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.

Programme Manager

Permanent

Manchester: £84,200 - £93,000

Working Arrangements: Hybrid (two days per week in the office)

 

Introduction

 

You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering large-scale, technology-enabled change that directly supports learners and educators across the UK. As a Programme Manager at AQA, you’ll operate at a senior level, shaping and delivering complex programmes that cut across multiple business areas and modern cloud-based platforms. This is a role for someone who enjoys working at pace, influencing at the highest levels, and turning strategic intent into practical, high‑quality delivery.

 

Purpose of the Role

 

In this role, you’ll lead the delivery of major technology programmes within AQA’s wider change portfolio. Your work will support the organisation’s mission to provide fair, reliable assessments and qualifications for learners of all abilities. You’ll be accountable for ensuring programmes deliver clear outcomes, balancing time, cost, and quality, while helping the organisation adapt its business processes to new and evolving technology.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

·       Leading and delivering large-scale technology-enabled programmes, ensuring outcomes are achieved to agreed timescales, budgets, and quality standards while managing risk, issues, and dependencies.

·       Shaping programme direction and solutions, working with senior stakeholders and delivery partners to define scope, priorities, governance, and delivery approaches that align with AQA’s strategy.

·       Providing senior-facing leadership and oversight, engaging confidently with executive and director-level stakeholders while overseeing integrated teams and supporting the development of project managers through matrix leadership and coaching.

 

What We Are Looking For

 

·       A strong track record of leading complex, technology-enabled change programmes.

·       Excellent programme leadership and stakeholder management skills.

·       Strong technical awareness, including IT architecture and integrations.

·       Flexible use of agile, hybrid or traditional delivery methods.

·       A relevant programme or project management qualification.

 

What’s in It for You

·       A 35‑hour working week with flexible, hybrid working

·       Exposure to high‑profile, business‑critical programmes.

·       25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days

·       Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution)

·       Private medical insurance, life assurance and wellbeing benefits

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.

Application Process

Application deadline: Sunday 17th May

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:

The Initiatives are strategically central to our delivery objectives in the medium term and are complex deliverable that spans teams across AQA and our technology providers.

There is a particular need to focus on scoping, shaping, driving the definition of refined or new business processes in line with the planned technology changes. This will flow through to work on shaping, driving and overseeing delivery of the key integrations that link key business processes and different operational teams together. It will then flow through into leading, shaping and driving the work with the business to scope, plan and deliver appropriate refinements/changes to business processes and implementation of new systems and technologies.Landscape:

This role is responsible for the delivery of technology-enabled change programme outcomes within time, cost and quality dimensions, as a key role within the Digital Exams and Marking Platform initiatives

Activities:
Key accountabilities

Programme definitionWork with the Portfolio Director and PMO to maintain and refine the programme and governance arrangements for key workstreams and work packages, applying proportionate programme and project methodologies. Ensure alignment with wider AQA governance arrangements and the delivery partner’s approach, as well as ensuring consistency with AQA IT strategy, architecture and standards.
Define and then take a leadership role within the Portfolio team to drive and deliver the initatives.
Manage the creation of transparent and deliverable plans at a level that is appropriate for the scale of the programme, in conjunction with the full programme team and delivery partners where applicable.
Define and then take a leadership role within the programme team to shape the scope, approach, plan, resourcing and delivery of the key business process mapping/design/improvement elements and the associated business procedures/documentation elements of the overall delivery.


Programme deliveryWorking alongside the Portfolio Director and IT counterparts, this role is responsible for delivering programme outcomes to budget, timescale and quality standards, in line with clear design and implementation principles, actively escalating and managing risks and issues through the appropriate governance.
Ensure effective management of projects and work packages within the programme, taking overall responsibility for the delivery of agreed project outputs.
Ensure that work is clearly defined, appropriate to the programme objectives, and that achievable plans are in place for all elements of the programme. Identify and manage dependencies with other projects and programmes.
Manage the day-to-day relationships with key stakeholders across the business, with the programme team and with key third party delivery partners where applicable, building a collaborative delivery approach that builds from the contractual arrangements.


Relationship managementDevelop outstanding relationships with senior managers across Change, Assessment and Enterprise IT, Group Corporate Services, People Group, Assessment and Operations Delivery, including playing an active role in communicating and leading the initiatives.
Where applicable and as directed by the Portfolio Director, actively develop strong working relationships with the IT delivery teams and champion close working between the partner team and AQA colleagues for the benefit of the programme.


Team leadershipRole model Agile behaviours and delivering at Pace, and with Purpose delivering value consistently
Manage, lead and develop Project Managers assigned to the programme. Set challenging objectives for the team members and monitor progress through regular feedback and coaching within the AQA frameworks.
Drive organisational learning about how AQA can continuously improve, supporting the business to respond to the lessons learned and be a positive model in terms of change delivery.


General accountabilitiesEmbody AQA’s leadership habits with confidence and to get the very best from direct reports and teams by providing clarity, feedback, coaching and development, while continuously seeking to enhance performance in line with business objectives.
To comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
Where business needs change, to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile.




Essential Criteria:

KnowledgeStrong understanding and experience of how to deliver technology change programmes
Strong understanding of programme and project management methodologies relevant to large scale technology-enabled change transformations
Good technical awareness and knowledge of architecture and standards
Commercial acumen with an understanding of financial management principles including budget-setting and resource management
Broad understanding of the political, educational and business context within which AQA works


QualificationEducated to degree level or an equivalent professional qualification
Management qualification, Programme Management or industry standard practitioner qualification desirable


SkillsDemonstrates excellent programme/project and change management capabilities
Demonstrates excellent experience and track record in delivering major technology change with business and customer centric context
Ability to proportionately apply PPM tools to programmes and projects as appropriate
Good resource management and risk management capabilities
Excellent ability to analyse complex information, situations and issues and deploy good problem solving skills – challenging the status quo as required -
Organises and plans effectively whilst retaining focus on the bigger picture -
Ability to design and improve processes and ways of working
Excellent track record of leading, developing and motivating individuals and teams across multiple sites
Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organisation, leading by example to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders
Communicates well both orally (large/small groups) and in writing, with an ability to identify and articulate technical and programme related information -
Resilient and able to work under pressure in an emerging change environment


Leadership skillsAbility to translate a vision into achievable goals and provide clear direction -
Inspire and motivate team members and other colleagues
Ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty in the requirements, the business and technical environment, and to be pragmatic in working out what can be solved now, and what may have to wait
Ability to lead by example to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders


ExperienceProgramme / project leadership role with evidence of successful change management on a large scale technology transformation initiative (ideally multi-site)
Experience of managing and working with a delivery partner on a large scale programme
Experience of delivering programmes in an organisation undergoing significant change
Experience of delivering and managing programmes with a strong component of business processing mapping, design and improvement to deliver good business/technology outcomes