Academy Officer

The West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering an ambitious agenda for the region, focused on unlocking opportunity, connecting people to good work and creating the conditions for our communities, businesses and places to thrive. To deliver the Mayor’s ambitions, the West Midlands Growth Plan and our wider organisational priorities, we need people across WMCA to have the right skills, confidence, knowledge and support to do their best work.

As Academy Officer, you will play a key role in designing, implementing and continuously improving the new WMCA Academy. You will help establish the governance, processes, systems and organisational discipline needed to create an efficient and scalable service that makes learning easier to access, better connected to workforce priorities and more impactful for colleagues, managers and leaders.

As the Academy evolves, you will need to be comfortable working with uncertainty and able to turn emerging ideas and strategic priorities into clear, practical and well controlled delivery. You will be exceptionally organised and resilient, able to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records, track risks, decisions and actions and follow work through to completion. You will also use sound judgement to recognise when delivery needs to accelerate and when more time is needed to test, refine or secure agreement.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating order, improving processes and ensuring activity runs smoothly behind the scenes. Through effective governance, data, digital tools, learning pathways and stakeholder engagement, you will help build a culture of continuous learning that supports our People & Culture Strategy and helps WMCA become the best place to work and belong.

**This is a fixed-term contract until 30 November 2028.**

What you’ll be doing.

• Support the day-to-day design, planning and, once launched, operation of the WMCA Academy, ensuring activity, governance, administration, reporting, risks, actions and stakeholder commitments are effectively coordinated and delivered.
• Support the design and maintenance of Academy systems, records, career development and learning pathways, guidance, resources and communications, ensuring information is accurate, accessible, up to date and efficiently managed.
• Coordinate Academy governance arrangements, including meetings, reporting cycles, action tracking, performance dashboards, quality assurance and documentation.
• Produce and analyse management information, performance reports and learner data to support decision-making, monitor progress and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work collaboratively with People Business Partners, Organisational Development and Change, Talent, Workforce Planning, Internal Communications and wider stakeholders to ensure activity is aligned, well managed and delivers agreed outcomes.
• Support supplier management, contract administration, financial monitoring and procurement activity, ensuring learning investment is effectively managed and delivers value for money.
• Identify and implement improvements to processes, systems and ways of working, helping to create a more efficient, streamlined and scalable Academy service.
• Research emerging technologies, AI, digital learning trends and workforce development practice, making evidence-based recommendations that improve service delivery and the learner experience.

What’s essential.

• Experience of coordinating projects, programmes or organisational initiatives
• Experience of developing, maintaining or administering learning and development services, systems or programmes
• Experience of producing reports, performance information and management data
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills
• Educated to Level 4 or above in HR, Learning and Development or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Commitment to continuing professional development

For a full list of duties and essential criteria, please refer to the job description attached.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

There may be a requirement to work outside normal office hours on occasion, including working within stakeholder and partner offices within the WMCA constituent area on a regular basis.

How to apply. 

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
2. Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
3. Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
4. Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Please note, we reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role. 

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs). 
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days. 
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.   
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses. 

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours. 

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
  
  
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact. 
  
  
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
  
  
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).