Associate Director of Apprenticeship Development

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students 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.

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.

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.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.