Subject Lead Creative Arts

Manchester - UK

Monthly Salary: £ 48000 - 55500

Posted on: 13 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

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.

Subject Lead Creative Arts- Art and Design Dance DramaMusicand Media Studies

Contract type:2 yearfixedtermcontract
Location:Manchester MiltonKeynesorLondon
Salary:Manchester300; Milton Keynes or London
Working arrangements:Hybrid at least one day a week in the office regular customer visits with national travel and occasional overnight stays

Lead people with claritypurposeand impact helping your team thrive while shaping the future of education.

Ready to lead with impactThis is your opportunity to takeCreative Artsbeyond the classroom and shape how thousands of teachers and students experience the subjects. With assessment reform on the horizon you will influence the future of education and make a national impact with AQA.

You will be joining theindustryleader forCreative Artsat GCSE and A Level supporting hundreds of thousands of learners each year.Our Creative Arts team support teachers of Art and Design Music MediaStudies Dance and Drama.

With over 40 Subject Matter Experts in our Subject Support departments youll join a vibrant network of colleagues to work with learn from and share ideas with.

Werelooking for someone who brings fresh ideas and perspectives to enhance our culture and thrives in an environment where priorities shift and adaptability is key.

Purpose of the role

You will lead theCreative Artssubject area combining subjectexpertisewith strategic leadership to strengthen customer engagement influence product growth anddeliver clear measurable outcomes thatdemonstrateimpact in a competitive market.As a visible ambassador for AQA Creative Arts you will build trust and confidence with diverse stakeholders working with schools and communities across varied cultural and creative landscapes to ensure our qualifications reflect the diversity of learners. You will be part of a culture where every voice contributes to how we design and deliver our offer.

Key responsibilities

Setting and delivering measurable plans fortheCreative Artsthat align with AQAs strategy and reform priorities with defined targets forcustomerengagementretentionand growth.

Leading and developing a small team ofCreative Artsspecialists to build capability foster collaboration and drive continuous improvement.

Designing and executing customer engagement strategies using insight and dataandrepresentingAQA externally at conferences andcustomer andstakeholder events.

Building long-term relationships with schools and stakeholders.

Youllthrive in this role if you have:

Demonstrable and recentexperienceofleading adepartmentwhich isdeliveringone or more of theCreativeArts suite of subjects

Expert knowledge of Creative Arts specifications assessmentpracticeand NEA.

Proven leadership experienceand credibilitywithteachersincluding coaching and building team capability at scale.

Commercial awareness and a customer-centric mindset with examples of turning insight into action that delivers measurable outcomes.

Excellentcommunication and presentation skills adapting your style under pressure and in ambiguous situations.

Confidenceinusing data and metrics to define successmonitorprogress and adjust plans at pace.

Ability to engage and inspireexternalstakeholders building confidence with diverse audiences.

A commitment torepresentingthe full diversity of learners in your subject leadership.

Whatsin it for you

A platform to influence education nationally and represent AQA at key events

Career development and professional growth in a leading education charity

Comprehensive benefits including Bupa Health Insurance Health Care Cash Plan Life Assurance and an Electric Vehicle Leasing scheme generouscompanypension contributions up to11.5% and 25 daysannual leave plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas

An environmentthat values culture inviting new perspectives and innovative approaches to improve how we support teachers and students

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 everyoneregardless of religion ethnicity gender identity or expression age disability sexual orientation or backgroundis 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.

Make your mark onCreative Artseducationjoin AQA and help shape the future.

Application process

To apply pleasesubmityour CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

Application deadline:Tuesday 10thFebruary 2026

Short application questionnaireis included

Interview Process:

First stage: Teams Interviews with a pre-set scenario 18thFebruary 2026

Second stage: Face to Face with a presentation 24thFebruary 2026 in Manchester((* Train travel for those applying for other locations will be reimbursed)

Onboarding expectations: The expected start date will align with teacher notice periods or earlier iffeasible. Please note that an Enhanced DBS check will befor the successful candidate.

Successful candidates will be unable tomaintainan Associate role with AQA or any other exam board.

Reference code:Pro22

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

Supporting customers retaining and growing market share through subject expertise. You will also be responsible for using your subject expertise to provide internal consultancy providing customer insight plus building and managing relationships with external stakeholders where needed.

In addition to subject expertise leadership will be a key part of this role. You will be part of the leadership of the Subject Support Team. Your role will be to ensure all activities for your subject(s) are planned monitored and managed effectively to deliver to customers and achieve Customer and Product and organisational objectives. Where relevant you will line manage the subject delivery support team for your subject area and will be responsible for the performance of this team and ensuring effective deployment of this resource to deliver key priorities.

The role will require extensive national travel to represent AQA deliver to customers and collaborate with internal and external stakeholdersLandscape:
To understand the educational landscape particularly within your subject area.
To understand and engage with the strategic priorities of AQA and its evolving structure.

Activities:
Responsible for setting and meeting challenging goals and milestones for delivery of your subject(s)
Responsible for planning monitoring and delivering Customer and Product priorities within your subject(s). Eg) Responsible for the creation monitoring and delivery of subject focused annual plans
Where appropriate be responsible for managing and monitoring performance of a small team e.g. including talent spotting development opportunities and driving high performance.
Use relevant systems reports and dashboards to plan and record delivery for your subject to meet delivery targets.
Lead and support projects or workstreams within Customer and Product which are of a commensurate level to your role maximising development opportunities
Engage with key stakeholders to support effective planning and delivery of priorities e.g. Product Management Marketing Sales Customer Training and Events and Customer & Product Planning Manager.
Responsible for effective identification and management of risks and dependencies
Ensure your work supports continuous improvement in process and delivery to drive customer experience and satisfaction levels
Responsible for working with other teams to reduce failure demand from customers in your subject(s) e.g improve first contact resolution of customer enquiries.
Promote customer centricity be an advocate for the customer across the business and provide subject based customer insight.
Be a brand advocate for AQA with customers and associates.
Represent the team subject(s) and Customer & Product as part of wider organisational projects and priorities
Contribute to business wide processes where needed to support customer facing activity eg) incident management and awarding
Responsible for the recruitment and management of associates to support delivery to customers within your subject(s) in line with the AQA associate strategy.
Engage with and influence subject level stakeholders such as subject associations and learned societies to build advocacy and support and to provide both stakeholder and customer insight to inform current and future developments eg At times of reform
Present at stakeholder events in collaboration with the Product Management team in line with the product growth strategy in order to influence stakeholder views and decisions to ensure AQA is seen as the board of choice for the subject.

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate:
An excellent understanding of the subject specifications and current pedagogy
People leadership skills
Former teaching experience or ability to demonstrate credibility with teachers
Excellent communication presentation and training skills in line with AQA brand and tone of voice
Basic project leadership skills
Operational Management skills
Stakeholder management and collaborative working
Influencing and brand advocacy
Organisation planning and prioritisation skills
A continuous improvement mindset
A big picture mindset
The ability to have robust conversations with customers and stakeholders own and deliver corporate messages
The ability to interpret data to inform decision making monitor delivery and impact to customers
Modelling of organisational leadership habits and values and behaviours
An understanding of AQAs assessment products processes and practices relevant to your subject(s)