Associate Director of Apprenticeship Development

from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff. Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities. Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential. By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond. Role Summary We are seeking an Associate Director of Apprenticeship Development to lead the growth and development of Birmingham City University’s apprenticeship provision, working closely with academic Schools and Professional Services colleagues to support the University’s strategic ambitions. In this role, you will drive significant and sustainable growth in apprenticeship student numbers and income, developing strategic employer partnerships and aligning BCU’s provision with local and regional workforce needs. You will lead a team of Business Development professionals, working with employers, academic colleagues and external stakeholders to develop new opportunities, expand higher and degree apprenticeships, and strengthen BCU’s contribution to the regional economy. Key Responsibilities Develop and deliver a University-wide strategy for apprenticeship growth, increasing student recruitment, revenue and employer engagement across academic disciplines. Build and maintain strategic partnerships with public and private sector employers, identifying business opportunities, developing proposals and supporting employers to make effective use of apprenticeship levy funding. Lead and develop the Business Development team, setting targets, monitoring performance and ensuring delivery against agreed recruitment, income and growth objectives. Work collaboratively with academic Schools, apprenticeship leads, Marketing and other Professional Services colleagues to develop employer-responsive curricula, recruitment plans and learner pathways aligned with workforce needs. Use workforce intelligence and skills gap analysis to identify future demand and inform the development of apprenticeship provision. Ensure new apprenticeship programmes meet appropriate compliance and quality standards, including successful End-Point Assessment outcomes. Report on apprenticeship performance, income and impact to senior leaders and relevant committees. Essential Requirements Proven experience of sustainably growing apprenticeship provision, student numbers and revenue. Experience leading business development within a large, complex organisation, including managing teams and delivering results through others. A strong track record of developing strategic partnerships with public and private sector organisations to generate commercial income and business growth. Experience developing proposals and programmes of work in response to business needs, including competitive costings and commercial opportunities. Demonstrable success in meeting and exceeding performance targets, income targets and KPIs within challenging timescales. Experience of apprenticeship levy funding, apprenticeship sales targets and working with businesses to develop employment-focused curricula. Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with senior leaders and external partners. Strong strategic planning and target-setting skills, with a focus on measurable outcomes and impact. Desirable Requirements Understanding of workforce planning principles and their relationship to regional skills needs and Strategic Economic Plans. Knowledge of the UK policy and political frameworks relating to workforce development, higher education and apprenticeships. Understanding of higher education marketing and student recruitment. Further Information If you are excited by the opportunity to lead apprenticeship growth at BCU, develop impactful employer partnerships and help address the skills needs of businesses and communities across the region, we would love to hear from you. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Andy Aftelak, Dean of Academic Performance, at Andrew.Aftelak@bcu.ac.uk . Internal candidates are requested to follow the expression of interest process. Why not explore our campuses using our interactive map: Interactive Map | Birmingham City University Why work for us Work–life balance – Generous leave and hybrid working (role dependent). Career development – Opportunities to grow, develop and progress your career. Reward and wellbeing – Competitive pay, pension, wellbeing support and staff benefits. Inclusive culture – A supportive, diverse environment where everyone belongs. Visa Sponsorship This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant criteria. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa Further Details: Job Description Use of AI in applications At BCU, we welcome applications that clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role. AI tools may be used to support you in preparing your application, but the information you provide must be accurate, authentic and based on your own experience. Applications that rely too heavily on AI, appear generic or do not provide specific evidence against the role criteria are less likely to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. For more information, please refer to our candidate guidance; How to Apply - Jobs at Birmingham City University Equality, Diversity & Inclusion We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to an environment that supports lawful free speech and academic freedom. We will continuously review and improve our policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that we are promoting these in all aspects of our operations. We believe that by working together, combining our many different backgrounds and life experiences, we will empower each other to reach our full potential. Disability Confident Employer Birmingham City University is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. The appointed candidate will normally be employed through our subsidiary company, BCU Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Birmingham City University. Appointees with prior LGPS membership who wish to re-enter the scheme may do so and will be employed directly by the University. Advert Details Location: Birmingham Salary: £70,564 to £79,840 per annum Hours: Full Time Contract Type: Permanent Placed On: 2026-11-03 Closes: 2026-11-26 Job Ref: GEE126009