Functional Skills Manager

Join The Opportunity Provider - Transform Lives, Shape Futures!

Location: Remote

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £35,000 - £38,000

As a Functional Skills Manager, you will lead the strategic and operational development of Functional Skills and wider essential skills across The Opportunity Provider. The post-holder will ensure all learners, including apprentices, adult learners, and those with SEND or barriers to learning, achieve, belong and thrive, in line with Ofsted’s 3 Key Principles.

The Role

As a Functional Skills Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Develop, implement and review a provider‑wide English, maths and digital skills strategy aligned with the Ofsted 2025 inspection framework, Post‑16 Skills White Paper priorities, ESFA funding rules and Awarding Organisation requirements.
• Lead targeted quality improvement initiatives to raise standards, timely outcomes and learner experience in relation to English, maths and digital skills.
• Analyse performance data and report trends, risks and areas for improvement to SLT, operational leaders and governance.
• Conduct learning walks, observations, work scrutiny and case sampling aligned to Ofsted evaluation areas to evaluate the quality of English, maths and digital skills curriculum implementation.
• Line manage the Functional Skills Specialist (FSS) team, providing clear expectations, coaching, and performance management.
• Ensure high-quality and consistent delivery of all processes including diagnostics, progress checks, mock exams, resit strategies, marking and exam readiness.
• Design and deliver CPD that builds vocational trainers’ confidence and capability to:
  • embed English, maths and digital skills effectively
  • identify learner needs early
  • use assessment to adapt teaching
  • meet the needs of disadvantaged learners, those with SEND and those requiring Additional Specialist Learning (ASL) support
• Work with curriculum leaders to ensure English, maths and digital content is relevant, contextualised, and aligned with employer, qualification and local labour-market needs.

About You

We’re looking for a competent and confident individual with an excellent understanding of Functional Skills. You’ll also need the following skills and experience:

• A Level 5+ teaching qualification, with hands on teaching experience of teaching English, maths and digital skills
• Experience of leadership and management in further education
• Ability to analyse data and translate it into improvement action.
• Strong curriculum planning and pedagogical knowledge.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.
• An understanding of regulations and requirements (such as ESFA funding rules and regulations, Apprenticeship Accountability Framework, Ofsted toolkit, High Quality Apprenticeship and Awarding Organisation specifications)
• A SEND qualification would be highly desirable

Why Work With Us?

At The Opportunity Provider, your professional growth is our priority. We’ll support you with further qualifications, continuous development, and a collaborative team environment where your work makes a tangible difference. You’ll also enjoy:

• A starting salary from £35,000 + tax-free bonus
• 25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays), plus a day off for your birthday
• Option to buy/sell up to 5 additional leave days
• Healthcare cash plan, dental plan, and 24/7 GP access
• Enhanced sick pay and life insurance
• Mileage and travel expense reimbursement

Why Join The Opportunity Provider?

We are proud to be a Disability Confident and Living Wage employer, committed to inclusivity and growth through high-quality apprenticeships. We believe in transforming lives through training and creating positive change across the hospitality industry.

If you’d like to discuss flexible working options or need support during the recruitment process, email us at careers@top.training.

This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.