AQA
Qualification Development Lead
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Qualification Development Lead – Permanent
About AQA and the Role
At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education for both our people and students. As the UK’s largest provider of academic qualifications, we examine over 10 million papers annually, and our exceptional staff make this possible.
We’re seeking a Qualification Development Lead to help shape the future of qualifications in the UK. This is a permanent role, available in Manchester (£53,000–£61,000) and Guildford (£55,500–£63,500), with hybrid working (minimum 2 days in-office).
About the Role
You’ll be part of an exciting, newly formed team, responsible for developing and accrediting future qualifications. Reporting to a Senior Qualification Development Manager, your work will bridge education policy, assessment principles, and customer needs to deliver specifications that empower teachers and learners across the UK.
This work involves cross-functional collaboration with subject experts, Associates (senior examiners), and specialist colleagues to ensure standards, compliance, and a positive learning experience.
Key Responsibilities
Qualification Development
- Develop high-quality specifications and supporting materials aligned with regulatory frameworks and AQA’s strategic goals.
- Manage Associates (external subject matter experts) to deliver detailed, accurate content compliant with DfE subject requirements and Ofqual guidelines.
- Ensure clarity, coherence, and accessibility in customer-facing documents, leveraging technology and publishing tools.
Regulatory and Quality Assurance
- Oversee the accreditation process with Ofqual, ensuring all submissions meet quality standards.
- Coordinate feedback action plans, including Ofqual responses, resubmissions, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Maintain a RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) log and robust documentation for audits.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Assessment Strategy and Collaboration
- Work closely with Assessment Design & Principles Leads to align specimen materials, assessment strategies, and regulatory compliance.
- Champions diversity and inclusion (ED&I) principles across qualification development.
- Matrix-manage interdisciplinary work, ensuring cultural, pedagogical, and commercial relevance.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Engage with customers (teachers, subject experts) through concept and market testing, refining specifications based on feedback.
- Collaborate with product managers to enhance customer support materials post-launch.
- Drive continuous improvement in process design.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrated experience in qualifications development, assessment, or educational publishing.
- Strong technical knowledge of DfE policy, Ofqual regulation, and qualification design principles.
- Excellent written and collaborative skills with proven experience managing diverse stakeholders.
- Proficient management of documents, deadlines, and version control in fast-paced environments.
- Ability to balance detail-oriented work with strategic oversight.
- Resilience and adaptability when navigating feedback and competing priorities.
Desired Criteria
- Experience in regulatory or awarding bodies, specifically with qualification accreditations.
- Familiarity with education market needs, accessibility standards, or specimen assessment production.
- Experience using content collaboration and publishing platforms.
- Portfolio of work demonstrating innovation in enhanced specifications or assessments.
Why Join AQA?
✅ Impactful work: Develop qualifications shaping UK education and teacher practice. ✅ Hedges: Contribute to organisational process improvement and diversity initiatives. ✅ Hybrid flexibility: Earn a generous salary with dynamic work arrangements.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Key Benefits
- Excellent pension (18.5% employer + employee contribution).
- 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave (with service progression).
- BUPA private healthcare and employee networks (including LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity, and Black & BAME forums).
- Four paid volunteering days – "Up to four very days" (up to four paid days).
- Commitment to equitable processes, including reasonable adjustments support.
Diversity & Inclusion
We’re Team free Big O – a champion for equal opportunity, equality, and inclusive leadership. Applications from people of all backgrounds are expressly welcome, including those with neurodiverse or disability considerations.
At this stage, rejected applications will not be retained beyond July 2025.
Contact: FAE Harrison, Development Manager | fharrison@aqa.org.uk
Application Process
Stage 1: Expressions of Interest
We’re asking candidates to submit:
- CV/Resume
- Supporting statement (1 page) outlining their:
- Relevance to qualification/assessment development.
- Transferable skills and progress in education impact.
- Two executive interview questions:
- Aligned with essential criteria.
- Review scheduled for mid-July 2025.
Stage 2: Video Interview
Shortlisted candidates will complete a recorded responses stage.
Stage 3: Face-to-Face Interview
Finalists will participate in a practical exercise assessing their approach to:
- Qualification development.
- Problem-solving and quality assurance.
Closing date: Monday 6 July 2026 for Expression of Interest phase.
AQA hereby disclaims awareness of extraordinary circumstances and will only create registered roles per legal safeguarding requirements. For questions about temporary roles, email: *temprectuit@aqa.org. Read (title not specified) Privacy Policy for further details.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills