AQA
Lead Researcher
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Lead Researcher
Permanent
Guildford: £47,500 - £54,300
Manchester: £45,600 - £52,100
Working Arrangements: Hybrid, two days a week in the office, including one anchor day and one flexible day
About the Role
At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.
Shape research that influences the future of assessment and supports learners of all abilities.
AQA is looking for a Lead Researcher to develop and deliver research and evaluation projects across the assessment field, including vocational reform and the development of new assessment products. You’ll bring assessment research expertise and turn evidence into insight that supports decisions across AQA and the wider sector.
This is a permanent, research-focused role with visible impact at a time of change in education and assessment. You’ll join the Research and Evaluation team within Assessment Research and Innovation, supporting valid, inclusive and innovative assessments across paper-based and digital settings.
Responsibilities
In this role, you’ll be responsible for:
- Leading research and evaluation projects in a matrix structure, balancing project leadership with technical input.
- Applying methodological expertise to design, deliver and interpret qualitative or quantitative research.
- Providing assessment expertise for vocational and new assessment product workstreams.
- Line managing and supporting a small number of more junior researchers, including coaching and development support.
- Building relationships with stakeholders across AQA, including product management, vocational, sales, marketing, digital and edtech teams.
- Communicating research clearly through reports, presentations and other outputs for internal and external audiences.
- Developing an expert voice in assessment and representing AQA where appropriate.
Requirements
You’ll thrive in this role if you have:
- Demonstrable assessment research expertise and a sound understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the sector.
- A master’s degree in psychology, education, social sciences or a related area, with doctoral study or equivalent experience being beneficial.
- Secure knowledge of research methodologies and confidence designing and delivering qualitative and quantitative projects.
- Strong stakeholder management skills.
- Experience using tools such as R, Python or NVivo, depending on your research background.
- Experience managing research projects or people through line management, matrix management or project leadership.
- Experience presenting research findings to a wide range of audiences.
- Wider education research experience may also be relevant where it links closely to assessment.
What’s in it for you?
- The chance to make a meaningful impact on education while developing your profile as an expert voice in assessment research.
- A permanent, research-only role with the opportunity to have real impact in the field.
- Long-term impact across vocational and new assessment product workstreams expected to develop over the next three to five years.
- A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
- 25 days’ annual leave rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days.
- A benefits package including up to 11.5 percent pension contribution, BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.
- Training, development and mentoring in a team with broad expertise across social and natural sciences.
- An inclusive, values-led culture with employee networks including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith.
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Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone - regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background - is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
What’s Next?
- Applications are expected to close on Monday 31 August 2026.
- Shortlisting and screening are expected during the week commencing Monday 7 September 2026.
- The process will include an initial Teams conversation followed by a face-to-face interview.
- AQA may close the advert earlier if a high volume of suitable applications is received.
- Successful candidates will be unable to maintain an Associate role with AQA or any other exam board.
- Please note that an Enhanced DBS will be required for the successful candidate.
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Full Job Description
Summary
Purpose:
- The Lead Researcher will be responsible for developing and delivering research and evaluation projects and services.
- They will use their extensive assessment expertise to provide proactive advice and guidance to managers and other colleagues from across AQA on research and evaluation related issues, and the relationship of these to their areas of work.
- To work with colleagues from across the business, develop and deliver research and evaluation projects and services for the business, encompassing, as appropriate, operational, assessment design and policy research.
- To provide guidance and expertise to support the work of the Research and Evaluation Team, through peer reviewing, and contributing to CPD activities as required.
- Where appropriate, represent AQA at seminars and conferences and on industry-wide groups, sharing insights and expertise to inform and influence decision making and thought in the industry.
- To use strong interpersonal and communication skills to influence and build rapport with a diverse range of stakeholders internally and externally and to be a role model for a partnership based matrix style of working.
- Develop and maintain collaborative working practices that feed into AQA’s strategic objectives and facilitate knowledge exchange and co-creation of research and evaluation outputs.
Landscape:
The Lead Researcher will work within the Research and Evaluation team. The team sits within the Assessment Research and Innovation business area and carries out qualitative and quantitative educational research with the goal of supporting AQA to develop innovative, valid and inclusive assessments, whether on paper or on screen, and lead thinking in the sector. Our research programme defines our active areas of interest: accessibility, fairness and SEND; digital assessment (formative and summative); validity and innovation; marking, grading and standards. Our team’s background is in the social and natural sciences and encompasses a broad spectrum of areas of expertise. The successful candidate will have access to a variety of training, development, and mentoring opportunities.
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Activities:
- Applying in-depth methodological expertise to design research.
- Lead on planning, conducting and delivering research within a matrix management structure, balancing project-level leadership and management with technical input, to ensure successful delivery of research workstreams.
- To support Research Fellows and Researchers in the delivery of projects.
- Contributing to research impact and engagement through report writing and other forms of dissemination and communication, developing a recognisable voice within the business as well as a public voice in the assessment research community that contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of AQA’s reputation in educational assessment.
- Contributing to the ongoing development of the team’s research and development practice, promoting a positive team culture.
- Build effective working relationships with internal colleagues, influencing thinking in relation to research and evaluation.
- Ensuring compliance with AQA’s policies and procedures, with particular regard to Ethics and Data Protection.
- To line manage more junior researchers and offer coaching and development support.
To be successful in this role, you will need to know/have knowledge and experience of:
- Doctoral study (or an equivalent professional qualification or demonstrable experience) in psychology, education or the social sciences, which will ideally include statistical training.
- Strong assessment expertise and knowledge of the assessment research environment and awareness of key debates, players and influencers.
- In-depth knowledge of a range of research methodologies and evaluation techniques and their purposes, uses and potential impact.
- A knowledge of a range of data analysis software packages such as ‘R’, Python and NVivo.
- Experience of research project management within a matrix structure.
- Demonstrable ability to communicate research findings to a range of stakeholders and in a variety of formats (written and spoken forms).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, as well as to lead, motivate and coordinate people within projects.
- To succeed: you will need to demonstrate an agile mindset, able to work flexibility and adapt to changing business needs.
- You will have the ability to think critically about how exams and tests are made, how they work, and how they affect education and life chances.
- You will be methodical with excellent attention to detail, capable of understanding and synthesising complex, diverse and incomplete information and able to present reasoned arguments.
- You will have the ability and credibility to build strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- You will be able to set and meet deadlines and work within resource constraints.
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