{"id":2610617,"url":"https://alion.io/job/acorn-training-contract-operations-manager","title":"Contract Operations Manager","company":{"id":673149,"name":"Acorn Training","domain":"acorntraining.co.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/acorntraining-2","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Pinpoint","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":5,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":13,"computed_at":"2026-10-27T05:46:45Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":null,"employment_type":"contractor","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":37000,"max":42000,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":56220},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T10:54:48Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T13:15:27Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-10-26T13:15:27Z","days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"description":"We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.\nAs the Operations Manager - Skills, your core responsibility is to oversee the seamless management of contracts pertaining to skill development programmes across the Midlands. Your primary objective is to ensure the efficient execution of contracts, meeting client specifications, optimising resource allocation, and upholding high levels of client satisfaction. Your pivotal role revolves around driving exceptional performance and meeting the expectations outlined within the skills contracts, including financial, quality, and performance targets.\n\nWorking in close coordination with the Business Development, Enrolment, Delivery, and Data and Claims teams, you will forge robust connections to foster collaboration and alignment. Your efforts will facilitate the successful implementation and delivery of our Midlands skills programmes, thereby contributing significantly to the attainment of contract objectives and goals.\nKey Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators\nLead end-to-end contract management by implementing robust project management and review procedures across the Midlands skills provision.\nCollaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment of contract deliverables with commissioner expectations.\nActively engage with community groups, employers, and wider stakeholders to grow and develop the business within the curriculum-specific context.\nBuild effective and productive working relationships with commissioners' contract leads.\nBuild and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders, strategic and generic subcontractors/delivery partners, and other relevant organisations.\nCreate and maintain key contract planning, monitoring, and reporting documentation.\nFacilitate regular contract reviews with key managers to assess performance, plan the approach to achieving future targets, and identify potential challenges and mitigating actions to ensure positive contract outcomes.\nProvide weekly status reports regarding contract milestones, progress against key performance indicators (KPIs), programme interdependencies, risks, and issues.\nRespond to commissioner requirements for contract progress reporting and assurance.\nWork closely with the Head of Quality and Curriculum, actively participating in programme evaluation, stakeholder feedback, and lessons learned activities.\nDrive the long-term financial performance and value for money of Midlands skills programmes through effective operational and financial performance management.\nWork closely with the Heads of Curriculum, Head of Quality and Curriculum, and Curriculum Innovations Manager to implement step-in measures as required, including contractual performance and quality improvement planning.\nProvide feedback based on any evaluation results, quality and progress assessments, or individual responses to the Assistant Director for Skills and relevant Head of Curriculum to ensure that content not achieving intended learning objectives is addressed.\nWork with the Skills Delivery team as part of a defined joined-up approach to ensure a close tie-up between CPD design and programme management, ensuring that a feedback loop exists.\nIdentify effective practice through data analysis and robust audit, sharing with the wider internal management teams and developing into business-as-usual practice.\nEnsure that expertise across delivery areas is kept up to date through self-management and engagement with the relevant Head of Curriculum to gain access to the latest policy and research. \nSkills, Knowledge and Expertise\n Qualifications and specific training\nA degree in business admin, management, or a related field (essential)\nLevel 5 management qualification or significant management experience in residential childcare or adult education settings (essential)\nGCSE grade A*-C (or equivalent) in English and Maths (essential)\nFull driving licence (essential)\nLevel 5 teaching learning and assessment qualification (desirable)\nLevel 4 IQA qualification (desirable)\n Experience\nExperience of performance and/ or contract management frameworks (essential)\nProven experience in managing and delivering on educational skills contracts (essential)\nExperience of business planning, budget preparation, budget management (essential)\nExperience working with adult learners or in the adult education field (essential)\n Experience of and engagement with quality assurance mechanisms both internally and externally (desirable)\n Knowledge\nIn-depth understanding of national standards and regulations for adult skills (essential)\nUnderstand how to manage and drive performance improvement in contracts (essential)\nDemonstrate a knowledge, understanding and personal commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across all areas of work (essential)\nUp to date and in-depth knowledge of adult education products, services, and industry trends (desirable)\n Skills\nStrong leadership and management skills (essential)\nExcellent communication and interpersonal skills (essential)\nStrategic planning and goal setting (essential)\nProject management skills (essential)\nData analysis and reporting abilities (essential)\nProblem-solving and decision-making skills (essential)\nResults-driven and goal-oriented (essential)\nProactive and self-motivated (essential)\nAbility to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams (essential)\nStrong commitment to promoting and expanding adult education opportunities (essential)\n Proficient in data analytics and using CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software (desirable)\nCultural sensitivity and an understanding of the diverse needs of adult learners (desirable)\nWe welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, ethnic or social origin, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, reasonable adjustments can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.\nAs users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy\nPlease get in contact with  to discuss alternative options you may require, or alternative application methods\nJob Benefits\nFlexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant \nUp to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days\nPension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing\nTraining and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications \nWestfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers\nWellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge\nDisability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces\nAnnual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives\nCash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards\n£500 Recommend a friend scheme","description_format":"text","description_chars":7289,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Flexible schedule","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Vocational Education","Career Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-15T10:54:48Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-26T13:15:27Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":null,"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":56220,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/acorn-training-contract-operations-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/acorn-training-contract-operations-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-27T05:59:17Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":5930,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-28T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":673149},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=673149"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Facorn-training-contract-operations-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Facorn-training-contract-operations-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Facorn-training-contract-operations-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/acorn-training-contract-operations-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Facorn-training-contract-operations-manager"}]}