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.

Product Owner

Permanent
Manchester (Hybrid 2 days a week in the office)
Salary: 52763 - 58914 Benefits

AQA is looking for a Product Owner who can do more than just manage a backlog. We need someone who can translate big-picture strategy into a clear delivery pipeline and then make sure that pipeline flows smoothly from idea to value.

Youll be responsible for Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Customer Service & Sales) Power Platform and related applications shaping long-term roadmaps driving adoption and making sure these tools deliver maximum impact across the organisation. As our AI adoption journey develops your product remit may grow into new areas such as Copilot Studio.

Sitting in our Enterprise Applications team youll be a key link between business stakeholders delivery teams and suppliers. Youll balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery working in an agile environment to prioritise demand manage dependencies and champion continuous improvement.

What youll need to bring

• Proven Product Owner or pipeline delivery management experience.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Power Platform and related Azure ecosystem products.
• Ability to consult influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience using Agile methodologies and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps).
• Solid understanding of ITIL principles change/release management and software delivery best practice.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a customer-first mindset.

What youll do

• Lead the planning prioritisation and delivery of product roadmaps and backlogs.
• Act as the bridge between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.
• Optimise system usage licensing and performance through ongoing review.
• Support BAU operations while driving strategic improvements.
• Stay ahead of industry and product developments to inform roadmaps.
• Ensure solutions are secure compliant and aligned with organisational goals.
• Matrix-manage resources to deliver high-quality outputs at pace.

What youll get in return

• 25 days holiday bank holidays Christmas shutdown.
• Flexible working and genuine investment in your development.
• 35-hour week.
• Excellent pension (6% 11.5% employer contribution).
• Enhanced family leave.

What next
Apply via our portal. Every applicant gets a written response.

Closing date for applications: Monday 1st September

AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression sexual orientation religion ethnicity age neurodiversity disability status citizenship or any other aspect which makes people unique

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: As a Product Owner in the Enterprise Applications team you will play a crucial role in the planning delivery and ongoing management of our service offering ensuring optimal use of the products across AQA. Focused on Microsoft Dynamics 365 (CS & Sales) Power Platform and related applications your role is key to driving the long-term product roadmaps and day-to-day pipeline of work to maximize the value that the business gains from these applications. As we move forward on our AI adoption journey this product remit may expand accordingly (e.g. to aligned areas such as copilot studio).
Operating within an agile framework you will collaborate with business stakeholders and technical/functional experts across multiple teams leading on the prioritisation of demand. You will champion the applications to users and proactively drive improvement opportunities whilst also supporting BAU support and : The role reports into the Head of Enterprise Applications who in turn reports into the Director of Enterprise Technology. The Product Owner works closely with the Functional and Governance members of the team and matrix manages relevant resources such as BAs as required. The role is a gateway to the delivery team and a key business partner interface to stakeholders of all levels across all business areas particularly those in Customer & Product and Chief Operating Office. Other key relationships include those with colleagues in Assessment Technology Architecture Security & Risk Analytics Project Management and external suppliers.
The role will be technically aware with a need for strong collaboration planning and change management experience. As a security focused organisation you will also support the provision of services that enable AQAs ongoing alignment with legal/ regulatory regulations and standards such as ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. Active risk management and robust continuity planning are another key part of this provision of reliable and secure applications.

Activities:
Collaborate and proactively engage with stakeholders of all levels across AQA in a business partnering capacity. Be a key interface between technical and non-technical stakeholders and delivery teams. Support user engagement and adoption.
Manage and co-ordinate effective delivery of the product roadmaps and pipelines optimising the flow of work using appropriate tooling (Azure DevOps) and methodologies (Agile). This includes resource planning.
Lead on pipeline prioritisation using in-depth knowledge of business processes and requirements
Identify manage and negotiate dependencies across all technical product roadmaps so as to ensure the prioritisation and delivery of Enterprise Apps solutions on time and to budget. This requires working collaboratively with other Product Owners technical functional and business resources and 3rd party suppliers.
Deliver and manage a robust and effective change acceptance and prioritisation approach. This should ensure the specification of high quality requirement inputs and delivery of first class solution outputs with a clear prioritisation process that is fully aligned to deliver corporate strategy
Apply expert knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics Power Platform and related applications to advise on and challenge proposed solution designs and prioritisation decisions to influence strategic direction and ensure the best possible outcomes
Ensure best practice software delivery and management processes are in place and adhered to including quality assurance steps.
Develop and deliver Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics reflecting key service areas including support performance solution delivery customer satisfaction and benefit realisation. Produce relevant reporting.
Ensure the cost effective use of the systems by cost impact assessments usage of appropriate licence profiles and ongoing tracking/ review of licence approach.
Take ownership of BAU support and change related issues and progress to resolution engaging with external parties (suppliers/ partners) as necessary
Stay abreast of industry trends and product updates. Utilise this knowledge to adopt a continuous improvement approach to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the solutions and service being delivered to the business
Support and enforce the maintenance of data quality and integrity within the systems
Support user activity (testing training embedding of changes) as required
Model leadership behaviours and get the very best from direct/ matrix managed reports and teams by providing clarity feedback coaching mentoring and development while continuously seeking to enhance performance in line with business objectives
Demonstrate commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change
Ensure AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQAs policies and other legislative/ regulatory requirements and standards including ISO9001/ ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. Proactively manage relevant risks accordingly


To be successful in this role you will need to know:

Experienced Product Owner/ pipeline delivery manager. Proven ability to enable the translation of business teams strategic aims and day-to-day requirements into a prioritised technology delivery pipeline
Good knowledge of Dynamics 365 Power Platform and related products and how they fit into the wider Azure environment and product landscape
Excellent communicator able to consult influence challenge and negotiate effectively with stakeholders and partners both technical and non-technical to achieve desired outcomes.
Strong problem solving analytical and presentation skills with a keen understanding of the intersection between technology and business strategy
Experience of driving pipeline delivery using appropriate software development methodology (including Agile) and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps)
Proven ability to manage issues risks and problems from identification through to resolution
Strong influencer able to build stakeholder confidence plus manage ambiguity and competing priorities to deliver in line with business need
Customer focused with a proven track record of change delivery to improve customer experience and process efficiency
A proactive change oriented leader who can inspire others with a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation and the delivery of results
Strong understanding of relevant data and system management principles their effective application to software and knowledge of the security and compliance features of the Microsoft products
Agile and resilient able to make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace
Solid understanding of project management methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2 Agile) change management principles and ITIL - certification desirable
Effective leader of people line or matrix management experience
Proactive in resolving issues and driving change proactively and pragmatically in a complex organisation through cross-organisational working
Have a step up mindset use sound judgment and take accountability for actions