The Workforce Development Trust
Product Development Officer (Maternity Cover)
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Job Title: Product Development Officer
Department: Product Team
Location: Sheffield office with Hybrid working available
Pay Scale: £33,000 - £36,952 depending on experience.
Contract: Fixed term - 12 month (Maternity cover)
Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)
About Us
SFJ Awards SFJ Awards are a regulated awarding organisation, delivering high quality qualifications and custom certification for learners through approved centres in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. We are also an apprenticeship assessment organisation approved by Ofqual to deliver assessment services for a growing number of standards in England. SFJ Awards is part of the Workforce Development Trust group.
The Workforce Development Trust The Workforce Development Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that provides services that support employers to develop skilled, sustainable, and efficient workforces in the UK and abroad. We operate via our four brands; Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards, iCQ Awards and People 1st International, which deliver specialist, targeted skills interventions to support a variety of frontline public services.
Job Summary
The purpose of this role is to develop qualifications, assessment materials and related products that meet regulatory, organisational and stakeholder requirements. We are seeking an experienced qualification and assessment developer who can quickly take ownership of a product portfolio and work autonomously within a regulated environment.
This role is ideally suited to someone with prior experience developing regulated qualifications and/or apprenticeship assessment products within an Awarding Organisation, Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation or a similar regulated setting. The successful candidate will support the development and maintenance of SFJ Awards qualifications, Apprenticeship Assessment materials, and wider assessment and accreditation products, ensuring they remain compliant with regulatory obligations and meet customer and organisational quality standards.
Working under the direction of the Product Development Manager, the post holder will collaborate with a range of customers, stakeholders and sector bodies involved in the design and development of qualifications, accreditations and assessment materials aligned to National Occupational Standards and Apprenticeship Assessment professional standards. The role will also involve liaising with commissioning work from and reviewing the outputs of external subject matter experts and associates involved in development activities.
This role requires a highly organised and proactive individual who is comfortable operating within a fast-paced and evolving regulatory environment. The successful candidate will be confident managing multiple priorities, working independently and building effective working relationships with stakeholders, customers and subject matter experts.
Impact of the Role
This role plays a vital part in supporting SFJ Awards’ growth, innovation, and reputation as a trusted awarding organisation within the justice, health, emergency services, community safety, and protective security sectors. The role contributes directly to the development and maintenance of high-quality qualifications and assessments that meet regulatory requirements, respond to sector needs and support workforce development across the UK.
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Key Business Skills
- Strong project management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities
- Experience in qualification or product development
- Quality assurance
- Problem-solving
- Regulatory awareness
Daily Work
Daily work includes managing qualification and assessment development projects, collaborating with employers, sector specialists, and regulators, reviewing, and updating products and assessment materials, and working closely with internal teams including quality assurance, operations, business development, and marketing. The role combines strategic product development with hands-on coordination, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement activity.
Unique Aspects of the Team
The Product Development team at SFJ Awards develops qualifications and assessments that support professions which have a direct impact on public safety, justice, and community wellbeing. We work closely with employers, sector experts, regulators, and government stakeholders to create products that are practical, relevant, and responsive to evolving workforce and legislative needs.
Premium Service for Customers
We work collaboratively with centres, employers, and stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle to ensure our qualifications are high quality, compliant and sector relevant. Our team is customer-focused, responsive and committed to continuous improvement, ensuring customers receive consistent support and products that meet operational needs.
Key Professional Skills
- Project and product management
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Quality assurance and attention to detail
Key Personal Skills
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Initiative and problem-solving
Surprising Aspects of the Role
The breadth and variety of projects involved. The role provides opportunities to work across multiple sectors and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, from employers and technical experts to regulators and national organisations, helping shape qualifications that support real workforce challenges.
Team Culture
The Product Development team at SFJ Awards manages a diverse portfolio of qualifications and Apprenticeship Assessments across justice, healthcare, emergency services, community safety, and protective security sectors. The team works collaboratively with employers, regulators, government bodies, and sector experts to develop products that support workforce competence and respond to emerging legislative and operational needs.
Recent projects have included the development of qualifications linked to major national initiatives and legislative change, working alongside organisations such as NaCTSO and other national stakeholders. The team also supports the ongoing review and continuous improvement of products to ensure they remain current, compliant and sector relevant.
The culture within the team is collaborative, supportive, and forward-thinking, with a strong focus on innovation, professional development and making a meaningful impact across the sectors we serve.
Key Responsibilities
The post holder’s key responsibilities will include:
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- Taking ownership of a designated SFJ Awards sector and product portfolio, ensuring products remain compliant, fit for purpose and aligned to stakeholder and organisational needs.
- Working under the direction of the Product Development Manager to develop content for SFJ Awards qualifications, accreditation and assessment.
- Liaising with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure that developed content meets with organisational and customer quality standards including, where relevant, regulatory body requirements.
Specifically, the post holder is responsible for:
- Developing qualifications, accreditation products and assessment materials in line with SFJ Awards procedures and, where relevant, regulatory requirements.
- Developing Apprenticeship Assessment resources and assessment materials in line with SFJ Awards procedures, the relevant apprenticeship standard and where relevant, regulatory.
- Following SFJ Awards procedures to manage the lifecycle of qualifications, including reviewing, withdrawing and extending.
Application Information
Please download full JD here and our job pack here.
This job requires some days in the office. Please consider if you are willing to relocate before applying.
Please include your CV, and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.
This role is subject to a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Please only apply if you currently have a valid right to work in the UK.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date: Wednesday 30th September 2026
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement up to a maximum of 28 days, plus public holidays, and a potential Christmas closure.
- Flexible working - 50% working from home with a dress for your day approach.
- Staggered start and finish time.
- Employee referral recruitment scheme.
- Enhanced leave, bereavement, carers, maternity, paternity, and sickness leave.
- Health and wellbeing benefits, access to our mental health first aiders, a confidential employee assistance programme, free eye tests and payment for an annual flu jab.
- Enhanced pension scheme, with a contribution matching up to a combined 12%, and the option to join the Salary Exchange Pension Scheme along with death in service coverage at three times annual salary.
- Flexible employee benefits, portal including a cycle to work scheme.
- Buy annual leave scheme.
- Organisational development days and departmental training budgets.
- Payroll giving, this is a tax-free way to donate to any charity, worthy cause or place of worship.
Equal Opportunities
The Workforce Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone.
If your experience differs a little from what is outlined in the job description, or you are missing a desired qualification, yet you think you can bring value to this role, please apply, we would like to hear more about you.
We strongly encourage people of all gender, religion, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
If you need any reasonable adjustments at any point, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to advise on your pronouns, for example she/her, he/him, they/them etc.
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