About Us

Job Title: Skills and Opportunities Strategic Lead  

Salary Range: £49,939 - £60,515 per annum

FTC 12 months - Full Time (36Hours)

Location: Wandsworth Town Hall (as required) and Remote

Do you have a passion for creating opportunities for local people to gain the skills needed to succeed?

As the Skills and Opportunities Strategic Lead you will oversee a wide range of apprenticeship and employment initiatives in collaboration with both internal and external partners. Developing a strategy to encourage local businesses and SMEs to take on and create apprenticeship or learning opportunities and developing the “Wandsworth Skills and Opportunities Group” (WSOG). You will ensure activities of the WSOG are aligned to optimise Levy expenditure and other publicly funded programmes including Greater London Authority (GLA), Department for Education (DfE) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Monitoring developments in government policy relating to skills funding to ensure that local strategies align with government reform.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils’ ambition is to provide as many opportunities to its residents as possible by working with local businesses, you will have a direct impact on the success and delivery of this ambition, enhancing and developing the skills within the borough through leadership and the guidance of the WSOG. 

About The Role:

Collaborative working: Working closely with internal and external partners to create momentum and discussion around learning opportunities in the Boroughs.

Strategy Development: Design and execute strategies, implement and oversee programmes that drive engagement and uptake in opportunities, ensuring successful execution and measurable outcomes.

Communication Skills: Deliver compelling, clear and concise plans and effectively conveying messages to diverse audiences.

Data and Analytical skills: Reporting and understanding the impact of initiatives created to measure their outcomes.

Understanding of Apprenticeship levy and skills development: Apply your understanding of how apprenticeship funding works and use this to effectively advise both internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge of EDI/OD: Promote inclusivity and practices to ensure access to opportunities are accessible to all.

For the full criteria of the role please see the Role Description.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

- Comprehensive and contemporary knowledge of Apprenticeships and related skills offer

- Comprehensive knowledge of the current and emerging skills policy and funding landscape

- Excellent relationship management, negotiation and persuasion skills.

- Strong organisational skills, including managing multiple information sources

If you are passionate about making a positive impact on the ability of Richmond and Wandsworth’s councils to deliver services, possess the required qualifications or experience, and thrive in a challenging yet highly rewarding environment, we invite you to apply for this opportunity.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Wednesday 11 December 2024

Shortlisting Date: 12-13 December 2024

Interview Date: Week Beginning (WB.) Monday 16 December 2024

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils