (listed ), there is a requirement to travel across all our ACL sites, in line with business need.

The post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

There is a requirement to be flexible with hours, this could include evenings/Saturday working, in line with business need.

Adult Community Learning (ACL) is ECC’s provider of lifelong learning experiences for Essex residents.

ACL offers qualifications to help people move nearer to, enter or progress within the workplace or gain skills to enhance life chances.

The service focuses on many of its programmes and activities in the hardest to reach communities within Essex.

ACL learners have access to a diverse range of accredited and non-accredited courses which encourage creativity, healthy lifestyles, social inclusion and engagement.

The Learning Hub Lead is responsible for the day-to-day operational leadership and management of ACL Learning Hubs, outreach venues and associated facilities, ensuring they provide safe, inclusive, accessible and high-quality learning environments.

The role ensures that learners receive a positive, consistent customer experience, supports digital inclusion, and enables progression through the learner journey in line with current Ofsted EIF, Df E requirements and ECC standards.

Working collaboratively with curriculum, digital, learning support and corporate teams, the postholder ensures that Learning Hubs operate efficiently, compliantly and in a way that enhances learner engagement, community impact and the reputation of ACL.

• Role responsibilities
• Lead the operational delivery of Learning Hubs, community outreach venues and cafés, ensuring facilities are safe, welcoming and inclusive, and that opening times meet service and learner need.
• Provide overall responsibility for health and safety, safeguarding and security across locations, ensuring compliance with legislation, ECC policies and inspection / audit requirements, including Martyn’s Law where applicable.
• Act as the operational lead for premises management, including access control, room scheduling, space utilisation, timetabling and equipment availability to support effective learning delivery.
• Manage and coordinate community outreach operations, including venue relationships, contractual arrangements, health and safety compliance and financial administration, maintaining positive partnerships and ACL’s reputation within local communities.
• Promote digital inclusion by ensuring learners can access and use technology safely and confidently within Learning Hubs, working alongside Digital and Learning Support teams to meet Jisc and digital-access requirements.
• Provide effective line management for, learning hub premises and café staff (including supervision, performance management, coaching and development), ensuring consistently high standards of customer service in line with ECC procedures and values.
• Work collaboratively with Curriculum, Sector, Exams, Digital and Learning Support teams to enable smooth delivery of learning programmes and a coherent learner journey.
• Ensure financial compliance within Learning Hubs, including correct handling, receipting and security of income, use of payment systems and adherence to ECC financial procedures.
• Monitor learner feedback, engagement data and service performance metrics, using insight to drive continuous improvement in customer experience and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee contractors and any external partners involved in keeping the hubs operational, building strong working relationships to support effective operations and high quality outcomes while, ensuring work is planned and delivered safely, compliantly and with minimal disruption to learning activity.
• Actively promote ECC’s customer service framework, equality, inclusion and continuous improvement culture across all Learning Hub operations.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
• Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Educated to Level 3 or equivalent, or equivalent by experience with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience managing customer-facing, operational or learning-support services in a complex environment.
• Strong working knowledge of health and safety, safeguarding and compliance in public or learning settings.
• Understanding of adult learning environments, digital inclusion and learner-journey principles.
• Proven leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop teams.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and operational demands.
• Experience of working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners.
• Commitment to equality, accessibility, safeguarding and continuous professional development.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment.

Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost.

Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in .

With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028.

In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted onto the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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