Early Years Sector Lead (Apprenticeships & Work‑based Learning)
Permanent, Full Time
£42,177 to £49,620 per annum
Location: Essex
Working Style: Fixed‑base worker*
Closing Date: 15th June 2026
Please note this is a fixed‑base role. You will be contractually based in your preferred ACL office, but the role allows for some home‑working and requires attendance at ACL sites 2‑3 days per week as business needs dictate.
About the Role
Adult Community Learning (ACL) Essex is the lifelong learning provider for Essex residents, offering a range of accredited and non‑accredited courses that promote creativity, healthy lifestyles, social inclusion and engagement. The Sector Lead will provide strategic and operational leadership for vocational and professional learning within one or more curriculum sectors, ensuring programmes are of high quality, inclusive, and responsive to learner, employer and local labour market needs in line with the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) and council priorities.
Role Responsibilities
- Lead curriculum planning and delivery within assigned sectors, ensuring programmes align to labour market intelligence, qualification requirements and offer clear progression pathways.
- Collaborate with quality leads to meet the EIF and service standards, overseeing observation, feedback and course review cycles for the sector.
- Use KPIs, MIS and learner voice to monitor applications, attendance, progress and achievement, acting on insights to improve retention, success and destinations.
- Ensure timely enrolment, induction and achievement for learners, including compliance with awarding organisation requirements and accurate system recording.
- Provide people leadership for Trainers, Coaches and Assessors, setting objectives, coaching performance and building digital delivery capability.
- Strengthen community engagement, co‑designing provision, responding to queries and ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.
- Contribute to the Self‑Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), evidencing impact and driving continuous improvement across the sector.
- Promote consistent use of digital tools and data to support teaching, reporting and compliance, including CRM and e‑portfolio platforms.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Educated to RQF Level 5 or above (or equivalent by experience) in a relevant vocational, teaching or leadership discipline, with evidence of continuing professional development.
- Teaching and/or assessor qualifications (e.g. CertEd, PGCE, DET, CAVA, TAQA).
- Proven experience of curriculum leadership, quality assurance and team management in adult learning, FE, apprenticeships or work‑based training.
- Current sector knowledge and understanding of employer needs, professional standards and regulatory frameworks, including ESFA guidance.
- Strong data literacy and ability to interpret performance and quality metrics to drive improvement, with confidence using MIS.
- Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to motivate teams, champion safeguarding, inclusion and equality.
Requirements
The role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder must hold a driving licence and have access to a vehicle, or be able to meet the mobility requirements through other means.
Equality, Diversity and Safeguarding
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We commit to interview all disabled applicants who use the Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the role.
We also commit to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements.
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.
Additional Information
ESCC will require a DBS check for some roles; if required, you must register with the DBS update service to keep certificates current.
Contact
For further information on this role, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
