Training & Competence Project Consultant

Do you have a passion for helping individuals in need? Are you an experienced Training & Competency professional? If so, then this could be the perfect opportunity for you. We are the UK’s largest debt advice charity and are currently recruiting for an exciting 6 month fixed term contract role as a Training & Competency Project Consultant. This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-paced ambitious team, working to make a real difference to people’s lives.

StepChange is the largest provider of free and independent debt advice across the UK. We employ over 1,000 colleagues and our frontline services have helped over 7 million people on their journey to becoming debt free, while also campaigning for public policy change.

We have created a Training & Competence Standard which outlines the minimum standard of Training & Competence for all colleagues across our organisation. We now need to develop the individual Training & Competence documents for each part of the business to show how these standards will be achieved in the various roles and teams.

We are looking for an individual who can help us create a pragmatic set of T&C Procedures that satisfy our regulatory commitments in a very practical way that can be managed effectively by our operational teams on a daily basis. This will require thorough project management, strong stakeholder collaboration and a good understanding of Training & Competence in a Financial Services regulated environment, the associated risk requirements and the realities of working in a fast paced, high volume operational environment.

Where you’ll work:

We operate a hybrid working model combining remote working with some days in our modern Leeds city centre office.

What you will be doing:

• Lead the Training & Competence project from idea to implementation delivering to agreed scope, cost, quality and timescales, gaining acceptance and buy in to the approach from all key stakeholders in line with the change management framework for the organisation
• Produce standardised T&C Procedures for each area of the organisation in partnership with stakeholders and working groups from each area, ensuring full sign off by key stakeholders with appropriate records retained
• Ensure all areas identified by the risk gap analysis are addressed and incorporated into the T&C Procedures documents and are fully aligned to our overarching T&C Standards
• Work with key sponsors and stakeholders to agree an engagement approach, project outcomes and how these will be measured post implementation, giving key consideration to outcomes linked to Consumer Duty
• Track progress against the project plan and implement strategies to recover slippage, working with the wider project team
• Identify timescales, effort and costs for the project and secure appropriate resources to work on the project and define clear roles and responsibilities
• Ensure all T&C Procedures are aligned to the operating model of each area of the organisation, and can be practically communicated, implemented, and embedded
• Support the communication and training plan of the final T&C Procedures across the organisation
• Create a BAU process to record, review, monitor and report data at a departmental level which can then be shared periodically with the Risk and L&D Teams for the purpose of organisation wide reporting, evaluation, and action planning to ensure that T&C Procedures are being updated, maintained, and managed correctly and consistently across the charity
• Identify and minimise organisational wide risk across all areas of responsibility

Further information can be found in the attached job description / role profile.

What we want from you:

• Demonstrable experience working with Training & Competence in a demanding, high volume Financial Services/ Regulated environment
• Project management of learning & development initiatives
• Be able to influence up to and including Senior Manager level
• Project management qualification (desirable)
• Relationship building and partnering skills
• A pragmatic mindset and a commitment to creating workable solutions in line with regulatory requirements

What we offer you:

• 24 days annual leave (this increases by one day per year up to a maximum of 29), plus bank holidays
• The opportunity to buy and sell annual leave
• Hybrid working- with IT equipment provided when you’re working from home
• A personal career plan and ongoing training and development and support with role-related professional subscriptions and qualifications
• Travel season ticket loans
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Group pension scheme
• Group Company Life Assurance
• Westfield Health cash plan with employee discounts in high street shops
• Vitality at Work health and wellbeing
• Employee assistance programme
• Access to financial planning and advice
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per year
• Long service awards
• Free hot drinks (tea, coffee, hot chocolate) in the office

Equality, diversity, and inclusion:

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are incredibly important to us; we have a culture of belonging. We’re always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce to ensure we can provide the best service possible for everyone. It’s not just about the professional experience you bring – we’re interested in who you are and your potential. If there’s an adjustment to our recruitment process that would help you to be your best, speak to our team and they’ll be happy to help.