SFJ Awards
Product Development Officer

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Job Title: Product Development Officer
Department: Product Team
Location: Sheffield office with Hybrid working
Pay Scale: £33,000 - £36,952 depending on experience.
Contract: Fixed term - 12 months (Maternity cover)
Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)
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 End-Point Assessment (EPA) Organisation approved by the Department for Education to deliver EPA to apprentices for a growing number of apprenticeship 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, product assessment materials and related resources that meet regulatory, organisational and stakeholder requirements. The post holder will ensure that SFJ Awards qualifications, End Point Assessment materials and assessment and accreditation products are compliant with regulatory obligations and meet customer and organisational quality requirements.
The post holder will work under the direction of the Qualifications and Assessments Product Manager as part of a team and will be liaising with and supporting a range of customers and stakeholder bodies involved in the design of qualifications, accreditations and assessment materials aligned to the National Occupational Standards and the End Point Assessment professional standards. They will also be involved in liaising with, assigning work to and reviewing the outputs of external, subject matter experts and associates involved in development activities.
This role requires someone who thrives on being organised yet flexible enough to keep up with developments in a dynamic landscape.
What is the impact of the role on the business?
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.
Key business skills necessary for the role?
The role requires strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills, alongside the ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams. Experience in qualification or product development, quality assurance, problem-solving and regulatory awareness is important, as well as the ability to translate customer and sector feedback into effective products and services.
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What does the daily work look like?
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.
What is unique and original about your team at SFJ Awards?
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.
How does your team deliver a premium service for our 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
What are the three most important professional skills needed for this role?
- Project and product management
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Quality assurance and attention to detail
What are the three most important personal skills needed for this role?
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Initiative and problem-solving
What might surprise people about this 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.
How would you describe the culture of your team?
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:
- Managing a specific SFJ Awards sector and taking responsibility for the products within that sector.
- Working under the direction of the Qualifications and Assessments Product Manager to develop content for SFJ Awards qualifications, accreditation and assessment products.
- Liaising with colleagues and external stakeholders to ensure that developed content meets with organisational and customer quality standards including, where relevant, regulatory body requirements.
- Allocating work to and overseeing delivery by subject matter experts working with SFJ Awards on qualification content development and assessment products.


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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 End Point Assessment resources and assessment materials in line with SFJ Awards procedures, the relevant apprenticeship standard and where relevant, regulatory requirements.
- Following SFJ Awards procedures to review, withdraw, and extend qualifications.
- Developing and providing technical guidance to others in relation to the development and use of qualifications, assessments, and assurance products.
Full job description here and a job pack here
This job requires some days in the Sheffield office. Please consider if you are willing to relocate before applying.
Please include your CV, and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.
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
- We provide 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.
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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