Skills Funding Systems Manager

About the role

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair – we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.

About the team

The Skills & Employment unit is responsible for overseeing adult skills delivery in London following delegation of the Adult Skills Fund from the DfE to the GLA in 2019 and the introduction of Skills Bootcamps in 2022.

About the role

Sitting in the wider Funding Policy and Systems Team, the role will lead the Systems side of the team to ensure that the technical systems are in place to collect, store, manage and process data required to pay and performance manage providers, and to inform data analysis and contribute to the design of adult skills funding policy.

What your day will look like

• Using your knowledge of adult skills funded programmes managed by the GLA you will work collaboratively with other managers in the Funding Policy and Systems team and across the unit to shape the delivery of adult skills in London.
• Lead work to ensure that the systems are in place to collect, store, manage and process data required in the implementation and design of adult skills funding policy, including the approach to paying providers.
• Lead work with Delivery and other colleagues across the Skills & Employment Unit to develop performance reporting and submit data returns to the DfE.
• Work collaboratively with technical leads in ESFA/DfE and other Devolved Authorities to develop national ILR data collection and other technical systems which also support devolved/delegated adults skills delivery, through the Technical User Group and Devolution Data Group.
• Provide inclusive line management and support to the FPS Systems team.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Be an experienced leader with the ability to manage a multi-disciplinary team providing data analysis and technical advice across a range of adult skills funds whilst promoting a positive team culture that respects diversity and deals with barriers to inclusion.
• Seek and incorporate diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues.
• Have, or be able to rapidly develop, an expert knowledge of adult skills funded programmes including funding rules, technical guidance, funding rates and formula.
• A detailed understanding of the individualised learner record system – the national dataset that records learner data.
• A knowledge of GDPR and Data Sharing Agreements to enable the effective management of systems that store sensitive data.
• An understanding of skills and employment priorities in the Capital specifically in relation to funding systems design.

This role is based at London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL)

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria and competencies outlined in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Sally Denning would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel. If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is:w/c 07.04.25

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London’s diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

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