Interim Head of Operations (Apprenticeships - Engineering)

Interim Head of Operations (Engineering - Apprenticeships)

Aston, Birmingham

3 months

Full time

Make UK Apprentice & Skills are seeking an Interim Head of Operations to provide leadership and operational oversight of our engineering apprenticeship training facility in Aston, Birmingham. This is a key role, ensuring the safe, compliant and effective delivery of high-quality further education and training for our learners.

Working closely with the wider Apprentices & Skills leadership team, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the facility, leading operational teams, supporting tutors, and ensuring everything is in place for a successful academic year and September learner intake.

About the role

As Interim Head of Operations, you will lead and support the operational delivery of our engineering training facility, ensuring our workshops, resources and teams are effectively managed to provide an outstanding learning environment.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading and managing a team of Operations Managers and tutors, providing clear direction and support.
• Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the engineering training facility, including facilities, equipment, maintenance and operational requirements.
• Supporting curriculum planning for the September intake, including staffing, timetables, workshop capacity and resources.
• Managing the learner induction process and ensuring a smooth start for new apprentices.
• Taking overall responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of learners, colleagues and visitors.
• Working alongside Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) to support workshop delivery and BTEC qualification compliance.
• Ensuring resources are effectively planned and allocated to maintain high-quality apprenticeship delivery.

About you

You will be an experienced operational leader with a background in engineering, technical training, apprenticeships or a similar environment. You will be confident managing teams, improving operational performance and ensuring compliance within a workshop or training setting.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven experience leading operational teams within an engineering, technical or apprenticeship environment.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of health and safety management.
• Experience managing engineering workshops, technical facilities or similar environments.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship delivery and internal quality assurance processes.
• Excellent leadership, organisation and communication skills, with the ability to engage with learners, tutors and stakeholders at all levels.

Why join Make UK?

Make UK is the voice of British manufacturing, supporting businesses and developing the next generation of engineering talent. Our Apprentices & Skills team plays a vital role in helping young people build rewarding careers through high-quality technical training.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced engineering operations professional to join a forward-thinking organisation and play a key role in delivering the next generation of skilled engineers.

With over 125 years of experience, Make UK is a leading provider of essential business support and a champion for manufacturing industry in the UK. Make UK has the close ear of Government and is a trusted provider of essential services for world leading manufacturing companies across the country. Everything we do is designed to inspire British manufacturers to compete, innovate and grow.

Make UK staff enjoy a good benefits package and values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Benefits to include, but not limited to: Free parking, meal service on site, no bank holiday/weekend work, flexible hours, health cover, matched pension contributions up to 8%, and life assurance.

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and we recognise the contribution that Service personnel, both regular and reservist, veterans and military families make to our organisation and have pledged to support this by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Our Values at Make UK: Inclusivity & Diversity, Integrity, Innovation, & Collaboration

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is therefore a mandatory requirement that the successful candidate agrees to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Individuals barred from working in this sector are reminded it is a criminal offence to submit an application.