Quality Assurance Manager - Awarding Organisation in Rotherham

Salary: £35,000

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Flexible working options considered. Periodic attendance at Head Office (to be agreed) will be required.

About us

Focus Awards is a leading and established Awarding Organisation (AO) recognised by Ofqual, CCEA and Qualifications Wales. We create valuable, cutting-edge qualifications for FE Colleges, Private Training Providers, Schools, Employers, and many other organisations both in the UK and overseas.

Focus Awards is actively looking for an organised, efficient, and personable Quality Assurance Manager with strong, demonstrable experience as a qualified EQA in the Sports, Recreation, and/or Hair and Beauty Sectors.

Qualifications Required

• Level 4 Award in External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice (RQF) or hold ENTO NVQ Unit V2 (D35).
• Degree or masters level qualification in subject matter area of competence.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive and support the Quality Assurance function to ensure that Focus Awards meets the standards required by senior management and by the regulatory authorities with respect to quality assurance.
• Manage and monitor all aspects of quality assurance work including the centre recognition process, external moderation/verification activity, and external assessment activity, following processes implemented by the Company from time to time to ensure we meet customer service and quality assurance targets.
• Work with relevant internal and external stakeholders regarding quality assurance processes and procedures for new and existing provision throughout the qualification development process.
• Recruit, train, and manage remote Subject Moderators/External Quality Assurers by monitoring their performance and providing them with feedback as required, to ensure we provide an excellent, compliant service to our centres.
• Contribute to, and where appropriate, conduct and manage investigations into suspected cases of maladministration and malpractice.
• Provide support, advice, and guidance to recognised centres, potential new customers, and Subject Moderators/External Quality Assurers, on quality assurance issues. Deliver and arrange staff development sessions as appropriate.
• Plan and manage Focus Awards quality assurance events, by ensuring adequate preparation and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to Focus Awards marketing strategy and marketing events as required.
• Manage the development and maintenance of quality assurance documentation, e.g., procedures, manuals, and handbooks.
• Manage centre sanctions and appeals in liaison with the CEO and SMT when required.
• Manage the provision of Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations.
• Contribute to regulatory audits relevant to quality assurance issues.
• Contribute to self-assessment activities relevant to quality assurance issues.
• Represent Focus Awards at external local, regional, and national events, including regulatory events.
• Assist with activities for new centre and additional qualification approvals, following the procedures and processes laid down by Focus Awards.
• Monitor EQA post-approval visits to approved centres to advise them on Focus Awards requirements.
• Monitor the ongoing compliance of specified centres with regulatory requirements, as laid down in Focus Awards' procedures and processes and to ensure and verify the consistency of assessment decisions for specified qualifications across centres.
• Ensure assessment practice confirms validity, authenticity, reliability, currency, and sufficiency.
• Ensure all Quality Assurance practices and procedures meet Focus Awards' and regulatory requirements and that EQAs/IQAs practice validity, authenticity, reliability, currency, and sufficiency.
• Ensure that Centre Staff and resources are appropriate to the qualification being delivered.
• Meet with staff and learners to discuss aspects of the qualification, including induction, assessment process, resources, qualification structure, and the student support/mentoring process.
• Provide positive feedback, identify areas of best practice, and encourage EQAs to help Centres develop their practice.
• Ensure EQAs present findings of centre monitoring via written evidence-based reports in a timely manner and in the format specified by Focus Awards, including any recommendation for sanctions.
• Contribute, as required, to the review and design of qualifications including the determination of the qualification and assessment structure, in accordance with Focus Awards' procedures.
• Attend and/or lead development meetings as required.
• Engage in business development activities in an advisory capacity and help exploit opportunities, including but not limited to: Recruitment of new centres and developing new qualification opportunities within existing centres.
• Development of qualification resources, including manuals and materials, and liaising closely with the qualification development team to identify gaps in coverage.
• Maintain own CPD activities and suitable qualifications and/or occupational competence to enable the credible fulfilment of the Quality Assurance Manager role on behalf of Focus Awards. CPD records must be updated at least annually.
• Attend and successfully complete Focus Awards' standardisation activities at least annually. This is a requirement to ensure EQAs remain current and eligible for allocations.
• Carry out MP/MA investigations.
• If required by Focus Awards, act as Lead EQA to manage the work of a group of EQAs including quality assuring their work through accompanied visits and reviews of reports.
• Train new EQAs and assess their competence against national standards.
• Support and advise EQAs on both sector specific matters and general quality assurance principles.

This is a full-time position, based primarily at the Head Office in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. However, depending on the successful candidate's location, remote working with occasional travel to the office in Rotherham may be considered.