Skills & Training Development Manager

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Adult Education Service is part of Coventry City Council. We provide a wide range of courses for Coventry residents age 19+ and much of our provision is targeted at people with the highest levels of need.

We offer long courses in English, maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), ICT/Digital and vocational subjects such as Early Years, along with provision for adults with learning disabilities.

We also offer a very wide range of short community courses in arts, crafts, music, dance, and family learning. In addition, we run a highly supportive study programme for young people.

Our work-based learning offer includes Apprenticeships in the following subject areas:

• Nursery Workers
• Teaching Assistants
• Leadership/Management; and
• Customer Care.

We also provide courses for adults who are seeking work via the Council’s Job Shop.

Our main base is at Southfields Old School, CV1 5EJ, with provision delivered at around 25 other sites within Coventry, mostly in areas of highest need.

We welcome applications from anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of people in Coventry.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic Skills and Training Development Manager to lead the design and delivery of innovative, inclusive programmes that support Coventry’s Skills Strategy. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape impactful educational projects across Health & Social Care, Early Years, Green Skills, and Logistics, working with a wide range of partners to support residents into learning and employment. If you’re passionate about community development, partnership working, and driving positive change, we’d love to hear from you. This is a fixed term contract until 31st July 2026.

All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We are seeking a strategic and experienced professional with a strong background in skills development, adult education, or employment support. You will have a deep understanding of national and local policy in these areas and a proven ability to lead the design and delivery of impactful, inclusive programmes. You will be confident managing complex, multi-agency projects and budgets, with excellent skills in partnership working, performance management, and innovation. Experience in sectors such as Health & Social Care, Early Years, Green Skills, or Logistics is highly desirable. You’ll also bring strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: Provisional date for face to face interview scheduled for Friday 12th September at Adult Education Centre, Southfields Old School, South Street, Coventry, CV1 5EJ.

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies