AQA
Qualification Quality Lead

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Qualification Quality Lead
2 Year Fixed Term Contract
Guildford or Milton Keynes: £57,000-£62,500
or Manchester: £54,500-£60,000
Hybrid Working
Shape the future of qualification quality at AQA
Quality isn't just about checking what's already there. It's about defining standards, creating robust frameworks and building the processes that make excellence possible.
As a Qualification Quality Lead (known internally as a Quality & Accreditation Lead), you'll play a key role in shaping how quality is managed across AQA's qualification development programmes. You'll help create and embed the quality assurance approach that underpins qualification design, supports regulatory compliance and ensures materials are ready for accreditation.
This is a rare opportunity to influence how quality, governance and accreditation are managed across a major education organisation during a period of significant reform.
Purpose of the role
This isn't a role where you'll inherit mature processes and simply maintain them.
You'll help define what good looks like.
Working closely with the newly appointed Head of Qualification Quality, you'll help establish and embed quality approaches, governance processes and assurance frameworks that will shape qualification development across AQA.
Working across qualification development, assessment design, regulation and compliance, you'll design and embed quality assurance frameworks, develop audit approaches, establish governance processes and support teams to consistently deliver high-quality qualification materials.
You'll also play an important role in accreditation activity, helping to ensure qualification materials are submission-ready, supporting regulatory engagement and helping coordinate responses to feedback throughout the accreditation process.
In this role, you'll be responsible for:
- Build and shape quality assurance processes from the ground up
- Design and embed quality frameworks, governance processes and audit approaches
- Support accreditation submissions and regulatory engagement activities
- Influence qualification development across multiple subject areas
- Work with senior stakeholders across the business to embed best practice
- Identify opportunities to improve quality, consistency and compliance
- Leave a lasting impact on how qualification quality is managed at AQA
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt 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.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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.
What's in it for you?
The qualifications you support will directly influence the experience of learners across the UK. You'll have the opportunity to shape how quality is embedded across qualification development, helping to establish the standards, controls and governance processes that others rely upon. You'll be joining at a time when qualification reform is creating a rare opportunity to build and embed new approaches to quality assurance, accreditation readiness and continuous improvement across the organisation.
AQA are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package including: a 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working; 25 days' annual leave rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days; up to 11.5 percent combined pension contribution, BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities and an inclusive, values-led culture with employee networks including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith.
You'll thrive in this role if you have:
- Experience building or improving quality assurance frameworks
- Experience working within regulated environments
- Experience of audit, compliance, governance or assurance activities
- Experience managing complex documentation, audit trails or version control processes
- The ability to identify risks, inconsistencies and opportunities for improvement
- Experience influencing stakeholders and embedding new ways of working
- Experience working across complex, cross-organisational processes involving multiple stakeholders, dependencies and competing priorities, with the resilience to work through ambiguity and the confidence to challenge constructively when needed.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We're particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have brought structure to complex environments, introduced best practice and developed sustainable quality processes that others rely upon.
You may currently work in quality assurance, governance, audit, accreditation, compliance, process improvement or another regulated environment where attention to detail, quality oversight and continuous improvement are critical.
You'll be skilled at asking thoughtful questions, constructively challenging where needed and helping others adopt new approaches while maintaining independent quality judgement.
What's Next?
Join us and help define the future of qualification quality at AQA.
Apply today.
Application deadline
To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role by 23:59 on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
Interview process
First stage interviews will take place remotely during the week commencing 12 October 2026.
Second stage interviews will take place in our Manchester, Milton Keynes or Guildford offices depending on candidates' location preferences, during the week commencing 19 October 2026.
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.
Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.
#MCRE
#AREF
“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