Supply Chain Apprentice Leader

Job Description:

Job Description Summary
As Apprentice Leader, your core responsibilities are to equip Apprentices with the knowledge, practical skills, and motivation to carry out their work activities effectively.
You will have people leadership of approximately 55 Apprentices, across 3 different schemes within a supply chain environment - Business Degree Apprentices (BDAs), Advanced Manufacturing Apprentices (AMAs) & Test-Technician Apprentices (TTAs).
All apprentice schemes are rotational based, ranging from 6-12 months within different supply chain functions. You will oversee the structure of the programmes you own and are responsible for the delivery of these against strategy and standard works that exist, and that you will need to create.
Internal and external stakeholder management is crucial in this role. The Apprentice Lead is responsible for overseeing the development of the schemes, as well as the apprentices themselves.
The Apprentice Lead owns the business-to-business relationship between GE and the chosen training providers, and acts as a point of escalation.
Internally, the Apprentice Lead will need to develop strong working relationships with stakeholders at all levels across supply chain functions, to understand rotation opportunities, the development within them, and to hold rotation managers accountable for the quality of the placements they deliver.
Cohort Coaches are a newly formed, volunteered, structure since 2025, designed to support the apprentices & the Apprentice Leader by being the first point of contact for any escalations or concerns they may have with academic or rotation work. The relationship between the Cohort Coaches & the Apprentice Leader will be crucial to understand 'continue & consider' feedback from both Apprentices & the business so that you can determine where focus & attention needs to be guided.
There are two other Apprentice schemes at Cheltenham - Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship (MEA) & Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (EDA), as well at other Early Careers programs including Edison and Intern Placements. Understanding the synergies of the different schemes & where there is opportunity to connect all of them together will ensure an Early Careers network is formed, and is one that can help & support employees to develop & learn.

Job Description

Key responsibilities
* First & foremost, forming, then developing, professional relationships with Apprentices. Being their soundboard for advice, guiding them on work life as they transition into a professional and regulated environment, progress through the apprenticeship, through to roll off into a full-time role.
* People Leader responsibility including, administration required in line with GE policies, including time sheets, attendance and performance management, academic compliance
* Budget ownership and management
* Rotation management and planning
* Advertisement, recruitment and induction of the apprentices
* Pastoral support and safeguarding of the apprentices
* Overseeing non-technical development and training
* Levy and overall apprentice compliance
* Deliver against our Supply Chain apprentice strategy, focusing on our existing top-5 priorities. Once complete, identify next opportunities for continuous improvement.

Success measures
* Our Mission Statement: "To deliver a high performing Early Careers talent pool by offering cohesive and structured apprenticeship programs, which support academic, personal and professional development, aligned to future business needs.
* Ensuring BDA, AMA & TTA programs meet Apprenticeship standards (Modules, Assignments, End Point Assessments (EPAs).
* 2026 strategy execution & creation of 2027 "pipeline"

Desired Experience
* Experience working within Early Careers
* People Leadership experience

Desired Characteristics
* Strong oral and written communication skills.
* Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems.
* Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs.
* Established project management skills.

Additional Information

Relocation Assistance Provided: No