Apprentice Programme Manager in Manchester

Greater Manchester, MAN MM12 3MM

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world-class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.

Role Purpose:

The Apprentice Programme Manager leads the end-to-end management of JLL Work Place Management apprenticeship programme(s), ensuring apprentices receive a structured, high-quality development experience while contributing meaningfully to client service delivery. The role owns programme performance, compliance, and stakeholder relationships across operations, client accounts, and external training providers, and manages and supports day-to-day delivery. This is a management-level role accountable for programme outcomes, risk escalation, and continuous improvement, requiring regular national travel to training provider sites, client locations, and apprentice events.

Location: UK-based Midlands/North, with hybrid working and regular national travel.

Travel Requirement: National travel required, including to college and training provider sites, client locations, and apprentice induction and review events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Programme Leadership and Governance: Own overall accountability for the design, delivery, and governance of the apprenticeship programme(s), ensuring alignment with JLL Work Place Management workforce strategy. Support apprentices, including but not limited to setting objectives, reviewing performance, and supporting their development. Work with scheduling teams, cross-functional teams, and contractors to plan skills, knowledge, and behavioural learning and coaching activities. Partner with the CEC and individual planners to identify observation and task-assignment opportunities for apprentices. Oversee the build and maintenance of apprentice monthly development plans. Maintain accurate, auditable records of apprentice progress and of trade technicians in the business to ensure alignment with apprentice placements. Oversee scheduling of rotations across service areas to ensure apprentices gain breadth of experience.
• Compliance, Risk, and Provider Management: Ensure full compliance with apprenticeship standards, funding rules, and relevant regulation across all programmes. Own escalation of potential fails, at-risk apprentices, or delivery shortfalls, taking timely corrective action. Monitor and report on training provider performance, escalating delivery issues internally and holding providers to account. Coordinate with educational institutions and training providers to schedule and attend reviews, aligning workplace learning with academic requirements.
• Onboarding, Integration and Mentorship: Lead the development of onboarding and induction materials, and personally attend and facilitate apprentice inductions, meet-and-greets, and college provider visits, including at national sites. Oversee the matching of apprentices with experienced workplace management professionals for mentorship, based on career interests and learning objectives. Ensure smooth integration of new apprentices into assigned teams and client accounts.
• Performance Monitoring and Stakeholder Communication: Conduct regular check-ins with apprentices, supervisors, and line managers to identify learning gaps and address challenges early. Track competency development against programme milestones in partnership with technical buddies and learning providers, providing constructive feedback and implementing interventions where needed. Act as the primary point of contact across apprentices, scheduling and project teams, operational managers, HR, training providers, and senior leadership, ensuring clear and consistent communication. Work with Talent Acquisition teams to align business vacancies with graduating apprentices.
• Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement: Gather feedback from apprentices and stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve the programme. Analyse completion rates, employment conversion statistics, and participant satisfaction, using insights to refine programme structure and content. Report programme outcomes and key metrics to senior leadership.

Travel Requirements:

This role requires regular national travel across the UK, including to college and training provider sites for reviews and inductions, client locations for apprentice placements, and programme events such as meet-and-greets. Overnight stays may occasionally be required depending on location and event schedules. A full UK driving licence and/or willingness to travel via public transport is required.

Person Specification:

Essential Requirements:

• Proven experience managing or coordinating apprenticeship, or early careers.
• Experience coordinating the work of others in a matrixed environment.
• Working knowledge of UK apprenticeship standards, frameworks, and funding rules.
• Strong stakeholder management experience across operations, and external training providers.
• Proven ability to manage compliance deadlines and documentation without compromising quality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adaptable to audiences ranging from early-career apprentices to senior operational leaders.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, able to manage multiple apprentices at different programme stages simultaneously.
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally on a regular basis, including to college/provider sites and client locations.
• Full UK driving licence or ability to travel independently via public transport.
• Background in facilities management, workplace management, or integrated facilities management (IFM).
• Experience within a large, multi-site or client-facing services organisation.
• Formal qualification in business administration, learning and development, or workplace planning systems.
• Experience managing relationships with further education colleges or apprenticeship training providers.
• Familiarity with vendor coordination, occupier services, or internal work planning concepts.
• Experience using apprenticeship management or HR/L&D systems for tracking and reporting.

Desirable Requirements:

• Background in facilities management, workplace management, or integrated facilities management (IFM).
• Experience within a large, multi-site or client-facing services organisation.
• Formal qualification in business administration, learning and development, or workplace planning systems.
• Experience managing relationships with further education colleges or apprenticeship training providers.
• Familiarity with vendor coordination, occupier services, or internal work planning concepts.
• Experience using apprenticeship management or HR/L&D systems for tracking and reporting.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Leadership and people management - able to set direction, manage performance, and develop coordinators and apprentices alike.
• Stakeholder engagement - builds trust and influence across HR, operations, client, and external provider audiences.
• Problem-solving - identifies root causes of performance or delivery issues and implements practical, timely solutions.
• Compliance and risk management - proactively manages regulatory and funding compliance, escalating issues before they become critical.
• Communication and interpersonal effectiveness - empathetic and approachable with apprentices; concise and credible with senior stakeholders.
• Planning and organisation - manages multiple concurrent programmes, schedules, and deadlines effectively.
• Continuous improvement mindset - uses data and feedback to keep refining programme quality and outcomes.
• Flexibility and resilience - comfortable with a role that combines desk-based programme management with frequent travel and on-site presence.

Experience:

Demonstrable experience (typically 3+ years) in apprenticeship programme management, early careers, workplace management, or a related HR/L&D discipline. Experience operating in a management capacity, whether through direct line management or management of programmes and external provider relationships. Track record of managing programme compliance, reporting, and stakeholder communication in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.