Skills Development Scotland
Work-Based Learning Quality Adviser
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About Us
At Skills Development Scotland, we help people develop the skills they need and support employers to access the talent required for the future.
Our National Training Programmes Directorate manages, and quality assures publicly funded training across Scotland. Within it, the Quality Assurance and Programme Enhancement team works with learning providers to maintain standards, strengthen practice and improve outcomes.
This is an opportunity to contribute to the continuing development of work-based learning quality arrangements during a period of change across Scotland’s skills landscape.
Be part of something bigger — build skills, change lives!
What You’ll Be Doing
As a Work-based Learning Quality Adviser, you will evaluate the quality and impact of publicly funded apprenticeships and training programmes. Working with learning providers, employers and colleagues, you will:
- Undertake thematic quality reviews and analyse a range of evidence
- Produce clear evaluative reports identifying strengths and areas for improvement
- Review provider self-evaluations and improvement plans
- Provide constructive feedback, advice, coaching and professional learning
- Support the delivery and development of the Apprenticeship Review Cycle
- Produce Sector Reports that identify themes, risks and effective practice across priority industries
- Contribute to improvement projects, pilot activity and working groups
The role combines quality review, analysis, stakeholder engagement, report writing and project work. Your findings will help inform provider improvement and the continuing development of quality arrangements across Scotland’s apprenticeship provision.
You'll work collaboratively with learning providers, SDS colleagues and external stakeholders to support quality enhancement and share effective practice across the work-based learning landscape. Acting as a trusted adviser, you'll use evidence and professional judgement to influence improvement activity and contribute to the ongoing development of SDS quality assurance arrangements.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who can assess evidence objectively, ask effective questions and turn findings into clear, practical feedback. You may already have experience in vocational education, training, employability, quality assurance, inspection or bring transferable skills from another environment where performance, quality or service delivery is assessed against defined standards.
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You will bring:
- Strong analytical and report-writing skills
- The ability to review information, identify themes and make evidence-based recommendations
- Confidence in providing constructive feedback and supporting improvement
- Coaching, facilitation or stakeholder engagement skills that help others develop and succeed
- Effective planning, communication and relationship-building skills
- The ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to change
- Confidence using Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- An interest in quality assurance, continuous improvement and Scotland's work-based learning landscape
Experience of project or programme management, business intelligence, artificial intelligence tools or structured improvement methods would be beneficial but is not essential. Above all, you’ll bring integrity, sound judgement and a collaborative, improvement-focused approach.
Where You’ll be Working
This role can be located at any of our SDS locations, although occasional travel to Glasgow offices will be required. SDS are working to a hybrid working model, therefore the successful applicant is expected to work from both home and an SDS workplace on a regular basis. Happy to discuss this with candidates at Interview.
Please note that most engagement with providers, employers and colleagues takes place through online channels with face-to-face contact where required.
Applicants should be aware that this role is in scope of transfer from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) on 1st April 2027, under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE)
About SDS
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills agency, focused on driving productivity and inclusive economic growth by investing in skills and supporting people and businesses to reach their full potential. Through deep partnership working, expert insights and innovative solutions, SDS helps address Scotland’s skills and labour‑market challenges, ensuring employers can access the talent they need while individuals gain opportunities to develop and thrive. SDS is guided by strong organisational values, placing customers at the heart of everything it does and fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and respect.
Our Values
Our organisational values are created by our colleagues and are the compass that guide our behaviours and actions with our customers and each other. We need our future colleagues to share these values and help us to continue to deliver our bold ambitions for the future;
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- We put the needs of our customers at the heart of all we do
- We make use of our combined strengths and expertise to deliver the best outcomes
- We demonstrate self-motivation, personal responsibility, and respect
- We continually improve to achieve excellence
Why You’ll Love Working Here
SDS is an award-winning, equal opportunities and fair work employer where our culture is driven by our people. The values we share guide how we support our customers—the people of Scotland—and how we support one another. With progressive benefits, flexible ways of working, and a strong focus on wellbeing, engagement, and development, we’re proud to be a great place to work.
Click here to see the full range of our Benefits
How to Apply
The closing date to submit your application is 25TH October 2026. Interviews are due to be scheduled as soon as possible thereafter.
If this opportunity excites you and you would like to discuss the role in more detail to help you decide if it is right for you, please call 0141 468 7008 to speak with the recruiting manager.
Using AI
AI can be a useful tool for drafting or refining your application. Please ensure that everything you submit is accurate and genuinely reflects your own skills, experience and voice. We value authenticity and want to hear your real story.
All applications are reviewed and shortlisted by the hiring manager and not by AI.
One Last (but very important) Thing
At SDS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you've got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. Therefore, while we want to know about your relevant skills and experience, please avoid disclosing any identifying characteristics.
To help you prepare and perform at your best, SDS shares interview questions with all candidates in advance. This removes unnecessary barriers, supports those who benefit from additional preparation time, and helps ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process. This approach is being trialled for 6 months from April 2026.
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