Job Title: Operations Director

Based: Hybrid – Must be within commutable distance of our Staffordshire head office

Reports To: Managing Director

Salary: DOE with company car or car allowance and bonus.

About the company

Busy Bees Education and Training is a national Ofsted Good training provider based in Burntwood and is an established provider of apprenticeships across predominantly the Early Years sector.

We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of childcare professionals through driving quality apprenticeship schemes.

Our mission is to deliver excellence in training and support, ensuring our apprentices are well-equipped to provide exceptional childcare services.

About the role

As Operations Director, you will oversee the strategic and operational management of education and training delivery nationally across multiple sectors. You will lead and develop regional management and specialist teams to meet and exceed compliance and quality standards, set performance goals, manage budgets and resourcing strategies, monitor policy compliance, and facilitate professional development, driving the success of operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a national, remote operational team to achieve balanced scorecard objectives.
• Ensure regulatory and contractual duties are fulfilled; overseeing timely payroll processing, pay alignment, and implementing safer recruitment practices.
• Oversee and authorise recruitment activity to attract talent.
• Create a fair and respectful work environment by implementing and enforcing consistent policies and addressing personnel concerns and feedback promptly.
• Promote team well-being and overall welfare through targeted programs and initiatives, leading to a healthier and more productive team.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of team training and career development, working with external delivery partners to make sure targets and expected standards are achieved.
• Provide targeted support, mentoring, coaching, and guidance to your direct reports, enabling them to develop as leaders and individuals.
• Lead engagement-related activities across your area, including annual surveys, action plans, and initiatives designed to improve team engagement and retention.
• Deputise for the Managing Director and undertake projects and initiatives as directed.
• Create and maintain a strong safeguarding culture.
• Ensure operational quality and compliance measures are managed in line with agreed targets, driving interventions to continuously improve Qualification Achievement Rates
• (QAR) and Apprenticeship Accountability Framework (AAF) performance in line with regulator and company targets.
• Oversee and drive quality improvements across operations and act as the operational lead during Ofsted inspections.
• Ensure contractual compliance and adherence to funding body, inspectorate, Awarding Body and End Point Assessment (EPAO) regulations and expectations.
• Monitor delivery to make sure that it consistently operates in line with Busy Bees policies and procedures.
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including apprenticeship employers, learners and other key stakeholders.
• Lead on divisional account management review meetings and implement initiatives to ensure standards are achieved in line with Service Level Agreements.
• Ensure apprenticeship programs are delivered to the highest standards
• Monitor feedback from customers and implement improvements based on their input to achieve Net Promoter Scores and customer satisfaction in line with company targets.
• Collaborate with employers to understand their workforce development needs and tailor learning programs to suit specific industry requirements.
• Represent the organisation at industry events, ensuring the business maintains a positive reputation for high-quality education and training delivery.
• Develop and implement long-term growth strategies for education and training.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the apprenticeship sector, including expanding into new industries, regions, or markets as appropriate.
• Lead the development of new apprenticeship pathways and programs to meet evolving workforce demands and trends.
• Project manage growth initiatives through any long-term M&A activity, ensuring and overseeing the effective integration of businesses.
• Lead the development of innovative training delivery models, utilising new technologies or delivery methods (e.g., hybrid learning, digital platforms).
• Continuously evaluate and enhance curriculum to ensure it remains relevant to the industry needs and provides competitive advantages for learners and employers.
• Leverage data analytics and performance metrics to identify growth opportunities, track progress, and make informed data-driven decisions.
• Monitor performance metrics for Regional Managers and operational teams, providing guidance and support to achieve targets; drive operational improvements and share best practices nationally.

Key Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience in senior operational leadership role in apprenticeships/skills.
• Experience leading growth across remote operations in a national role is essential.
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and direct diverse teams towards achieving operational excellence.
• Skilled in maximising operational and commercial performance outcomes in the short, medium, and long term.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident coaching, training, and mentoring team members. Sets stretching goals to drive improvements and performance.
• Engages others in change by painting a compelling picture and demonstrating optimism through challenges.
• Must be flexible in working hours, including ability to travel nationally and work early mornings and evenings if required.