A vacancy has arisen for a Wing Commander, People Ops (Training) to serve as Chief of Staff (COS), RAF Apprenticeships at Kestrel Court, Quedgeley on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 30 November 2026. This post is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via the Growth and Skills Levy.
COS, RAF Apprenticeships is responsible to Gp Capt Apprenticeship for leading and coordinating the RAF Apprenticeship programme, ensuring compliance with external regulatory requirements, including Ofsted, Department for Education (DfE), Skills England, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Ofqual. The role oversees delivery of key capability projects, assures training quality and relevance, manages stakeholder engagement, and provides leadership of personnel to support effective and credible operational outputs.
While some remote working will be available, the postholder will be required to attend frequent, in-person meetings and briefings at Quedgeley, Air Command, MoD London, RAF Cosford and other units as required.
The principal duties are listed below:
a. Lead and coordinate the RAF Apprenticeship Programme, ensuring future capability requirements align with anticipated Defence tasks and Profession Advisor Team (PAT) strategic priorities.
b. Through liaison with PATs and Ph2 Trg Schools, ensure that apprenticeships are front and centre when making changes.
c. Anticipate, plan and deliver appropriate workforce to meet current and future requirements.
d. Maintain strategic oversight of all commercial requirements, including delivery of RAF Apprenticeships’ Learner Management System (LMS) contract, ensuring delivery to time, cost and scope while maintaining alignment with wider organisational objectives.
e. Maintain financial oversight and understanding of current and anticipated financial obligations and priorities.
f. Develop and implement forward-looking staff training and development strategies, including upskilling Apprenticeship Centre staff to meet evolving external regulatory compliance.
g. Engage and collaborate with stakeholders across tactical, operational and strategic levels to gather and analyse requirements, ensuring outputs directly shape capability development, course content, delivery methods, and instructor competencies.
h. Oversee the organisation, governance and administration of all RAF Apprenticeships training, ensuring RAF Apprenticeships is fully equipped to deliver all training components successfully.
i. Act as the primary interface between RAF Apprenticeships, Department for Education (DfE), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Skills England, Ofsted and other external regulatory bodies, ensuring a coherent and integrated approach.
j. Act as the primary interface between RAF Apprenticeships, sS and MOD.
k. Act as programme manager for HQ Apprenticeship Management Team (AMT) change initiatives.
l. Work closely with internal stakeholders to maximise RAF engagement opportunities and key messaging.
m. Exercise line management responsibility for RAF Apprenticeships’ staff, ensuring effective leadership, performance management and team development.
n. Deputise for Gp Capt Apprenticeships.
