Speaking at the ALP's annual conference in Nottingham, Martin Dunford told delegates that changes to the education system would be complicated to put into practice.
In the past, providers worked with the Learning and Skills Council to provide courses for young people.
But from April 2010 they will be expected to liaise with the Young People's Learning Agency, the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service.
Martin Dunford said this would create confusion for providers.
He said: "I do wonder how many opportunities for young people will be lost while the halting, inconsistent, and in some instances chaotic implementation of these machinery of government changes takes place."
Dunford also raised concerns about the extent to which providers will have to work with local authorities, because councils have traditionally had little involvement with post-16 learning providers.
He said: "There is a huge responsibility on the government to ensure maximum visibility for providers at the local authority, sub-regional and regional levels."
