Senior Strategy Manager, Education & Assessment Reform

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.

Senior Strategy Manager Education & Assessment Reform

Permanent Full Time
Manchester: 64600 - 74100
Guildford / London: 67200 - 77200

Hybrid Working

Help shape the future of qualifications

The education landscape is changing.

Curriculum reform evolving customer expectations advances in assessment technology and a rapidly changing policy environment are creating significant opportunities and challenges for awarding organisations.

This is your opportunity to help shape the response.

As Senior Strategy Manager youll play a key role in defining how AQAs qualifications evolve in response to reform. Working at the heart of our Product Management function youll help translate complex educational market and policy developments into practical strategies that support schools colleges teachers and learners across the UK.

This is a rare opportunity to influence decisions at a national scale whilst working alongside senior leaders across the organisation to shape the future direction of qualifications.

What youll be doing

Youll contribute to the development and delivery of AQAs assessment reform strategy helping to ensure our products continue to meet the needs of customers learners and the wider education sector. Your work will include:

• Shaping strategic thinking on complex education and qualification reform issues

• Supporting the development of long-term qualification and product strategies

• Using insight evidence and research to inform recommendations and decision making

• Developing approaches to product prioritisation planning and performance measurement

• Bringing together stakeholders from across the organisation to build alignment and momentum

• Translating strategic direction into practical actions and deliverable plans

• Identifying opportunities to innovate and respond to developments across education and assessment

Youll regularly work with senior stakeholders influencing decisions navigating ambiguity and helping the organisation make evidence-based choices in a fast-changing environment.

Youll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience shaping strategy products programmes or large-scale change.

• The ability to turn complex information into clear practical recommendations.

• Confidence working through ambiguity and using evidence and insight to inform decisions.

• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build alignment.

• Excellent analytical thinking collaboration and sound judgement.

• An in-depth understanding of the education system in England.

• Experience gained within education educational publishing assessment curriculum product management policy strategy transformation or a similarly complex environment.

Why join us

Few organisations have the opportunity to influence education at the scale that AQA does.

This role offers the chance to contribute to one of the most significant periods of change the qualifications sector has experienced in decades. Youll help shape decisions that impact learners teachers and education providers across the country while working alongside colleagues who are passionate about improving education.

Youll influence long-term strategy work across a broad range of stakeholders and play a meaningful role in helping AQA navigate a complex and evolving landscape.

Whats in it for you

• A unique opportunity to influence qualification and assessment reform at a national level.

• Exposure to senior leaders and strategic decision-making across AQA.

• The chance to shape long-term product and qualification strategy.

• A varied role combining strategy insight stakeholder engagement and implementation.

• A 35-hour working week with flexible hybrid working.

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days plus Christmas closure days.

• A benefits package including a pension with combined contributions of up to 18.5% healthcare support wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.

• The opportunity to be part of AQAs inclusive and values-led culture with access to a range of employee networks and communities.

Whats next

To apply please upload your CV together with a short supporting statement outlining:

• Why youre interested in this opportunity.

• The experience and skills you would bring to the role.

• How your background would help you contribute to AQAs assessment reform strategy
  

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 23 August 2026.

The selection process is expected to include:

• A short screening call with a recruiter.

• A first-stage Teams interview during the week commencing 31 August 2026.

• A final face-to-face interview during the week commencing 7 September 2026.

Further details including interview preparation materials will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

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 everyone regardless of religion ethnicity gender identity or expression age disability sexual orientation or background is 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.

#ThinkFuture #ShapeEducation #StrategyJobs #EducationCareers #ProductStrategy #AssessmentReform #AREF

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.

Summary

Purpose:
The Senior Manager Reform Strategy is responsible for contributing to the development of AQAs GQ reform strategy. Working closely with the Head of Reform Strategy and leaders across the organisation theyll be an important part of the team responsible for developing AQAs overarching GQ reform strategy. Contributing to providing a clear and coherent vision and strategic intent theyll develop positions on cross-cutting strategic issues and support the development of effective subject strategies.

They will act as a central authority on our products and assessment reform best practice fostering organisational knowledge and capability through collaboration with internal stakeholders. Taking the lead on key elements of the strategic framework from inception to implementation theyll influence organisational decisions and ensure co-ordination with other strategic priorities and programmes.

This role will report to the Head of Reform Strategy and will work closely with senior managers and Heads of Product across Product Management and with the Qualifications Development team as well as leaders and teams across the wider business. They will work with the Senior Manager Assessment Reform Communications to support the development of internal culture. They may also represent the organisation with external stakeholders as :
The Senior Manager Reform Strategy will be part of a focused Assessment Reform Strategy team within the wider Product Management team. Theyll be working alongside a team of Heads of Product Subject Sector Leads and Product Managers and will need to work closely with the Qualifications Development team and Quality and Accreditation colleagues.

Theyll need to clearly communicate with authority our reform strategy across the business and understand its impact on the priorities of different business areas including but not limited to Assessment Operational delivery Finance Assessment Technology and Commercial teams.
Understanding the opportunities and constraints of a regulated environment will be critical and they are likely to engage with external stakeholders across both customer and policy-related audiences.

Activities:
Strategy development
Make a significant contribution to the development of GQ reform strategy for AQA leading the development of aspects of the strategy and its implementation.
Substantially support Product leads to develop effective subject strategies providing alignment and sharing best practice across subjects to ensure maximisation of commercial opportunities and coherence in the AQA product offer across subjects.
Develop thinking and implementable planning on cross-cutting themes and issues such as product prioritisation pricing and target setting.
Work as part of the team delivering cross-portfolio development of a holistic baseline and enhanced product offer
Leadership and management
Influence and engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation often in senior roles working outside direct vertical line management structures.
Credibly represent AQA with external stakeholders as necessary.
Data and evidence
Provide the evidence that underpins our reform strategy using data market insight and research as required.
Product design
Deliver cross-portfolio high-level product design working with colleagues to agree the core elements that will underpin all reform qualifications.
Cross-team working and collaboration
Work closely with colleagues in the PMO to ensure that programme plans reflect the deliverables necessary to implement the strategy.
Balance our product strategies with regulatory requirements customer and commercial and internal drivers
Consider the impact of product decisions on our wider commercial landscape and our GTM approach.
Continuous improvement and feedback integration
Ensure our reform strategies are regularly reviewed managing feedback from stakeholders and considering the impact on other strategic deliverables.
Technology and innovation
Ensure product and reform strategies are aligned with wider advances in technology and that they reflect any innovations in the assessment market.

To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate:
Essential criteria:
Proven ability to work in challenging and time-sensitive contexts working with uncertainty and in a changing external environment.
Ability to provide effective leadership managing matrix-teams and working outside direct vertical line management structures.
Strong collaborative skills and ability to influence without authority.
Strong understanding of data and evidence and how this can contribute to the development of strategy.
Experience of influencing and engaging senior internal stakeholders including strong communication skills.
Knowledge of AQAs market context customers and competitors.
Excellent planning analytical and organisational skills.
Ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and dependencies.
Experience working in a regulated or educational environment.
Experience of product development.
Understanding of AQAs expertise and capabilities.
Proven ability to cut through blockages to decision-making or delivery working with other colleagues to find effective solutions quickly