Director of Continuous improvement

Who are we?

We are a part of Staff Power Group, one part of the group being recruitment and supplying the north east and further afield with temporary and permanent staff and the other ourselves, a forward thinking training company that measures its success on the number of jobs we create through our training courses being delivered up and down the country.

We are in our 6th year now and have direct funding contracts from as far down as Greater London, South and West Yorkshire and of course the north east, our home. Having just been through our OFSTED new provider monitoring visit (link to our report below), we would like to grow our quality and curriculum department and drive forward our continuous improvement in the learner experience and those relationships with employers who support both the content of what we deliver and the job outcomes our learners get the opportunities for. We have a newly opened skills academy in Jarrow and while currently delivering under adult skills fund and skills bootcamps across all provision we are soon to be moving into NVQ provision, as well as apprenticeships slightly further down the line. https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50297822

What are we looking for in you?

Our delivery model is somewhat unique, we challenge the norm and we are looking for someone with a creative mind, a visionary leader and someone who isn’t afraid to take on a challenge, nurture it and see the value it brings to our learners and the wider economy. We have particularly good into employment outcomes from people who complete a training course with us, this often requires creativity, the acceptance that things don’t always work out according to plan, so being relentless and comfortable with change and the ability to monitor closely and pick up quickly on both positive and negative outcomes.

You will be experienced with OFSTED, very familiar with the new inspection framework and be confident in being able to set up, maintain, build on and drive a team on delivering an exceptional learning experience, coupled with the after support of learners and there achievement of job offers and job starts across our provision in manufacturing, logistics, construction and retrofit.

Job Purpose

To provide strategic leadership for quality of education, ensuring exceptional standards in intent, implementation, and impact. The postholder will lead on inspection readiness, continuous quality improvement, and the delivery of a high-quality curriculum that meets learner, employer, and regulatory expectations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Quality of Education (Intent, Implementation, Impact)

· Lead the design of a curriculum with clear intent that is ambitious, inclusive, and aligned to labour market needs

· Ensure strong implementation through effective teaching, sequencing, and assessment practices

· Monitor and evidence impact through learner progress, achievement, positive destinations and sustained employment

· Ensure curriculum coherence across all programmes and levels

2. Inspection Readiness & Ofsted Compliance

· Lead organisational readiness for inspection under the Education Inspection Framework (EIF)

· Act as the key or shadow nominee during inspections after a period of monitored success

· Ensure robust self-assessment reporting (SAR) and quality improvement planning (QIP), along with sub Sar & QIP

· Maintain accurate, evidence-based documentation aligned with inspection criteria

3. Quality Assurance & Improvement

· Oversee deep dives, learning walks, and observation of teaching, learning, and assessment (OTLA)

· Use performance data to identify strengths and areas for improvement

· Ensure consistency in assessment practices and standards across provision

· Drive rapid and sustained improvement where performance falls below benchmarks

4. Behaviour & Attitudes / Personal Development / Inclusion

· Ensure curriculum promotes positive learner behaviours, attendance, and engagement

· Embed personal development, including British values, safeguarding awareness, and employability skills

· Monitor and improve learner conduct, attitudes, and participation

5. Leadership & Management

· Demonstrate effective leadership in maintaining a culture of high expectations and accountability

· Ensure staff understand their role in delivering high-quality education

· Oversee staff performance management and professional development aligned with quality priorities

· Promote a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement

6. Safeguarding & Compliance

· Ensure safeguarding is effective and embedded across all curriculum areas

· Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to ensure compliance

· Maintain oversight of policies and practices that ensure learner safety and wellbeing

7. Stakeholder & Employer Engagement

· Ensure curriculum meets employer and industry needs

· Strengthen partnerships to support learner progression and positive destinations

· Monitor and report on learner destinations (employment, further study, apprenticeships)

Person Specification

Essential

· Proven experience of leading quality improvement in education or training

· Strong understanding of the Education Inspection Framework (EIF)

· Experience of successful Ofsted inspections and/or leading inspection activity

· Expertise in curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

· Ability to analyse data and drive measurable improvements

Desirable

· Experience as Ofsted nominee

· Background in further education, apprenticeships, or work-based learning

· Teaching and/or leadership qualification

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· Ofsted inspection outcomes (Quality of Education, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership & Management)

· Achievement, retention, and timely success rates

· Learner progress and high-quality destinations

· Attendance and learner engagement

· Effectiveness of safeguarding

· Strength and impact of SAR and QIP

Values & Behaviours

· Relentless focus on high standards and learner success

· Evidence-informed decision-making

· Transparent, accountable leadership

· Commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, and learner wellbeing