Job Title: Short Course Tutor

Location: North East  

Reports to: Senior Quality and Operations Manager   

Salary: Tutor – Band A

Job Purpose

The Short Course Tutor will play a key role in delivering high-quality, engaging pre-employment training programmes to adult learners aged 19+ who are unemployed and looking to take their next steps into employment, further training or career development.

The role will involve delivering short, intensive programmes designed to equip learners with relevant industry knowledge, practical skills, recognised qualifications and the employability skills required to successfully progress into work.

Delivery may include a range of vocational and employability programmes, including Lean Manufacturing, Business Improvement Techniques (BIT), Customer Service, and other qualifications or sector-specific training aligned to local employer and labour market needs.

The Tutor will create an inclusive, supportive and employment-focused learning environment, recognising that learners may have a range of previous experiences, abilities and barriers to employment. They will motivate learners, build confidence and ensure individuals receive the support and challenge needed to successfully complete their programme and progress towards positive employment outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Effective Teaching and Delivery

Plan and deliver engaging, interactive and high-quality short course training using a range of teaching and learning methods appropriate to adult learners. Adapt delivery to meet individual learner needs, starting points and learning styles while maintaining the pace required for short, intensive programmes. Ensure learning is practical, relevant and clearly linked to workplace expectations and employment opportunities.

Vocational and Employability Skills

Deliver relevant vocational qualifications and training, which may include Lean Manufacturing, Business Improvement Techniques (BIT), Customer Service, and other programmes appropriate to the Tutor’s occupational competence and qualifications. Embed employability throughout delivery, helping learners understand employer expectations and develop the behaviours, confidence and transferable skills required to enter and succeed in the workplace. Use relevant industry examples, scenarios and practical activities to bring learning to life and prepare learners for real working environments.

Learner Support and Engagement

Provide individualised support, coaching and encouragement to learners throughout their programme. Build positive professional relationships with learners and create an environment where individuals feel supported to participate, develop their confidence and achieve their goals. Identify potential barriers to learning or progression at an early stage and work with learners and relevant colleagues to put appropriate support and interventions in place. Maintain high levels of learner engagement, attendance, participation and motivation throughout the programme.

Assessment and Achievement

Assess learners in line with awarding organisation requirements and organisational quality standards. Provide timely, constructive and developmental feedback that enables learners to understand their progress and successfully achieve their qualification or programme outcomes. Ensure learners complete all required assessments and evidence within the timescales of their programme.

Employment and Progression Outcomes

Maintain a strong focus on progression into employment and positive destinations throughout the learner journey. Support learners to recognise how the skills and qualifications they are developing relate to available job opportunities and employer expectations. Work collaboratively with employability, recruitment, employer engagement and operational colleagues to support learners towards interviews, vacancies and other progression opportunities. Encourage learners to develop the confidence, professional behaviours and workplace readiness required to successfully transition into employment.

Curriculum Development

Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of short course curriculum materials, resources, schemes of work and session plans. Ensure curriculum content remains relevant to qualification requirements, employer expectations and local labour market needs. Support the development of new short course provision where required.

Quality and Performance

Achieve or exceed agreed performance targets relating to learner attendance, retention, achievement, progression and other programme KPIs. Actively contribute to quality improvement activities, including observations of teaching and learning, standardisation, internal quality assurance and curriculum reviews. Respond positively to feedback and use quality assurance findings to continuously improve teaching, learning and assessment.

Administration and Compliance

Maintain accurate, timely and compliant learner records, including enrolment documentation, attendance, assessment evidence, learner progress and achievement information. Ensure all delivery and learner documentation complies with relevant funding requirements, awarding organisation requirements and Optimum Skills policies and procedures. Complete administrative requirements accurately and within agreed timescales.

Learning Environment

Create a positive, inclusive and professional learning environment that promotes high expectations, respect, equality and diversity. Promote safeguarding, Prevent, British Values, health and safety and other relevant themes appropriately throughout the learner journey. Establish clear expectations around attendance, punctuality, behaviour and professional standards to help prepare learners for the workplace.

Continuous Professional Development

Maintain current occupational knowledge and understanding of developments within relevant sectors. Keep knowledge of teaching, learning, assessment and qualification requirements up to date through ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Actively engage in personal development and use feedback to continuously improve professional practice.

Teamwork

Communicate and work effectively with learners, colleagues, employers, referral partners and other stakeholders to provide a high-quality learner experience. Work collaboratively across teams to support learner recruitment, engagement, achievement and progression. Share good practice, resources and industry knowledge with colleagues.

Additional Responsibilities

Undertake any additional duties reasonably required to support the successful delivery, development and growth of Optimum Skills’ short course and pre-employment provision.

Qualifications, Competence & Behaviours

• Have a minimum of 1 year occupational experience be able to demonstrate a high level of practical skill in the sector relevant to subject area.
• Hold a minimum of a level 3 teaching qualifications
• Hold or be willing to work towards relevant assessing qualifications e.g. CAVA.
• Hold Level 2 Functional Skills (English, Maths and ICT) or equivalent
• Proficient in the use of IT systems, including Microsoft Office programmes.
• Have experience of training and/or assessing in an educational or workplace environment.
• Good understanding of funding rules.
• Be able to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability.
• Demonstrate behaviour consistent with Company Values.
• Actively engaged in your own personal development
• Share a current/be willing to undertake a DBS Enhanced Disclosure check.
• Share references which are satisfactory to the Company.
• Car user essential due to travel