Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Vocational Skills Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Vocational Skills Coordinator designs, implements and coordinates high-quality vocational and work-based learning programs that connect learners to industry, employers, and sustainable employment pathways. This role combines curriculum development, employer engagement, case management, program administration, compliance and continuous improvement to ensure measurable learner outcomes, high placement rates, and alignment with labor market needs.

Primary keywords: vocational training coordinator, apprenticeship coordinator, work-based learning, curriculum design, employer engagement, case management, VET, training compliance, skills development.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Training Officer / Training Facilitator with vocational delivery experience
Case Manager or Employment Advisor in workforce programs
Industry Trainer or SME (subject matter expert) transitioning into program coordination

Advancement To:

Senior Vocational Program Manager
Workforce Development Manager
Manager, Apprenticeships & Employer Partnerships
Director of Skills & Employability

Lateral Moves:

Curriculum Developer / Instructional Designer (VET focus)
Employer Engagement Manager / Business Development for training providers
Quality Assurance or Compliance Officer in education or training

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop and continuously refine competency-based vocational curricula, course materials and assessment tools that comply with national training packages, industry certification standards and employer expectations, ensuring relevance to current labor market needs.
Coordinate intake, enrollment and case management for learners including eligibility checks, individualized learning plans, progress reviews, barrier identification and referrals to support services to maximize retention and completion rates.
Establish and manage employer partnerships and apprenticeship relationships by proactively engaging local businesses, securing work-placement opportunities, negotiating training agreements and aligning on competency outcomes and on-the-job learning objectives.
Plan and deliver instructor-led and blended vocational training sessions, workshops, pre-employment bootcamps and workplace readiness modules that include practical skills, safety, soft skills and digital literacy components.
Oversee learner assessment and competency verification processes, coordinate internal and external assessors, maintain evidence portfolios and prepare candidates for certification and accreditation audits.
Monitor learner performance and post-training outcomes using a learner management system (LMS) or management information system (MIS); prepare regular KPI reports on enrolments, completions, placements and employer satisfaction for funders and senior leadership.
Manage program budgets, resource allocation and procurement for training materials, equipment, PPE and specialist machinery to ensure safe, compliant and cost-efficient delivery.
Implement health, safety and safeguarding protocols for training environments and workplace placements, perform risk assessments and ensure compliance with occupational safety regulations and funder requirements.
Coordinate logistics for on-site and off-site training delivery including scheduling trainers, booking facilities, arranging transport or host employer visits and maintaining up-to-date equipment and consumables inventories.
Recruit, onboard and mentor vocational trainers, workplace coaches and assessors; deliver trainer development, calibration sessions and quality assurance checks to maintain consistent assessment and delivery standards.
Lead employer-facing recruitment campaigns, job fairs and industry information sessions to raise program visibility, drive placements and strengthen regional employer networks.
Conduct local labor market analysis and training needs assessments to identify priority sectors, emerging skills gaps and opportunities to adapt program offerings for higher employability impact.
Manage contracts and compliance with government funders, apprenticeship authorities and accreditation bodies, ensuring timely reporting, audit readiness and adherence to contractual milestones and funding rules.
Develop and maintain learner support frameworks that include career counselling, resume and interview preparation, psycho-social referrals and tailored work-readiness interventions that improve employability outcomes.
Track and support graduate transition to employment through placement monitoring, employer follow-up, three- and six-month outcome surveys and case closure activities that feed into continuous improvement cycles.
Create high-quality reports, funding acquittals, case studies and impact narratives that demonstrate program value, support grant applications and inform stakeholder briefings and board reports.
Use data-driven approaches to evaluate program effectiveness, identify trends, implement corrective actions and scale best-practice models across sites or cohorts.
Maintain accurate learner records, assessment evidence, attendance registers and placement agreements in accordance with privacy, funding and regulatory standards.
Resolve workplace and training-related issues between learners, trainers and employers, mediate conflicts and escalate safeguarding or conduct matters to senior management when required.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives including curriculum upgrades, digital learning integrations, competency re-mapping and the adoption of industry-recognized micro-credentials or stackable certificates.
Facilitate stakeholder steering groups and cross-sector partnerships with schools, community organizations, industry bodies and government agencies to co-design pathways, apprenticeships and employer-based training solutions.
Support marketing and outreach activities by developing course brochures, digital content, SEO-optimized job and training adverts and social media campaigns to attract prospective candidates and host employers.
Ensure equitable access and inclusion across programs by implementing targeted outreach, reasonable adjustments, culturally responsive practices and supports for learners with disabilities or barriers to participation.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc program evaluations and contribute to grant writing and proposal development for vocational initiatives.
Assist in the integration and administration of vocational technology platforms (LMS, e-portfolio systems) and provide basic troubleshooting and user support.
Participate in cross-functional project teams to pilot innovative delivery models such as simulated workplaces, industry micro-credentials or employer co-designed curriculums.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regional apprenticeship incentives, funding cycles and employer subsidy options to support recruitment and placement efforts.
Represent the organization at industry roundtables, accreditation meetings and community stakeholder events as required.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design and instructional design for vocational education and training (VET), including mapping to national training packages and competency frameworks.
Assessment and verification skills: creating assessment tools, performing competency-based assessments and managing evidence portfolios.
Employer engagement and apprenticeship coordination, including arranging work placements and negotiating training contracts.
Case management and learner support: individualized learning plans, counseling basics and referral pathways for wraparound services.
Program monitoring & evaluation (M&E): KPI tracking, outcome measurement, impact reporting and data-driven continuous improvement.
Management Information Systems (MIS) / Learning Management Systems (LMS) proficiency for enrolments, attendance, assessment tracking and reporting.
Knowledge of funding compliance, contract management and reporting for government-funded vocational programs and apprenticeships.
Health & safety and workplace compliance knowledge relevant to vocational workshops and industry placements.
Budget management and procurement for training resources, equipment and consumables.
Familiarity with digital learning tools, e-portfolios, virtual labs and blended delivery methods.

Soft Skills

Strong stakeholder management and relationship building with employers, industry bodies, funders and community partners.
Excellent communication: presentation, facilitation and negotiation skills for delivery to diverse audiences.
Problem solving and conflict resolution in workplace and learning contexts.
Organizational skills and time management for coordinating multiple cohorts and placements simultaneously.
Coaching and mentoring ability to support trainers, assessors and learners to achieve competency outcomes.
Cultural competence and inclusive practice for working with diverse learner cohorts.
Adaptability and initiative to respond to shifting labor market demands and program priorities.
Attention to detail and high standards of documentation for audit and compliance readiness.
Results orientation with a strong focus on learner outcomes, placement rates and employer satisfaction.
Analytical mindset to interpret performance data and translate findings into actionable program improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Diploma or Associate Degree in Vocational Education & Training, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Social Services, Business Administration or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Vocational Education, Education, Human Services, Workforce Development, or a related discipline.
Postgraduate qualifications in Training & Assessment (TAE40116 or equivalent), Project Management or Education Leadership preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Vocational Education & Training (VET)
Adult and Continuing Education
Workforce Development / Human Services
Business or Project Management
Occupational Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7+ years of combined vocational training delivery, employer engagement, apprenticeship coordination, or workforce program management.

Preferred:

At least 2 years coordinating apprenticeships or work-based learning and 3+ years in vocational program delivery.
Demonstrated success in employer partnership development, measurable placement outcomes and managing government-funded training contracts.
Experience using LMS/MIS platforms for monitoring learner progress and producing funder-compliant reports.
Prior experience supervising trainers or assessors, delivering trainer professional development and performing quality assurance activities.