Performance & Quality Manager

Salary: Grade 8 - £36,363 - £40,777

Performance & Quality Manager, Pembrokeshire Employability & Skills Anchor, Local Growth Fund

The Local Growth Fund (Wales) is a 3 year programme (2026-2029) supporting economic development across Wales through investment in businesses, skills, and infrastructure.

Priority 2 of the Local Growth Fund places a strong emphasis on employment and skills, supporting people to access and progress in good-quality work, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening the link between local training provision and employer demand. Alongside boosting productivity and business growth, it aims to create higher-quality jobs and support inclusive growth, particularly in areas facing economic and geographic challenges.

The role

Futureworks is seeking an experienced and proactive Performance & Quality Manager to lead the delivery and strategic development of the Pembrokeshire Employability & Skills Anchor project, including direct responsibility for the delivery of the Skills Futures, Youth Futures and Green Futures workstreams. The initiative supports individuals who are out of work or economically inactive, with a focus on improving employability, strengthening vocational skills provision, and creating sustainable pathways into employment.

Aligned to the Local Growth Fund for Wales priorities for Employability and Skills, this leadership role will drive high-quality programme delivery that responds to local and regional labour market needs, addresses skills gaps, and strengthens links between training provision, employers, and wider economic growth priorities.

The successful candidate will provide strong operational and strategic leadership across the programme, overseeing the implementation, growth, and continuous improvement of vocational training and employability activity across key priority sectors. The role will ensure provision remains responsive to labour market demand, supports inclusive participation, and delivers strong progression outcomes for participants and employers.

Leading a team of Skills Advisers, Employer Engagement Officers, vocational assessors, and support staff, the postholder will ensure robust performance management, quality assurance, compliance, and stakeholder engagement across all areas of delivery. They will foster a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality participant support, helping individuals build confidence, gain relevant qualifications and experience, and progress into sustainable employment.

Working closely with employers, partners, awarding bodies, and regional stakeholders, the postholder will lead the development of effective partnerships and responsive training pathways that support both individual progression and workforce development across priority sectors. The role will also contribute to the development of future funding opportunities and successor programmes that support long-term regional skills and employment priorities.

Key responsibilities

Programme leadership and delivery

• Lead and manage the successful delivery of the LGF vocational skills and employability programmes
• Ensure delivery remains compliant with funding requirements, audit standards, and performance targets
• Oversee programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement activity
• Support the development of future employability and skills funding opportunities aligned to Local Growth Fund priorities

Quality assurance and curriculum oversight

• Oversee the quality and consistency of vocational training delivery across priority sectors
• Act as a Centre Coordinator, maintaining effective relationships with awarding organisations including City & Guilds, EAL, Lantra, OCR, and CACHE
• Ensure accredited provision meets awarding body and internal quality assurance standards
• Support curriculum development aligned to labour market demand, employability priorities, and employer needs

Staff management and workforce development

• Provide leadership and line management to Skills Advisers, vocational assessors, and administrative staff
• Support staff recruitment, induction, development, and performance management
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learner-focused delivery, and high-quality participant support
• Build team capability to respond effectively to evolving employability and workforce needs

Employer and stakeholder engagement

• Develop strong relationships with employers, local authorities, training providers, and strategic partners
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure provision supports local economic and workforce priorities
• Promote integrated approaches that strengthen pathways into employment, training, and progression opportunities
• Represent Futureworks within local and regional employability and skills networks

Performance monitoring and compliance

• Monitor programme performance, learner outcomes, and progression data to ensure targets are achieved
• Oversee funding claims, evidence collection, and reporting requirements to ensure full compliance
• Maintain accurate project records and management information systems, including CRM systems
• Provide regular performance reporting and contribute to external audit and monitoring processes

Qualifications and experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
• Experience managing employability, vocational learning, or skills development programmes
• Strong understanding of accredited qualifications, curriculum delivery, and awarding body requirements
• TAQA or quality assurance experience desirable
• Proven experience in project, contract, and performance management
• Experience managing budgets, compliance processes, and funded programme delivery
• Strong leadership, coaching, and staff management skills
• Knowledge of workforce and skills priorities across sectors including Tourism, Energy, Land-based/Heritage, Digital and Financial Inclusion, and Essential Skills
• Excellent communication, organisational, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and management information systems

Additional information

Location: Pembrokeshire - delivery across service centres and community settings.

Employee Benefits

Our employee benefits are designed to help invest in your future and are in addition to living and working in Pembrokeshire, one of the most beautiful and desirable counties in the UK. For further details, please refer to the Employee Benefits leaflet attached.

The Visit Pembrokeshire website https://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ is an excellent source of information, and showcases the wide variety of activities, amenities and adventures that await you.

Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.

Employment Checks

This post is subject to a DBS disclosure check.

Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:

• We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant's full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
• Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
• By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.

The Supported Employment Programme is a group of local authority based enterprises that employs over 75 people with a disability or work limiting health condition, please visit the link below for further information: Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme - Pembrokeshire County Council

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council's Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.

This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.

Support & Additional Info

• Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing hrsystemsteam@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing Recruit@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
• Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.

Welsh language skills are desirable. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.