Operational or Departmental Manager
An operations or departmental manager is someone who manages teams and/or projects, and achieving operational or departmental goals and objectives, as part of the delivery of the organisation’s strategy.
Overview of the role
An operations or departmental manager is someone who manages teams and/or projects, and achieving operational or departmental goals and objectives, as part of the delivery of the organisation’s strategy. They are accountable to a more senior manager or business owner. Working in the private, public or third sector and in all sizes of organisation, specific responsibilities and job titles will vary, but the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed will be the same. Key responsibilities may include creating and delivering operational plans, managing projects, leading, and managing teams, managing change, financial and resource management, talent management, coaching and mentoring. Roles may include:
- Operations manager
- Regional manager
- Divisional manager
- Department manager
- Specialist managers
Details of the Standard
An apprenticeship standard is the nationally recognised training programme mapped for a specific role. Each standard is developed by industry-leading employers and apprenticeship experts. The operations or departmental manager Standard consists of training and other activities where knowledge, skills and behaviours are acquired, allowing the apprentice to learn, develop and apply practical skills with their new competencies.
Duration
Typical duration: 30 months, plus up to 5 months to complete the End-Point-Assessment.
Entry Requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements to start on this apprenticeship.
English and maths
To complete the apprenticeship the employee must pass level 2 English and maths, (or have the appropriate exemption certificate before undertaking their End-Point-Assessment.
Curriculum, delivery and readiness for End-Point-Assessment
Swatpro Academy's bespoke programme will cover all the mandatory knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in the standard. Apprentices will have access to Swatpro Clicks to Learn Centre with courses mapped against the curriculum. The delivery will include 20% 'off-the-job' training, through a blend of remote, online and in the workplace training. The tutor will review progress with both apprentice and employer at least once every 8 weeks. When the apprentice has reached the required level, they are entered into the phase known as 'gateway' for their End-Point-Assessments (EPA) undertaken with an independent Assessment Organisation.
End-Point-Assessment
The EPA will typically be completed within a 5-month period. The End-Point Assessment consists of 2 components:
Professional Discussion, underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
The professional discussion must last 60 minutes. The professional discussion will be conducted as set out here:
- The professional discussion is a structured two-way conversation between the apprentice and an independent assessor.
- The professional discussion must be appropriately structured to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence.
- A minimum of 6 questions and may ask follow up questions for clarification purposes and to allow the apprentice the opportunity to cover the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The apprentice and the independent assessor will have access to their own copies of the portfolio throughout the professional discussion and both can refer to it as needed.
Project proposal, presentation, and questioning.
A project proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit. The project proposal must be undertaken after the apprentice has gone through the gateway. Apprentices will prepare and deliver a presentation that, along with the proposal, appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment. It will be followed by questioning from the independent assessor. Apprentices must include evidence of leadership support of the project proposal detailing what has been implemented to date, which must be included as an appendix so that this can be discussed during the presentation (this could be either an email, letter or similar written confirmation). The evidence provided must be valid and attributable to the apprentice; the project proposal must contain a statement from the employer confirming this.
Completion
Independent end assessor confirms that each assessment element has been completed. The overall grade is determined by the independent end assessor based on the combination of performance in all assessment activities and must include distinction in both assessment methods to achieve distinction overall.
Progression
On completion, apprentices can register as full members with the Chartered management institute and/or the Institute of leadership and management, and those with 3 years of management experience can apply for Chartered manager status through the CMI.