Head of Adult Education

THIS IS A REMOTE ROLE, ACCEPTING APPLICANTS NATIONWIDE Role Overview As Head of Adult Education, you will lead the strategic delivery of our client’s adult learning contracts across multiple regions. This role combines contract ownership, team leadership, and growth planning across ASF, Bootcamps, and other non-apprenticeship provision. You will also act as the primary relationship owner for commissioners and contract-holding partners, ensuring contract performance, compliance, and continuous improvement. With a clear focus on maximising contract impact, this role is both strategic and hands-on—requiring strong sector knowledge, leadership credibility, and a proven track record of driving results within regulated adult education & skills environments. Key Responsibilities * Lead and oversee the delivery of our client’s adult education and employability contracts, ensuring performance, compliance, and impact across funded provision. * Maximise the value and outcomes of a multi-regional contract portfolio in line with organisational & contractual KPIs and funding rules. * Maintain oversight of compliance and regulatory requirements in collaboration with internal MIS, Quality, and Compliance departments. * Monitor contract performance against key metrics (starts, retention, achievement, progression, job outcomes), identifying risks and leading mitigation actions to protect contract value. * Build and maintain strong working relationships with funding authorities and strategic delivery partners. * Represent our client at contract performance reviews, audits, inspections, and partnership meetings. * Identify, evaluate, and respond to new business opportunities in collaboration with Marketing & Business Development teams, contributing to bid readiness and programme design. * Support market analysis, funding trend identification, and regional opportunity mapping to inform pipeline development. * Provide performance and risk reporting to the Leadership Team, including actionable insights that inform decision-making and planning. * Champion quality improvement and learner experience across the adult education function, embedding best practice, learner voice, and a clear focus on progression and impact. Person Profile * Proven track record of managing large-scale government-funded adult learning contracts (ASF, Bootcamps, etc.) * Strong understanding of the post-19 funding landscape, including DfE rules, audit requirements, and outcome-based delivery models * Experience leading cross-functional and regionally dispersed delivery teams * Demonstrable ability to manage senior-level relationships with commissioners, primes, and strategic partners * Skilled in using data and reporting tools to drive contract performance and learner outcomes * Clear understanding of compliance, safeguarding, and quality frameworks relevant to funded provision Desirable * Familiarity with employer-responsive delivery, including co-designed programmes, workplace learning, and short course models * Experience supporting tender submissions or managing implementation of new contracts * Knowledge of Skills Bootcamps and employability-linked provision