RTO Trainer Manager

RTO Training Manager

Key selling points

• Lead training quality across five Melbourne training centres
• Develop Trainer Team Leaders and Trainers through practical, visible leadership
• A senior role with genuine authority to improve training and assessment

Are you ready to lead trainers and improve the quality of vocational education?

Start Training is looking for an experienced Training Manager—or an accomplished Trainer ready to take the next step into leadership—to oversee the quality and consistency of training and assessment across our organisation.

This is not a desk-only position.

You will be a visible leader across our five Melbourne training centres, working directly with Trainer Team Leaders, Trainers and operational staff. You will observe training and assessment, coach people, identify emerging risks and ensure issues are followed through to a verified resolution.

This role requires someone who can build strong relationships while maintaining clear standards and accountability. You will support trainers to perform at their best, but you must also be prepared to intervene when training, assessment, safety or student outcomes are at risk.

About Start Training

Start Training is a well-established Registered Training Organisation delivering practical, industry-focused training across Melbourne and at client workplaces.

We are committed to providing students with safe, consistent and high-quality training that prepares them for real workplace requirements.

With five training centres, a diverse course scope and a large team of trainers, we are seeking an experienced leader to strengthen trainer development, assessment quality and operational oversight across the organisation.

About the role

Reporting to the General Manager, the Training Manager will be accountable for the day-to-day quality, consistency and integrity of training and assessment across Start Training.

You will lead and support our Trainer Team Leaders and Trainers and operate a risk-based trainer oversight program incorporating live observations, assessment reviews, coaching, moderation, professional development and performance management.

You do not need to be the technical expert in every course. You will, however, be expected to recognise risk, obtain appropriate specialist advice and take ownership of issues through to resolution.

Your responsibilities will include

• Leading, coaching and supporting Trainer Team Leaders and Trainers across all Start Training locations

• Building trusted and productive relationships through regular face-to-face engagement

• Establishing and maintaining a risk-based trainer and assessor oversight program

• Ensuring new and provisional trainers are properly inducted, observed and approved before undertaking unsupervised delivery or assessment

• Conducting and coordinating live training observations, practical assessment observations and assessment evidence reviews

• Monitoring higher-risk trainers and increasing oversight where complaints, audit findings, performance concerns or new course approvals indicate additional risk

• Ensuring Trainer Team Leaders complete scheduled observations, file reviews, coaching and follow-up activities

• Identifying poor or inconsistent training and assessment practices and implementing timely corrective action

• Coaching trainers to improve delivery, assessment decisions, recordkeeping and professional capability

• Addressing repeated performance concerns through clear expectations, improvement plans and formal performance management where required

• Investigating training and assessment complaints, incidents and identified non-compliance

• Implementing actions arising from internal audits, external audits, validation, complaints and regulatory findings

• Ensuring trainers understand and implement changes to training and assessment resources

• Coordinating trainer induction, onboarding, professional development and vocational currency activities

• Ensuring trainers have the equipment, resources, information and operational support needed to deliver quality training

• Monitoring training facilities, equipment, maintenance, safety documentation and site readiness

• Supporting the coordination and quality of training delivered at client sites

• Improving communication between Trainers, Sales, Compliance and operational teams

• Reporting to the General Manager on trainer performance, emerging risks, corrective actions and overdue activities

• Reviewing courses, systems and processes to improve efficiency, consistency and student outcomes

Working with the Compliance Team

The Training Manager and Compliance Team will work closely together while maintaining clearly defined responsibilities.

The Training Manager will own the operational quality of training and assessment, trainer performance and the implementation of corrective actions.

The Compliance Team will provide regulatory advice, conduct independent monitoring and audits, and verify that corrective actions have been implemented effectively.

This separation ensures trainers receive practical support and direction while Start Training retains independent compliance assurance.

About you

You may already be an experienced Training Manager, Trainer Team Leader or operational leader within vocational education.

Alternatively, you may be a highly experienced Trainer and Assessor who is regularly approached by others for advice and is ready to move into a broader leadership position.

You will be supportive and approachable, but also confident enough to set expectations, make difficult decisions and hold people accountable.

To succeed in this role, you will need

• Extensive experience within vocational education and training
• A strong understanding of competency-based training and assessment
• Sound knowledge of the Standards for RTOs and applicable regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated experience monitoring and improving training and assessment quality
• Experience conducting trainer observations, assessment reviews, moderation or validation activities
• The ability to recognise poor assessment practices and implement effective corrective action
• Experience leading, coaching or mentoring Trainers and Assessors
• The confidence to conduct clear, constructive and sometimes difficult performance conversations
• Strong people and relationship-building skills
• Practical problem-solving and decision-making ability
• The ability to balance trainer support with standards and accountability
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• A record of following issues through to completion and verifying that improvements are effective
• A current trainer and assessor credential accepted under the applicable VET Credential Policy, such as TAE40122 or a recognised equivalent
• A valid driver licence and willingness to travel regularly between Start Training locations

Highly regarded

• Diploma-level Training and Assessment qualification
• Experience responding to regulatory audits or implementing rectification plans
• Experience within high-risk work, construction, traffic management or plant and equipment training
• WorkSafe assessor authorisation or experience working with WorkSafe requirements
• Experience developing or reviewing training and assessment resources
• Experience managing training facilities, equipment and multi-site operations

A leadership role for someone who wants to be involved

This position is suited to someone who enjoys being where training happens.

One day you may be observing a practical assessment and coaching a trainer. The next day you may be supporting a Trainer Team Leader with a performance concern, addressing an equipment issue, reviewing a student complaint or ensuring an audit action has been properly implemented.

You will be expected to listen carefully, use sound judgement, communicate clearly and take ownership of finding and implementing solutions.

Our locations

The role operates across our five Melbourne training centres:

• Ferntree Gully
• Clayton South
• Carrum Downs
• Campbellfield
• Sunshine West

Regular travel between these locations and occasional attendance at client sites are essential requirements of the role.

Why join Start Training?

This is an opportunity to:

• Take on a meaningful leadership role with genuine influence
• Shape training and assessment quality across a growing RTO
• Lead and develop experienced Trainer Team Leaders and Trainers
• Work closely with senior operational, compliance and sales leaders
• Introduce practical improvements that benefit trainers and students
• Help identify and resolve risks before they become significant problems
• Build your leadership career while remaining connected to training delivery

Apply now

If you are a people-focused and standards-driven leader who understands vocational training, enjoys solving problems and wants to make a visible difference, we would like to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining why this role is the right next step for you.

In your cover letter, please include an example of a situation where you identified a training, assessment or trainer performance concern, the action you took and how you confirmed that the issue had been resolved.