Chief Delivery Officer in North East

Learning Curve Group (LCG) is a leading national training and education specialist, supporting further education providers, employers, and learners to achieve success. Established in 2004, LCG has grown into one of the largest and most diverse providers in the UK, impacting over 100,000 learners annually. Guided by strong learner-focused values, LCG’s dedicated team, known as ‘Purple People,’ is committed to transforming lives through learning. With expertise and passion, LCG delivers innovative programs that support personal and professional growth.

The Chief Delivery Officer at LCG is a critical executive leadership role responsible for the operational performance and strategic direction of Learning Curve Group’s education delivery. Leading a diverse portfolio including apprenticeships, adult skills, access to higher education, and specialist academies, this role ensures provision is high quality, compliant, commercially aligned, and delivers strong outcomes for learners, employers, and stakeholders. Working closely with the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Group Commercial Director, the role will ensure that delivery is fully aligned to the commercial strategy, supporting sustainable growth while maintaining exceptional standards. The post holder will also work closely with the Chief Learning Officer to help maintain a strong focus on quality of education, learner experience, and outcomes.

We are open to speaking to candidates outside of the North East; however, they must be comfortable with travel due to the nature of the role.

Qualities

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into delivery
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to balance quality with growth
• Confident and credible leader, able to engage at Board and stakeholder level
• Data-driven, with a sharp focus on performance and outcomes
• Resilient, decisive, and able to lead through change and challenge
• Collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across executive functions

DUTIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Set and deliver a clear, cohesive education delivery strategy aligned to LCG’s overall business objectives and growth plans.
• Translate organisational strategy into actionable delivery plans across all provision areas.
• Ensure curriculum and delivery models are responsive to market demand, funding rules, and employer needs.
• Act as a key member of the executive team, contributing to wider organisational strategy and decision‑making.

Operational Delivery & Performance

• Lead performance across: Hair & Beauty & Military and Construction Academies, Adult Skills, Access to Higher Education.
• Hold Executive Directors and senior leaders to account for delivery performance, providing support and challenge where needed.
• Drive consistency and excellence in delivery practices across all divisions.
• Ensure delivery teams have the capability, training, and sustained CPD required to deliver high‑quality provision and meet performance and quality expectations.
• Work in collaboration with the curriculum team to shape and maintain a high‑quality, relevant curriculum offer across all provision areas.
• Ensure curriculum offer responds to local labour market intelligence, national skills priorities, employer demand, and funding policy.

Quality & Compliance

• Working closely with the Chief Learning Officer, maintain a strong focus on quality of education, learner experience, and outcomes.
• Ensure full compliance with DfE, Ofsted and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead preparation for inspections and external audits, supporting continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation, and best practice in teaching, learning and assessment.

Growth & Commercial Alignment

• Work closely with the CRO and Group Commercial Director to align delivery with sales and growth strategy.
• Ensure operational capability supports projected growth and new product development.
• Contribute to bid activity, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
• Balance quality, scale, and commercial viability in all delivery decisions.
• Own the operational budget for delivery, ensuring costs, productivity, and investment align with commercial and growth objectives.

Leadership & Culture

• Provide strong, visible leadership across the delivery function.
• Build high-performing, accountable leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure engagement, wellbeing, and development of colleagues across all delivery teams.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders including funding bodies, employers, regulators, and partners.
• Represent LCG confidently at sector and stakeholder forums.
• Work collaboratively across the executive team to ensure joined-up delivery and communication.

Key Accountabilities

• Delivery of agreed KPIs across all provision areas.
• Quality of provision and Ofsted outcomes.
• Financial performance of delivery functions.
• Compliance with funding and regulatory requirements.
• Alignment of delivery with commercial growth plans.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Significant executive or senior leadership experience within further education, skills, or training provision.
• Proven track record of leading large, complex education delivery functions.
• Strong experience in apprenticeships and adult education funding environments.
• Demonstrable success in improving quality and achieving high inspection outcomes.
• Experience of delivering against stretching performance and financial targets.
• Experience as a subject lead within Ofsted inspections.

WHAT ARE MY KPIS?

• Starts, retention, withdrawals, achievement rates and timely achievement.
• Ofsted and quality standards.
• Financial performance and margin.