Functional Consultant (Dynamics 365/Power Platform) in Manchester

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.

Do you want to shape the future of digital and AI‑enabled solutions? If you’re passionate about Power Platform, Dynamics 365 and Copilot, and you want a role where your work genuinely matters, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. At AQA, we’re investing heavily in digital adoption and AI capability, and our CRM team is right at the heart of that journey.

As a Functional Consultant, you’ll help design, build and deliver solutions that improve how the organisation works – today and into the future. This role offers much more than configuration and delivery. You’ll join at an exciting point of digital and AI transformation, with the opportunity to shape how Power Platform and Copilot are used across AQA. You’ll have real ownership of your work, taking solutions end‑to‑end from early ideas and design through to delivery, optimisation and support. In a collaborative environment where curiosity and innovation are genuinely encouraged, your ideas will be valued, explored and put into practice.

What’s in it for you? By joining AQA, a leading independent education charity, you actually make a difference in the lives of millions of learners. There are lots of company benefits, including private medical insurance, a fantastic pension (up to 11.5% employer contributions), a 35 hour working week, 25 days annual leave with additional office closure in December and bank holidays on top, the opportunity to join lots of network groups (LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, disAbility, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic minority and more) an extensive online learning platform, days for volunteering and more.

This role offers you the chance to:

• Design, build and deliver solutions using Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Copilot Studio
• Own a portfolio of change and manage delivery from concept through to release and support
• Work closely with stakeholders to translate business needs into effective, scalable solutions
• Act as technical authority for your solutions, resolving issues and guiding best practice
• Champion system adoption, governance, data quality and continuous improvement

What you’ll bring:

• Experience delivering solutions using Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform
• Knowledge of Canvas Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse and Copilot Studio
• Confidence in engaging and influencing a wide range of stakeholders
• A pragmatic, delivery‑focused mindset with a passion for improving processes
• A strong interest in AI, automation and modern digital ways of working

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.

Ready to make an impact? If you’re looking for a role where you can take ownership, influence direction and help build something meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

How do I apply? Read the full job description below, then upload your most recent CV with a cover letter explaining how your skills and experience match what we are looking for. Applications close Wednesday 6th May 2026. The selection process will include an initial interview held remotely, followed by a face-to-face interview in Manchester.

Summary Purpose: Working across AQA the Functional Consultant plays a key role in designing, developing and supporting business solutions based on the Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365. They work with stakeholders to identify business requirements and apply in-depth technical knowledge of the Power Platform, Dynamics and broader product toolset, to design, deliver and support creative solutions to automate and improve existing or new business processes, delivering best practice outcomes.

Landscape: The Functional Consultant reports into a Senior Functional Consultant and manages the full lifecycle of smaller developments from design to delivery as well as providing support to the wider team on larger developments. They work closely with stakeholders across AQA to build an in-depth knowledge of business needs in order to recommend effective IT solutions using Dynamics 365 Power Platform and related applications including copilot. These solutions address both immediate business needs for our customers and the longer-term roadmap. As the key technical authority for the smaller developments, the Functional Consultant owns and drives a core change portfolio.

The role also performs a key role in supporting the system, acting as an escalation point for the front line service team and liaising with wider technical teams and system users as required.

Activities:

• Collaborates and engages with stakeholders throughout the business to ensure the specification of clear, comprehensive sets of requirements aligned to business and customer objectives with clearly defined benefits
• Translates defined requirements into best practice solution designs using detailed understanding of the available system functionality
• Uses expert knowledge of the Microsoft Dynamics Power Platform and related applications to advocate and engage users/stakeholders into increased understanding and usage of Power Platform to solve business problems.
• Delivers customisation, configuration and implementation of Power Platform and similar solutions using low code/no code first approach to achieve best practice outcomes to address defined strategic and day-to-day business requirements
• Project manages a portfolio of changes to the supported systems – owns and accountable for the end-to-end delivery of their change portfolio
• Acts as technical authority - takes ownership of issues escalated by first line support team and progresses to resolution, engaging with external parties (suppliers/partners) as necessary
• Matrix manages resources as required within project delivery (e.g. BAs, testers, Support Execs) and trains/mentors other team members on new functionality or technical skills as required
• Supports the Senior Functional Consultants with co-ordination of overall team pipeline delivery using appropriate tooling (Azure DevOps)
• Manages active engagement of user community and citizen developers within the business
• Supports the cost effective use of the systems through understanding of solution cost impact
• Ensures adherence to relevant design/implementation processes, change control and release planning/delivery
• Supports and enforces the maintenance of data quality and integrity within the system
• Supports and trains end users to use and test the system in the most effective way
• Supports assessment of new release functionality to understand potential impacts (risks) and technical opportunities
• Stays abreast of industry trends and Microsoft updates, utilising this knowledge to provide strategic insights for the technology roadmap
• Maintains strong, professional relationships with key internal and external vendor partners
• Actively supports the application maintenance to ensure systems remain efficient, effective and streamlined
• Deputises for Senior Functional Consultants when required
• Demonstrates commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change
• Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative/regulatory requirements. Proactively manages relevant risks accordingly
• Adopts a continuous improvement approach to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the solutions and service being delivered to the business

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

• Experienced Dynamics 365 Power Platform professional who has a strong understanding and hands on experience of building solutions
• Excellent communicator – able to collaborate, challenge and influence effectively with stakeholders and partners regardless of level or technical competence to achieve desired outcomes and drive change.
• Analytical skills with demonstrable track record of interpreting high level business needs (using process analysis techniques) and turning them into defined solutions with precise technical specifications
• Proven ability to manage issues, risks and problems from identification through to resolution
• Project management skills with experience of delivery using standard methodologies
• Strong understanding of how to apply Power Platform and similar tools to solve business problems. Able to demonstrate senior stakeholder influencing skills
• Change oriented and innovative, able to inspire others to change existing processes through the application of appropriate technology
• Proven track record of change delivery on Dynamics/Power Platform to improve customer experience and process efficiency in line with best practice
• Good understanding and experience of standard software development methodology (including Agile) and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps)
• In depth knowledge of Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, copilot and similar products and an understanding of how they fit into the wider Azure environment
• Strong understanding of relevant data management principles and their effective application to software
• Agile and resilient – able to make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace
• Solid understanding of project methodologies and ITIL principles (certification desirable)
• Microsoft Professional certification desirable – willingness to learn and maintain knowledge of upcoming functionality is key
• Experienced in driving change pragmatically in a complex organisation through cross-organisational working and collaboration
• Have a “step up” mindset – use sound judgment and take accountability for actions
• Team player, able to mentor, motivate and train others