Qualification Development Lead

Qualification Development LeadApplylocations: Guildford: Manchestertime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: R8067 At AQA, we're committed to advancing education and we're committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it's our people who make this happen. Qualification Development Lead Permanent Manchester: £53,000 - £61,000 Guildford: £55,500 - £63,500Hybrid Working Minimum 2 days per week in the office Help shape the future of qualifications You are an education, assessment or qualification specialist who enjoys turning complex requirements into high-quality qualifications that make a difference to teachers and learners. Reporting to a Senior Qualification Development Manager, you'll play an important role in developing and accrediting future qualifications, bringing together policy requirements, educational expertise and customer insight to create qualifications that support teachers and learners. Working at the intersection of education, assessment, product development and regulation, you'll collaborate with subject experts, Associates (senior examiners who devise qualification content) and specialist colleagues to develop qualifications that meet regulatory requirements, reflect customer needs and support positive outcomes for learners. Whether your experience comes from qualification development, assessment, curriculum leadership, educational publishing or another education-focused environment, we'd love to hear how your skills and experience could contribute to the future of qualification development at AQA. Why this role matters You'll contribute to qualifications that will be used by teachers and learners across the UK.Working across the qualification development lifecycle, you'll help bring together specifications, assessment materials and supporting documentation so they form a coherent and high-quality qualification experience.The work is varied, collaborative and intellectually engaging. You'll balance different perspectives, use evidence to support decisions and help ensure qualifications are developed with care, clarity and attention to quality. What you'll be doing Responsible for the development of qualification specifications and associated materials, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and agreed development briefs. Work with Associates, subject matter experts and specialist colleagues to develop high-quality qualifications and supporting materials. Bring together expertise from across assessment, product and qualification development teams to support successful accreditation and delivery. Build strong relationships with stakeholders, balancing different viewpoints and helping to shape evidence-based decisions. Monitor risks, issues and dependencies throughout the qualification development lifecycle. Contribute to continuous improvement, helping to strengthen qualification development processes and ways of working. You'll thrive in this role if you have: Experience developing qualifications, assessments, curriculum materials or other complex educational content. Experience building effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and subject matter experts. Demonstrable planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. The ability to analyse information, balance different perspectives and support sound decision-making. Excellent attention to detail whilst maintaining sight of the bigger picture. Resilience and adaptability when working through feedback, change and competing priorities. Why join us? This is a rare opportunity to join a newly formed team and contribute to work that will directly influence future qualifications and the experience of learners and teachers across the UK.You'll also have the opportunity to help shape new ways of working, contribute to continuous improvement and build expertise as part of a team bringing together different skills, experiences and perspectives.Alongside meaningful and impactful work, you'll benefit from: A fantastic pension with combined contributions of up to 18.5% 35-hour working week 25 days annual leave, rising with service, plus additional Christmas office closure days Private medical insurance with BUPA Employee networks including LGBTQ+, Disability, InterFaith, Neurodiversity, Parents and Carers, and Empowering Women Up to four paid volunteering days each year Our application process Please upload your CV and a short supporting statement outlining your motivation for applying and any relevant transferable skills you would bring to the role. As part of your application, you'll also be asked to complete two short role-related questions. Closing date: Monday 6 July 2026 Stage 1 - Mid July 2026 If shortlisted, you'll be invited to complete a short video interview consisting of structured questions aligned to the role requirements. All responses are reviewed by people. Stage 2 - Early August 2026 Candidates who progress from the video interview stage will be invited to a final face-to-face interview, which will include a practical exercise designed to explore your approach to qualification development, problem-solving and quality assurance. We aim to keep the process clear, focused and respectful of your time throughout. If you are currently an Associate or Examiner you would need to relinquish this post. Diversity and Inclusion 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. 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: This is a pivotal role in the development and accreditation of reformed qualifications. The Qualification Development Lead is responsible for leading and managing the development of high quality, regulatory compliant qualification specifications and supporting materials. They will manage the work of Associates and Assessment Design and Principles Leads, and work closely with product management colleagues, operations teams and Quality and Regulatory Leads to ensure that newly developed qualifications align with the internal balanced scorecard, gain regulatory accreditation and are aligned with market needs. They will be accountable for the core qualification deliverables (Specification, Specimen Assessment Materials and Assessment Strategy), ensuring that these materials remain aligned throughout the development lifecycle. They will be responsible for developing detailed specification content aligned with Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual requirements and AQA's internal Development Briefs, making a significant contribution to assessment strategies and ensuring that all relevant materials are of a high standard and ready for submission to Ofqual. They will ensure the customer view is taken into account through concept and market testing, and that feedback is actioned appropriately throughout. They will support the creation of market ready specifications using appropriate technology.Landscape: This role will report into a Senior Qualification Development Manager and will be responsible for the development of specifications, which may include those for digital exam components. They will manage Associates and matrix manage work of the Assessment Design & Principles Lead responsible for the development of high-quality specimen assessment materials (SAMs) and Part 2 of the assessment strategies. This role will own the qualifications under development; they will be responsible for ensuring that the whole qualification is high-quality, meets the regulatory requirements, is fit for purpose and is successfully accredited by Ofqual. They will also be responsible for managing Associate performance throughout the development lifecycle. They will build key relationships with: Assessment Design & Principles Leads Associates and the Associate Experience team Product Managers/Heads of Product/Subject Sector Leads Quality and Regulatory Leads Activities: Qualification development Manage the work of Associates (SMEs) to create detailed specification content that aligns with DfE subject content, policy requirements and subject specific development briefs. Champion and align with our approach to diversity and inclusion and other key cross-cutting themes in our specifications. Ensure the accuracy, clarity, and coherence of specification sections, with appropriate structure and coverage across subject content. Ensure the specification meets the requirements detailed in the subject specific Development Brief and the balanced scorecard. Maintain version control and documentation across all developed materials. Accreditation Ensures all materials are ready to support their timely submission to Ofqual for accreditation. Works with the Quality & Accreditation Lead to review feedback reports from Ofqual, ensuring that all required amendments are allocated to a member of the team and actioning those directly related to the specification. Defines the resubmission timeline through negotiation with internal and external teams where needed. Ensures all materials are ready to support timely resubmissions to Ofqual . click apply for full job details