Quality Development Lead

Job Title: Quality Development Lead 
Department: Support Services (Quality)
Line Manager: Quality Manager
Location: Hybrid Role 
DBS Check Required: Yes
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Who We Are

As a leading provider of apprenticeships within the IT, Tech and Digital sector we are here to make a difference to every learner and inspire them to succeed. It’s why we exist; it drives everything we do.

General Role Purpose

The Quality Development Lead is responsible for providing strategic and operational quality leadership across designated apprenticeship routeways, ensuring exceptional standards in teaching, learning, assessment, progress reviews and End Point Assessment preparation.

Working collaboratively with Programme Managers, Coaches and Operational Leaders, the role provides end to end ownership of quality improvement, using evidence, data and professional expertise to evaluate practice, identify improvement priorities and drive outstanding learner outcomes.

The postholder will act as a trusted quality partner, developing staff capability, supporting curriculum excellence and ensuring Baltic Apprenticeships maintains high standards aligned to Ofsted expectations, apprenticeship standards and organisational quality priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Routeway Quality Leadership

• Hold end to end responsibility for quality performance within designated routeways.
• Develop a detailed understanding of curriculum intent, learner profiles, employer needs and routeway risks.
• Act as the primary quality contact for operational leaders.
• Provide quality intelligence, recommendations and improvement priorities.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Quality

• Conduct observations of teaching, learning and assessment.
• Conduct observations of progress reviews.
• Undertake quality check-ins and learner journey reviews.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of teaching, coaching and assessment practice.
• Support staff to improve learner engagement, progress and achievement.

Quality of Assessment

• Lead quality assurance of assessment practice.
• Conduct portfolio sampling and assessment verification activities.
• Review assessment decisions for validity, reliability and consistency.
• Evaluate learner readiness for Apprenticeship Assessments.
• Support coaches in preparing learners for successful Apprenticeship Assessment outcomes.

Quality Improvement

• Design and implement quality improvement plans.
• Deliver coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Monitor the impact of interventions.
• Escalate risks where required.

Standardisation and Workforce Development

• Lead routeway standardisation sessions.
• Support onboarding of new delivery staff.
• Deliver training on teaching, learning, assessment and Apprenticeship Assessment practice.
• Share best practice across operational teams.

Curriculum and Resource Quality

• Review curriculum resources, project briefs and assessment materials.
• Evaluate alignment between curriculum intent and implementation.
• Support curriculum teams to improve quality and consistency.

Quality Intelligence and Reporting

• Analyse quality, learner, achievement and Apprenticeship Assessment data.
• Identify trends and emerging risks.
• Produce quality reports for leaders.
• Inform strategic improvement activity.

Inspection and Compliance

• Support Ofsted readiness activities.
• Contribute to deep dives and thematic reviews.
• Ensure quality activity aligns with:

• EIF
• Apprenticeship standards
• Apprenticeship Assessment requirements
• Internal quality frameworks

Additional Duties:

The Quality Development Lead will also:

• Support organisational Self-Assessment and Quality Improvement Planning.
• Contribute to Ofsted preparation activities, deep dives and inspection readiness.
• Support cross-routeway quality improvement projects.
• Share effective practice across delivery teams.
• Contribute to the continuous development of Baltic's quality frameworks.
• Undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with the role.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

• Thorough understanding of apprenticeship delivery and learner journeys.
• Excellent knowledge of teaching, learning and assessment within apprenticeship provision.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeship assessment practice and End Point Assessment requirements.
• Knowledge of Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework.
• Understanding of curriculum design, sequencing and intent.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality improvement methodologies.
• Understanding of apprenticeship funding rules relating to learner progress and assessment.

Skills

• Excellent observation and coaching skills.
• Strong quality assurance and auditing skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret learner, achievement and Apprenticeship Assessment performance data.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to challenge practice constructively.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to plan and prioritise multiple quality improvement activities.

Experience

• Significant experience within apprenticeship or further education.
• Experience of observing teaching, learning and assessment.
• Experience of quality assurance of assessment practice.
• Experience of coaching and developing staff.
• Experience of supporting quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience of preparing organisations for Ofsted or external quality assurance.
• Experience of analysing quality and performance data.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

• Curriculum design principles.
• Coaching and mentoring methodologies.
• Digital learning methodologies.
• AI-enhanced learning approaches.
• Internal quality assurance methodologies.

Skills

• Advanced data analysis.
• Project management.
• Facilitation of standardisation events.
• Curriculum review and evaluation.

Experience

• Leading quality improvement projects.
• Working across multiple apprenticeship standards.
• Supporting Outstanding Ofsted outcomes.
• Internal quality auditing.
• Leading standardisation across delivery teams.

Essential Qualifications

• Level 2 English and Maths.
• Teaching qualification (or willingness to achieve).
• Assessor qualification (or equivalent experience).
• IQA qualification or willingness to work towards.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable Qualifications

• Level 5 qualification in Education, Leadership or Quality.
• Internal Quality Assurance qualification.
• Coaching or mentoring qualification.
• Advanced Practitioner qualification.
• Project Management qualification.

Our Benefits:

At Baltic, we’re committed to creating an environment where you can thrive – professionally, personally, and socially. Voted one of the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Places to Work 2024, we’re proud of our culture, our people, and the meaningful work we do every day.

Here’s what you can look forward to as part of Team Baltic:

Culture & Work-Life Balance:

• A fun, supportive environment with regular social events and team activities
• Early finish every Friday – we operate a 4.5-day working week
• 25+ days annual leave, increasing to 30 with length of service
• No weekend or Bank Holiday working
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Additional Life Event Day annually for those big moments that matter
• Buy & Sell Holiday Scheme for extra flexibility

Health & Wellbeing:

• Free, confidential mental health support through SPILL
• Access to high-value wellbeing initiatives, including face-to-face sessions with a Health & Wellbeing Specialist
• Local discounted gym memberships
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (after 2 years’ service)

Recognition & Engagement:

• Baltic Scratch Card Scheme – instant wins for great work
• Baltic Breakfasts, competitions, and engagement days
• Volunteer Day annually to give back to causes you care about

A successful Quality Development Lead team member will embody our core values:

• Be the Expert: Continuously develop deep knowledge of systems, processes, and business operations to deliver reliable, data-driven insights and solutions that improve performance and efficiency.
• Be the Customer: Deliver responsive, tailored support to internal teams and stakeholders – understanding their needs and challenges to ensure smooth, effective service delivery.
• Be the Future: Champion continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process gaps and innovation opportunities, helping the organisation scale sustainably and stay ahead in a dynamic environment.

By living these values, you’ll build strong cross-functional relationships, enhance operational excellence, and drive meaningful, lasting improvements across the business.

Baltic Apprenticeships is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners, apprentices, and young people. We expect all employees, contractors, and partners to share this commitment

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. However, please note that we’re currently unable to offer visa sponsorship, so you’ll need to have existing right to work in the UK to be considered for this role.