Head of Adult Learning, Skills and Employment

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Adult Learning, Skills and Employment to join our Senior Management Team and lead one of our core service areas.

This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a wide-ranging, community-based service that supports local residents to develop skills, confidence and pathways into employment. Bringing together our Community Education & Training provision and Employment & Careers services, the role is responsible for ensuring a cohesive offer that supports hundreds of individuals each year from community learning through to work.

A core element of our provision is the delivery of high-quality adult learning, including functional skills (English, maths and ICT), ESOL, community wellbeing, family learning, pathways to employment and selected vocational courses. Our services are shaped by both community need and funding priorities and continue to evolve in response to local demand and emerging opportunities.

Employment support also forms an integral part of our wider offer, both through embedded progression support within Adult Education provision and through separately funded programmes for priority groups, including younger jobseekers () and older residents (50+). This requires a flexible and responsive approach to programme development, partnership working and service delivery.

Our current provision is primarily funded through Lambeth Adult Learning and the Greater London Authority, with a combined annual budget of approximately £750,000 per year. A significant focus of the role will be overseeing the successful delivery of these contracts and services, ensuring high-quality provision, strong performance and meaningful progression outcomes for residents.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience in managing complex community-based programmes, including adult learning and/or employment support
• A proven track record of leading teams and delivering against funded contracts
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills
• A strategic but practical approach, with the ability to balance delivery with long-term service development
• A commitment to improving outcomes for local residents

Why join High Trees?

At High Trees, our staff are at the heart of everything we do. We are a supportive and collaborative organisation where people are encouraged to grow, develop and contribute to the wider direction of our work. Our benefits include a generous annual leave allowance, pension contributions, and access to employee support.

This role offers the opportunity to shape a key service area at an exciting point of development, working alongside a committed team to deliver meaningful outcomes for local residents. You will play a central role in strengthening pathways into employment and ensuring our services continue to respond to the needs of the community.

Due to the nature of our services and the importance of community-based delivery, this role is primarily office based and will suit someone who is passionate about working within community settings and building strong relationships with residents, partners and colleagues. While we are committed to supporting flexibility where possible, the majority of the role will be delivered in person across our services and community venues.