Product Development Officer in Sheffield

Location: Sheffield or Bristol office with Hybrid working available

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)

SFJ Awards is a regulated awarding organisation, delivering high quality qualifications and custom certification for learners through approved centres in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. We are also an apprenticeship assessment organisation approved by Ofqual to deliver assessment services for a growing number of standards in England.

The purpose of this role is to develop qualifications, assessment materials and related products that meet regulatory, organisational and stakeholder requirements. We are seeking an experienced qualification and assessment developer who can quickly take ownership of a product portfolio and work autonomously within a regulated environment.

This role is ideally suited to someone with prior experience developing regulated qualifications and/or apprenticeship assessment products within an Awarding Organisation, Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation or a similar regulated setting. The successful candidate will support the development and maintenance of SFJ Awards qualifications, Apprenticeship Assessment materials, and wider assessment and accreditation products, ensuring they remain compliant with regulatory obligations and meet customer and organisational quality standards.

Working under the direction of the Product Development Manager, the post holder will collaborate with a range of customers, stakeholders and sector bodies involved in the design and development of qualifications, accreditations and assessment materials aligned to National Occupational Standards and Apprenticeship Assessment professional standards. The role will also involve liaising with, commissioning work from and reviewing the outputs of external subject matter experts and associates involved in development activities.

This role requires a highly organised and proactive individual who is comfortable operating within a fast-paced and evolving regulatory environment. The successful candidate will be confident managing multiple priorities, working independently and building effective working relationships with stakeholders, customers and subject matter experts.

This role plays a vital part in supporting SFJ Awards’ growth, innovation and reputation as a trusted awarding organisation within the justice, health, emergency services, community safety and protective security sectors. The role contributes directly to the development and maintenance of high-quality qualifications and assessments that meet regulatory requirements, respond to sector needs and support workforce development across the UK.

The role requires strong project management, stakeholder engagement and communication skills, alongside the ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams. Experience in qualification or product development, quality assurance, problem-solving and regulatory awareness is important, as well as the ability to translate customer and sector feedback into effective products and services.

Daily work includes managing qualification and assessment development projects, collaborating with employers, sector specialists and regulators, reviewing and updating products and assessment materials, and working closely with internal teams including quality assurance, operations, business development and marketing. The role combines strategic product development with hands-on coordination, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement activity.

The Product Development team at SFJ Awards develops qualifications and assessments that support professions which have a direct impact on public safety, justice and community wellbeing. We work closely with employers, sector experts, regulators and government stakeholders to create products that are practical, relevant and responsive to evolving workforce and legislative needs.

We work collaboratively with centres, employers and stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle to ensure our qualifications are high quality, compliant and sector relevant. Our team is customer-focused, responsive and committed to continuous improvement, ensuring customers receive consistent support and products that meet operational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Taking ownership of a designated SFJ Awards sector and product portfolio, ensuring products remain compliant, fit for purpose and aligned to stakeholder and organisational needs.
• Working under the direction of the Product Development Manager to develop content for SFJ Awards qualifications, accreditation and assessment.
• Developing qualifications, accreditation products and assessment materials in line with SFJ Awards procedures and, where relevant, regulatory requirements.
• Developing Apprenticeship Assessment resources and assessment materials in line with SFJ Awards procedures, the relevant apprenticeship standard and where relevant, regulatory.
• Following SFJ Awards procedures to manage the lifecycle of qualifications, including reviewing, withdrawing and extending.
• Developing and providing technical guidance to others in relation to the development and use of qualifications, assessments, and assurance products.
• Working with designated stakeholders to identify their qualification, accreditation, or assessment requirements, proposing solutions that meet their needs.

Generous annual leave entitlement up to a maximum of 28 days, plus public holidays, and a potential Christmas closure. Flexible working - 50% working from home with a dress for your day approach. Staggered start and finish time. We provide enhanced leave, bereavement, carers, maternity, paternity, and sickness leave. Health and wellbeing benefits, access to our mental health first aiders, a confidential employee assistance programme, free eye tests and payment for an annual flu jab. Enhanced pension scheme, with a contribution matching up to a combined 12%, and the option to join the Salary Exchange Pension Scheme along with death in service coverage at three times annual salary. Flexible employee benefits, portal including a cycle to work scheme. Buy annual leave scheme. Organisational development days and departmental training budgets. Payroll giving, this is a tax-free way to donate to any charity, worthy cause or place of worship. The Workforce Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments at any point, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to advise on your pronouns, for example she/her, he/him, they/them etc.