Technical Skills Coach - Regional Lead – Manchester

Responsible for: Providing a caseload of tech apprentices with skills, pastoral and portfolio support to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours, build their workplace portfolio and successfully complete their apprenticeship. Line-managing the regional team of skills coaches and supporting the national lead skills coach with team leadership and management.

Location and travel: Manchester (Blossom Street, Ancoats). This is a hybrid role with a requirement to be on-site at least two days per week, and potentially more during certain delivery weeks. Occasional travel to employers around the region may be required and some travel to out of region may be required, for which travel and accommodation will be covered.

Welcome to Ada!

We are a specialist, digital skills college, training and developing diverse higher-level apprentices into fantastic roles in the tech sector and transforming their lives in the process. Our mission is to educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent.

We have approximately 350 apprentices on roll from a wide range of backgrounds across our Manchester and London campuses. 75% are recent school leavers. One third are young women, one third from ethnic minority backgrounds and many come from tough backgrounds. They represent over 15 different nationalities. They are united by their passion and enthusiasm for tech.

Within the role, you will line-manage a team of Skills Coaches as well as maintaining regular contact with apprentices & their employers providing continuous guidance throughout the apprenticeship, ensuring apprentices stay on track and are ready for their End Point Assessment.

This is a unique opportunity to work with a growing number of employers and apprentices. You’ll join a small but growing close-knit team, who is passionate about seeing all our apprentices thrive.

We’ll also provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills and professional practice in a collaborative and nurturing environment.

Main Responsibilities:

● Line Managing the Manchester skills coach team

● Allocating the Skills Coach caseloads to Skills Coaches in collaboration with the Lead Skills Coach

● Providing direct training, guidance and support for new skills coaches through planning induction, 1:1 conversations, allowing them to shadow quarterly reviews, observing and providing feedback on quarterly reviews

● Acting as an escalation point for apprentice progress issues for the other Skills Coaches in Manchester

● Reporting on Manchester apprentice progress to the Lead Skills Coach

● Providing apprentices with Portfolio and Skills sessions as required with support from the Lead Skills coach

● Guiding and supporting a reduced caseload of apprentices through their apprenticeship programme, including skills development and pastoral support

● Carrying out 12-weekly reviews either in person or remotely with apprentices and line managers to monitor progress against key milestones and the apprenticeship standards

● Working with apprentices to create, monitor and update their individual learning plans

● Providing personal and professional support to apprentices and employers

● Work with the partnerships team to provide information and updates on groups of apprentices for key employer partners

● Providing rigorous, developmental feedback on work-based learning evidence

● Managing and tracking of progression of all key programme elements for each apprentice

● Working with the national Skills Coach team to deliver remote and in-person skills workshops

● Supporting apprentices to prepare for their end point assessment and assessing whether they are ready to enter gateway

● Ensuring all apprentice records are maintained and are compliant to ESFA regulations

Other Responsibilities:

●  Providing technical and academic assistance to support apprentices’ learning depending on expertise

● Representing Ada occasionally as needed with employers and young people as part of our business development and outreach activities

● Engaging with the wider Ada team to share best practice and contribute to a culture of collaboration and support

The Person

Essential:

● Experience supporting apprentices as a tutor or skills coach, conducting high quality tripartite meetings with apprentices and employers

● Excellent communications skills and able to work effectively with people at all levels

● Able to effectively use systems, including tracking systems, to record and track outcomes

● Professional working ethos to effectively build and manage business relationships with apprentices and employers

● An understanding of tech and the digital industry and an awareness of the skills required to succeed in tech-related roles, or a willingness to develop this.

Desirable: A full list can be found on the attached Job Description

Personal Qualities, Aptitudes and Skills: A full list can be found on the attached Job Description

Safeguarding

Ada, the National College for Digital Skill is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and references will be sought from previous employers prior to commencing employment. Other related pre-employment checks appropriate to the post will also be carried out.

Equal opportunities

Ada, the National College for Digital Skills recognises that equality of opportunity and the recognition and promotion of diversity are integral to its strengths.

Applicants with disabilities

Ada, the National College for Digital Skills is keen to increase the number of disabled people it employs. We therefore encourage applications from individuals with a disability who are able to carry out the duties of the post. If you have any additional needs in relation to your application please contact our HR Department via hr@ada.ac.uk.

Variations to this Job Description

This is a description of the job as it is at present, and is current at date of issue. The job description will be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that appropriate revisions are incorporated, and that it relates to the job to be performed.

Sponsorship

Sadly, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role so can only accept applications from candidates who have the legal right to work and remain in the United Kingdom.

How to apply

To apply please send a CV and cover letter to jobs@ada.ac.uk, outlining why you are excited by the opportunity to take on this role at Ada and how your previous experience and skill set will enable you to fulfill the role.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial phone conversation about the role followed by a two-part assessment process involving a practical exercise and a competency based interview. In the subject field please write “Application to Technical Skills Coach” and then add either London or Manchester followed by your name.