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EPA Standard
Operations or Departmental Manager
Level 5 
£7,000 
30 months
1. What the role entails
An Operations or Departmental Manager is someone who manages teams and/or projects, and achieves 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. 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.
2. On-programme assessment
Before entering Gateway, the apprentice must complete the following onprogramme assessment requirements:
- Level 2 English and maths
- A completed portfolio of evidence.
3. Gateway requirements
The decision to take an apprentice through Gateway is made between the employer, independent training provider and apprentice. The apprentice must have completed all the on-programme elements before they enter Gateway, including the completion of a Portfolio of Evidence. The apprentice must also submit a brief summary of a Project Proposal at Gateway.
4. End-point assessment
The EPA for Operations or Departmental Manager contains two methods of assessment:
Professional Discussion underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence
The Professional Discussion will last for 60 minutes and is graded Fail, Pass, Distinction.
Project Proposal, Presentation and Questioning
This assessment method consists of 2 components: the Project Proposal and the Presentation with Questioning. The Project Proposal will be 4,000 words and the maximum duration is 12 weeks. The Presentation with Questioning will last 60 minutes. These components will be assessed holistically and the assessment method will be graded Fail, Pass, Distinction.
5. Grade aggregation table
| Professional discussion | Project proposal, presentation and questioning | Overall grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Distinction | Pass |
| Distinction | Pass | Pass |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
If any assessment method is failed, the overall grade will be deemed a Fail.
6. Completion and certification
We’ll activate certification once the apprentice has successfully completed all EPAs, and the IEPA has verified this. Working with the apprenticeship certificate issuing authority, we’ll ensure the apprentice receives their certificate.
7. What next?
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 Chartered Management Institute.
Why NCFE?
We’re an approved End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) specialising in EPA delivery across health, education, early years, digital, social care, finance and business apprenticeship standards. We offer flexible and reliable EPA solutions supported by sector expertise, guidance documents and proactive service and support.