At AQA were committed to advancing education and were committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and its our people who make this happen.

Assessment Support Manager

Permanent

Guildford:

Manchester:

Hybrid Working

Precision in Practice. Purpose in Progress.

Youre not here to coast. Youre here to contribute. To take ownership of something that matters. To make sure that when a student sits down to take an exam whats in front of them is fair clear and right.

If youve got a sharp eye for detail a steady hand under pressure and a head for qualitykeep reading.

There are lots of company benefits including a fantastic pension (up to 11.5% employer contributions) a 35 hour working week 25 days annual leave with additional office closure in December and bank holidays on top the opportunity to join lots of network groups (LGBTQ neurodiversity disAbility Empowering Women Wellbeing Ethnic Minority and more) an extensive online learning platform days for volunteering and more. AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyoneregardless of religion ethnicity gender identity or expression age disability sexual orientation or backgroundis valued respected and supported to thrive

At AQA we produce over 2000 exam papers and assessment materials every year. Thats millions of questions answers and mark schemes that shape the futures of hundreds of thousands of students.

As an Assessment Support Manager youll be responsible for a portfolio of specifications. Youll manage the creation and approval of assessment materials support regulatory compliance and ensure the quality of marking and moderation. Youll also work with external associates and internal teams.

Youll be part of a team that champions quality drives improvement and makes sure every assessment is fit for purpose.

Youll need to be confident with data comfortable with compliance and capable of managing processes. Youll need to be a communicator a collaborator and someone who can spot a problem before it becomes one.

Youll also need to care. About students. About standards. About getting it right.

This isnt a stepping-stone role. Its a role where you step up.

If youre ready to bring structure clarity and purpose to the world of assessment wed love to hear from you.

Apply now with your most recent CV and a cover letter to explain why you are the best person for the job.

Applications will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 6 August 2025

Interviews will be over two stages (a video interview and a face to face in either the Manchester or Guildford office whichever is closest to you.)

All applications will receive a written response.

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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.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose:
Assessment Support Managers provide GQ assessment expertise. The role they perform may vary depending on the subject group in which they sit. With support from their Senior Manager of Assessment they manage and are accountable for the quality of the assessment materials for a small portfolio of specifications that are lower in risk and complexity. They are responsible for the quality of the assessment materials for specifications they work on. They support and manage a variety of activities in relation to:

assessment creation and final approval of assessment materials
supporting regulatory compliance and awarding
review of quality of marking and moderation
awarding / grade boundary setting.

They are involved with the recruitment deployment commissioning and management of external associates who create and contribute to our assessment :
Each year over 2000 question papers assessment artefacts mark schemes and modified large print papers are created quality assured and sent to press for domestic and international qualifications by teams across Assessment. These materials are sat by 100000s of students across three examination series and are pivotal part of their next step in education.

The Assessment Management team sits within Assessment and is accountable for the end-to-end quality of all assessment materials from initial planning and creation to marking and awarding of results. Working with senior associates they ensure they are error-free valid reliable and comply to strict regulatory conditions and implement improvements from robust analytical reviews. The team provide subject-assessment expertise on GQ qualifications to AQA to support work on redevelopment and reform as well as any external regulatory work. They work closely with internal teams across Assessment and COO as well as the wider business to champion assessment quality and best practice.

Assessment Management is split into 7 subject groups; English Maths Science Social Sciences Humanities Arts and Technology and Languages. The Assessment Support Manager role sits within one of these subject areas and reports to the Senior Manager of Assessment working closely with Assessment Coordinator and Subject Assessment Lead roles.

Activities:
May perform some or all the following activities depending on the portfolio of specifications.

Manage the Specification Handbooks ensuring detailed guidance on assessment design for a subject is clear including subject specific conventions and regulatory requirements.
Create and/or update specification blueprint documentation to capture series specific assessment requirements that enable senior associates to create high-quality assessment materials.
Quality assure assessment materials to ensure they are valid and in accordance with blueprint documentation and AQAs universal design and design principles.
Manage the creation of assessment materials by following the question paper production process working alongside Assessment Coordinators and Assessment Delivery to ensure the approval and sending to press of assessment materials to time and quality.
Approve assessment materials for all standard and where applicable modified large print and/or braille material that require content changes. Ensure the materials are fit for purpose align with the assessment strategy and are error free.
Calculate and review associate authoring fees.
Monitor and intervene as necessary in standardisation marking moderation and marking review activities to ensure quality of assessment is maintained.
Perform Grade Boundary Officer responsibilities in the awarding process by recommending grade boundaries that ensure comparable outcomes are delivered in line with agreed approach set by the regulator and the Standards and Awarding team.
Recruit deploy and contract manage (including contract review) selected senior associates supported by Associate Services as required.
As necessary contribute to assessment review and product development activity.
As necessary support input into replies to customer complaints relating to assessment materials.
Support the Senior Manager of Assessment in the Assessment response into any Ofqual correspondence on assessment materials.
Input into series incident management process for any issues arising in assessment materials for their portfolio of specifications.
Understand and champion good assessment practice across the organisation with a particular focus on promoting validity in assessments.


To be successful in this role you will need to:
Have a keen interest and knowledge of assessment expertise and delivery best practice.
Be a good communicator both in person and in writing with ability to communicate assessment issues to different audiences.
Manage internal and external stakeholders to manage the delivery of valid and reliable assessments that meet customer needs and regulatory requirements.
Be self-motivated and able to work well on their own and in a team with a willingness to share ideas and best practice and learn from others.
Have experience of coordinating activities across colleagues managing performance effectively and proactively driving improvements in performance.
Have an understanding of statistical data.
Understanding of continuous improvement and quality management principles with the ability to put these into practice in relation to the creation of assessments.
Understand the regulatory environment in which AQA works and the importance of compliance.
Step up by thinking for themselves using sound judgement and holding themselves to account.
Shape tomorrow by looking up out and ahead question what we do and take considered risks to improve and innovate.