Apprenticeship Manager

Apprenticeship Manager
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade F, Salary £37,280 per annum
Location: Joint Training Centre, Ripley
Hours: 37 hours per week, however you may occasionally need to work beyond normal office hours. Agile working arrangements can be discussed with the successful candidate.
Department: Learning & Development
Reports to: Learning & Development Manager
Closing date: midnight on Monday 18 May 2026
About Us:
At Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, we’re more than an emergency service—we’re a team of over 900 dedicated people working together to make Derbyshire safer every day. Whether it’s responding to emergencies, preventing incidents before they happen, or supporting our frontline teams behind the scenes, every role here makes a real difference.
We’re proud to be one of the country’s top-performing fire and rescue services, recently rated ‘Good’ in 9 out of 11 areas by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This recognition reflects the professionalism, progress, and dedication of our people. We continue to strive to be an outstanding Service and we know we have more to do.
About the Role:
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Apprenticeship Manager to lead our apprenticeship provision and help shape the future of learning across the Service. This is a newly designed role, to support the design and project phase of the Firefighter Apprenticeship and ongoing success and management of the programme.
Working within the Learning & Development team, you’ll be the lead contact for all apprenticeships, with a particular focus on ensuring the quality and successful delivery of our Whole time Firefighter apprenticeship programme an employer provider. You’ll work closely with operational teams, HR and finance colleagues, external providers and assessment organisations to make sure apprentices and their managers are well supported throughout their journey.
This role plays a key role in ensuring our apprenticeships are high-quality, compliant, and make the best use of levy funding. You’ll provide expert advice on apprenticeship standards and funding rules, oversee quality assurance and evaluation activity, and help prepare the Service for external scrutiny such as Ofsted inspections. You’ll also represent DFRS at local and national apprenticeship forums, sharing best practices and building strong partnerships.
We’re looking for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, communicates clearly, and brings a proactive, solutions focused approach. If you’re motivated by developing people, improving learner experience, and making a real difference to service delivery and firefighter safety, we’d love to hear from you.
There will be a requirement for some travel for which a pool car will be provided.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
To be successful in this role, you will bring the following qualifications and experience:
* Knowledge and experience related to assessment and quality assurance of accredited qualifications
* Experience working within apprenticeships, preparation and support for Ofsted inspections and monitoring visits
* Ability to manage a demanding workload where there are conflicting priorities and deadlines
* Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualification
What We Offer in Return:
We believe in rewarding our people with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:
* Flexible working hours.
* Agile working (60% office based).
* Family friendly policies.
* Annual leave entitlement of 27 days, increasing to 32 days after 5 years’ service.
* Free, secure on-site car parking.
* Health & wellbeing services, including free access to gyms at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service locations.
* Employee discount scheme (Boost) and eligibility to apply for Blue Light Card.
* Employee support networks.
* Enhanced maternity pay (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).
* Occupational sick pay subject to length of service, increasing up to 6 months’ full & 6 months’ half after 5 years’ service.
* Ongoing training and development opportunities.
* Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions.
* Eligibility to join Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) offering highly beneficial tax advantages.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
The closing date for completed applications is midnight on Monday 18 May 2026
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 1 June 2026