Graduate & Apprenticeship Dev Manager

Title : Graduate & Apprenticeship Development Manager

Location: Palestra/Hybrid
Pay Band: Band 3
Salary: £55,000 - £62,000 + TfL benefits 
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Our city. Made better by you

Are you passionate about developing early careers talent and shaping the future of TfL?

We’re not just about getting people from A to B — we’re about creating opportunities, building careers, and developing the talent that will keep London moving for generations to come.

We’re looking for two additional strategic and inclusive Graduate and Apprenticeship Development Managers to join our Early Careers team reporting to the Early Careers Lead. You’ll work alongside two other managers in playing a pivotal role in delivering inclusive, future-focused development programmes that support early careers talent across TfL.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop, coach and performance manage a team of up to 4 Early Careers development professionals.
• Lead the design and delivery of graduate, internship, and apprenticeship programmes aligned with TfL’s strategic goals and the Government’s skills agenda.
• Oversee participant development by ensuring they are coached, meet key milestones, and secure substantive roles upon programme completion.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external training providers, and educational institutions to ensure high-quality, compliant development pathways.
• Lead the procurement and contract management of apprenticeship training providers in line with service level agreements.
• Oversee internal and external talent events that support participant development, foster cross-group interaction, and showcase the talent pipeline.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across all early careers’ initiatives.
• Support the Early Careers Lead in managing elements of the Early Careers budget and ensuring compliant drawdown of funds from TfL’s Apprenticeship Levy.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in managing early careers or job entry programmes in a large, complex organisation - essential.
• Expertise in designing inclusive development programmes that link to talent strategies – essential.
• Strong understanding of apprenticeship standards, government funding rules, and the Apprenticeship Levy - essential.
• A strategic mindset with strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organisational change - essential.
• Experience of working with universities, colleges, and apprenticeship training providers – essential.
• Passion for talent development, with a track record of coaching and mentoring others - essential.
• Experience of managing and developing a team – desirable.
• Data analytics and insight generation skills to inform decisions and influence outcomes – essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge of employment and equality law and how to apply it in a development context – desirable.
• Budget oversight and contract management experience – desirable
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership approach that reflects our values: Caring, Open, Adaptable.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of TfL’s workforce and support the development of our next generation of talent.

TfL Safeguarding Statement

We take the safety and security of transport and travelling in London, and all the activities we are responsible for, very seriously. We want to further improve the safety and security of our organisation and its services. We want to do all we can to protect our staff, customers and everyone working with us from harm and injury. We recognise that some groups – children and adults at risk – need greater levels of protection when using or encountering us and our services.

Our work in the Graduate, Apprentice and Intern team involves working directly with children and overseeing organisations we partner with and therefore requires enhanced DBS checks.

How to Apply

Please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV.  In addition to your CV please provide a covering letter of no more than 500 words that addresses the following question: -

"How will you lead your team in collaboration with peers to deliver high-quality Early Careers outcomes, balancing stakeholder needs while building the skills and capabilities TfL needs now and in the future?"

Please consider your motivation for the role and the skills, knowledge, and experience in the advert in your application. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 24th July 2025 @ 23.59

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits 

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow.  Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:

•    Final salary pension scheme 
•    Free travel for you on the TfL network 
•    Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
•    30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays 
•    TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow.
•    Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional) 
•    Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
•    Retail, health, leisure and travel offers 
•    Discounted Eurostar travel