Role Summary & Benefits

Permanent
Full time 37 hours per week
 
Devon County Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Economic Development Manager to support the performance and quality assurance of Adult Skills Fund provision across Devon and Torbay.
 
This post sits within the Council’s standard Economic Development Manager – External Programmes job description. Within that remit, the role will have a particular focus on provider performance, quality assurance, compliance and continuous improvement across the Adult Skills Fund programme.
 
The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) is devolved to the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA), with Devon County Council (DCC) responsible for operational commissioning and programme management on its behalf.
 
About the Role
 
This is a key role within the transition to devolved adult skills funding, responsible for ensuring that ASF-funded provision delivers high-quality outcomes, meets contractual and funding requirements, and drives continuous improvement across the provider base.
 
Working within the Adult Skills Fund team, you will take a strategic lead in quality assurance, audit, and performance oversight, ensuring robust governance and compliance with Department for Work and Pensions expectations while supporting innovation and local priorities.
 
Your work will help ensure the Council and the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority meet their statutory responsibilities for adult skills, supporting both internal governance processes and external provider delivery.
  
Please note this position sits within the council’s Economic Development service, which is reflected in the formal job description.
 
You will contribute to:

• The successful implementation of devolved Adult Skills Fund arrangements in Devon and Torbay
• Delivering high-quality, compliant and outcome-focused adult learning provision
• Building an assurance-ready model that aligns with DWP expectations while enabling local flexibility
• Strengthening provider performance, learner outcomes and progression
• Establishing a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and evidence-led decision-making

Key responsibilities include:
 
Quality assurance and compliance

• Design and implement a comprehensive ASF Quality Assurance Framework, including audit, compliance, and improvement processes.
• Ensure all ASF provision meets funding rules, contractual requirements, and local policy expectations.
• Analyse performance data across providers and learner groups to identify trends, risks and areas for targeted intervention, supporting improved outcomes and reduced inequalities.
• Ensure that providers maintain robust systems and processes for accurate learner data collection, reporting and compliance, and that data is effectively used to inform delivery and performance management.
• While ensuring robust compliance and contract oversight, the role also provides strategic direction for educational quality, driving high standards across contracted skills provision.

Manage contracts, performance, and risk

• Work closely with contract and performance functions to ensure that quality assurance is fully integrated with contract management and delivery oversight.
• Lead on quality-related risk management, maintaining risk registers and escalating issues where appropriate.
• Provide assurance reporting to senior leaders and governance boards.

Lead and manage a small team

• Directly line manage two Contract Managers and a Quality Assurance Officer, providing strategic leadership and ensuring effective oversight of contract performance, quality assurance, and compliance across ASF-funded providers.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to provider oversight.
• Ensure effective coordination between quality, performance, and compliance functions.

Drive continuous improvement across the provider base

• Develop approaches to provider improvement planning, intervention, and support.
• Work with providers to strengthen quality of teaching, learning, and assessment, learner engagement, and progression outcomes.
• Promote a culture of evidence-led quality improvement and innovation.

Work across teams and partners

• Collaborate with Procurement, Finance, Legal, and policy teams to ensure effective programme mobilisation and delivery.
• Engage with providers, colleges, training organisations and stakeholders to support strong delivery partnerships.
• Represent the authority in regional and national forums where required.

What we’re looking for

You will bring strong experience in skills funding, quality assurance, and contract or performance management, with the ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels.

Essential:

• Experience in skills and employment or further education delivery.
• Strong knowledge of quality assurance, audit, performance management, and regulatory requirements within the FE/skills sector.
• Experience managing programmes, contracts, or funding and working with external providers.
• Proven ability to lead and manage staff.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.
• Strong understanding of teaching, learning and assessment quality and its role in driving learner outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.

Desirable:

• Experience of ASF, AEB or devolved skills funding.
• Knowledge of provider improvement, Ofsted or FE quality frameworks.
• Experience managing high-value contracts and performance frameworks.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with strong quality assurance experience in educational settings, especially within adult skills, further education, or training provision. Please refer to the Job Description for full details of the role requirements and person specification.
 
Devon County Council has an Agile Working policy to demonstrate commitment to supporting a positive work-life balance for employees and a commitment to be Carbon Neutral by 2030. Agile working is an important element of the strategy for adapting to, and thriving in, the working environment following the coronavirus pandemic.
 
For more information or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Mirela Doana on mirela.doana@devon.gov.uk.
  
How to apply   
 
Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.   
 
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.   
 
DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.   

• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council’s use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes – Working for Devon | Devon County Council 
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.   
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.  
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.  
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.  
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).  

Key Responsibilities

Please click here to see the Job Description which includes the full key responsibilities.