Head of Apprenticeship Quality and Compliance (Milton Keynes, ENG, GB, MK7 6AA)

Change your career, change lives. The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

About the Role: The Head of Apprenticeship Quality & Compliance has accountability for ensuring that OU’s apprenticeship provision consistently meets the highest standards of quality, is fully compliant with regulatory and funding requirements and is auditable, robust and future proof. This senior leadership role will deliver the governance, institutional assurance and external accountability frameworks that underpin the apprenticeship portfolio, working closely with key stakeholders (Academic Faculties, Academic Services, funding bodies, regulatory agencies, end‑point assessment organisations, employers). The role is responsible for the overarching assurance frameworks, policy, risk management and regulatory alignment that ensure the OU’s apprenticeship provision is credible, fully compliant and sustainable. The role reports directly to the Director of Strategy, Insight & Operations in the Business Development Unit and works closely with the Director of Academic Quality and Standards who has institution wide leadership for academic quality, standards and enhancement across all provision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide senior leadership for apprenticeship quality, compliance and regulatory assurance, aligned to internal standards and external requirements.
• Own and maintain the University’s apprenticeship compliance framework, including funding and quality compliance, audit readiness, regulatory horizon-scanning and institutional response planning.
• Act as institutional lead for all external inspections, audits and assurance activity (including Ofsted, DfE, OfS, Skills England, awarding bodies).
• Oversee and maintain all apprenticeship registrations and accreditations, including APAR and awarding body/EPAO approvals.
• Lead the development and implementation of apprenticeship policy, governance and assurance processes to ensure regulatory integrity on an ongoing basis to react to external policy, regulatory and funding changes.
• Advise senior leadership on policy, regulatory and funding changes, with clear analysis of impact, risk and required actions.
• Monitor apprenticeship performance (including retention and achievement) to implement quality improvement priorities strategically.
• Lead continuous improvement across apprenticeship provision, including self‑assessment, internal audit and enhancement activity.
• Identify, elevate and mitigate risks relating to apprenticeship quality, funding, regulation and compliance.
• Ensure employer and apprentice feedback informs quality assurance and continuous improvement.

About You:

Essential criteria:

• Up-to-date knowledge of the apprenticeship regulatory landscape, including funding rules, inspection, quality and audit requirements.
• Senior experience leading apprenticeship quality, compliance or regulatory functions within FE, HE or the wider skills sector.
• Direct experience as institutional lead or nominee for external inspections or audits (e.g. Ofsted, DfE).
• Proven ability to design, embed and operate quality assurance, compliance and governance frameworks in complex organisational environments.
• Experience managing regulatory and funding risk in complex organisational environments.
• Experience working collaboratively with regulators and external bodies to maintain strong institutional relationships.
• Experience producing high-quality policies, audit reports, self‑assessment evidence and regulatory submissions.
• Knowledge of APAR (formerly RoATP) requirements and processes.

Desired experience:

• Operating within multiple regulatory frameworks alongside apprenticeships (e.g. relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies such as the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)).

Skills:

• Ability to interpret complex regulations and funding rules and translate them into clear institutional requirements.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess and manage risk.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly engaging senior leaders and regulators.
• Highly effective stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to anticipate regulatory change and prepare the organisation accordingly.
• High levels of integrity and resilience under regulatory scrutiny.
• Ability to build alignment across multiple internal functions to support quality and compliance.
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Support with your application:

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance.

Flexible working: We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Location: It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs.

Next steps in the Recruitment process: Interview dates are still to be confirmed. Early closing date notification: While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

How to apply: To apply for this role please submit the following documents: A Supporting Statement of up to 1000 words and CV.