The Opportunity

Director of Foundation Skills and Progression

Team: College Executive

Responsible to: The Principal and Chief Executive

Responsible for: Direct Reports

Head of Faculty - Skills for Life and Employment
Head of Faculty - Foundation Education
Head of Centre - South Bristol Skills Academy (£30m New Build due to open Jan to March 2010)

This post is designated as a senior post under the Articles and Instruments of Governance.

Job Purpose

To provide strategic and operational leadership and vision, motivating teams and so they take personal responsibility for their work and outcomes, and ensure others are accountable
To promote the values and mission within the wider community and public sphere/ arena
To successfully drive forward effective partnerships with local authorities, Adult Connexions, OCPs, Job Centre Plus promoting employment initiatives and training, working with the foundation tier groups, cohorts and relevant organisations
To participate as a member of the Executive in the strategic and operational leadership and management of the College, planning and the business planning cycle
To lead on the development and implementation of the LDD strategy.
To introduce measures to develop and transform the foundation curriculum bringing innovation and creativity to our offer and to our students
To lead on our strategy for bidding for external contracts and ensure we successfully deliver to contract
To oversee the process of the management of change and performance improvement to ensure we are meeting our Skills for Life, NEET, EUL, Princes Trust and Foundation targets
To lead on the strategic development of the South Bristol Skills Academy ensuring the effective management and success of this key project introducing new and innovative measures in our interface with staff, students and employers.
To deputise for the Principal when required.

Accountabilities

Strategy and Corporate Thinking

create effective strategies for the College Foundation Tier with a clear, high impact objectives which will shape our success in this area for the future
be an innovator in strategic planning in your areas of responsibility ensuring full strategic integration with all development and business plans is achieved and there is a culture of teaching and learning improvement delivering a high quality service to your student cohorts
communicate the strategic vision to your management teams and others in your faculties in a manner which generates buy-in, endorsement, support, collaboration, co-operation, joint working and commitment to the vision
encourage the growth and understanding of long term strategies with staff under your responsibility
respond to strategic drivers including from Government and Region, the local agendas, the emerging policies, new reviews and changing workforce priorities as they are relevant to your role
lead and chair specific College working groups
uphold the College’s “Core Values”
maintain knowledge of current developments and brief, as appropriate, the Chief Executive, the Executive and Governing Body.

Organisational Capability and Strategic Implementation

ensure effective development and improvement of the College in terms of its foundation offer and the resources used to meet existing and future requirements
be proactive with effective interaction with employers and partners with regard to employability agendas
be responsible for management teams and setting direction; communicating effectively with key managers in these teams
act as mentor for new senior managers in your management teams and design development programmes in liaison with the Workforce Development team
make challenging and complex decisions where organisational change and innovation is required and necessary
act as lead with specific responsibilities for the implementation for complex College projects and the evaluation and validation of others; ensure that the right project management systems and processes are in place, and working
responsible for policies and procedures relating to Foundation Tier curriculum and teaching
plan when necessary to cope with the unforeseen and changing circumstances

Operations

performance manage and lead management teams in the following areas to achieve high levels of performance:
- Head of Faculty - Skills for Life and Employment
- Head of Faculty - Foundation Education
- Head of Centre - South Bristol Skills Academy
and lead them to achieve and meet high quality goals.
ensure that resources are efficiently managed, both physical and human, and maximise their potential and effectiveness
attend Centre Health and Safety meetings
carry our reviews and ensure that the College is following it’s contractual obligations:
through work-based initiatives and training ensure that your staff are engaged with improving customer relationships

Finance

lead and help your teams in financial planning their resources in the annual business planning process
ensure your teams exercise full financial control and take personal financial responsibility for financial performance
ensure your teams deliver financial improvements in times when the financial position needs to improve
monitor and be responsible for costs, budgets and forecasts, and work within
budget limits

Relationships

liaise with the Director of Finance and Learner Information to implement and monitor the business planning process.
liaise with external bodies and partners to meet Foundation Tier targets with priorities as required.
show good judgement in building effective relationships to build further and strengthen the College
share your expertise with other members of the Executive in helping to problem solve complex situations
strategically manage the bidding process for new contracts; ensure that monitoring processes are in place and actions are against targets, delivery and quality and that sound project management techniques are in place with key milestones
with your teams, on a regular basis monitor progress and that they are informed of any changes to plans or delivery of contracts
recommend action with managers to address any instances of under performance
work with your management teams to ensure that senior managers across the College are well briefed on Foundation Tier developments in the College
reflect critically on your own management practices and strategies used and how to maintain personal drive, set an example and be continually self-motivated to achieve and succeed in the job
maintain a climate of cooperation and appropriate relationships
discuss annually at your appraisal how your performance can be improved and where appropriate agree what actions can be taken for further improvement
attend training events which relate to your role
ensure that staff are trained and are ready to meet and exceed our requirements in order that they make a positive contribution to the work of the College
take action consistent with good practice to ensure staff performance issues are resolved in consultation with Human Resources and Organisational Development
introduce strategies to identify and address individual weaknesses in work practices
undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of you commensurate with your general level of responsibility

General

This job entails extensive travel throughout the Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and some college sites, partnership locations and community venues are poorly serviced by public transport, therefore in order to carry out the work in a timely and efficient fashion you are required to have access to a motor vehicle and possess a valid driving licence

This job description is for your information and this is non-contractual document. It is possible that from time to time this job description may be reviewed and updated to ensure it is still relevant to the role the post-holder performs or to add any proposed changes.

Your principal place of work will initially be the College's premises in Bristol or South Gloucestershire. However, you may be required to work on either a temporary or an indefinite basis at any premises within reasonable daily travelling which the College currently has or may subsequently acquire or at any premises at which it may from time to time provide services.

Special Conditions

It is the policy of City of Bristol College that, as a minimum, all College managers must successfully complete a 4 day health and safety IOSH Managing Safely course at Level 2. This must be done within 6 months of your appointment. You are then required to undertake refresher training which involves an annual update of minimum 4 hours (in house) plus successfully completing the IOSH refresher course every 3rd year.

Some evening work and travel within the UK are essential as part of this job.

Person Specification

Essential

Degree.
Outstanding leadership and management skills.
Demonstrate ability to operate at a strategic level operating in an organisation of significant size, scope and complexity, and evidence of strategy development and successful implementation
Successful track record in a senior management role in an education, training or working with the foundation tier groups or organisations
Experience of working with groups and developing strategies which bring increased participation in work.
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with a wide range of organisations e.g. local authorities, Adult Connexions, OCPs, Job Centre Plus promoting the employment agenda or access in to training
Experience of working with foundation curriculum bringing innovation and creativity to our offerExperience of bidding for external contracts at foundation tier level and for ESF
Proven ability of management of change and performance improvement meeting Skills for Life and Foundation targets
Good knowledge / understanding of policy and funding in post-16 education and skills training.
Effective communicator able to liaise at a senior level and develop and maintain effective partnerships including with employers with a range of stakeholders and managing complex relationships to achieve successful outcomes.Excellent personal communication skills, and the ability to be persuasive and influential through the use of oral and written communication
Experience of identifying and achieving quality improvement.