Planning Manager, Sales and Subject Support 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.

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Guildford and Manchester

Salary: Guildford - £54,700 to £62,400 and Manchester - £52,500 to £59,900

Working Arrangements: Hybrid working – 2 days a week in office

Are you at your best when bringing clarity to complexity? As Planning Manager, you'll help bring together Sales and Subject Support activity through clear planning, strong governance and data-led decision making. You'll work with senior leaders to turn priorities into coordinated action that delivers meaningful outcomes for customers and learners.

Purpose of the role

This role sits at the heart of AQA's integrated go-to-market approach. You'll lead planning frameworks, coordinate priorities across our Sales and Subject support teams and provide oversight of delivery, risks and resource requirements. Your work will help ensure customer engagement activity is aligned, effective and supports AQA's mission of helping learners realise their potential. You'll play a key part in improving visibility, accountability and collaboration across Sales and Subject Support, helping teams focus on the activity that delivers the greatest impact for centres, trusts and subject communities.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Leading planning, governance and delivery oversight across Sales and Subject Support, ensuring activity aligns with strategic priorities and customer needs.
• Working with senior stakeholders to manage priorities, risks, dependencies, capacity and resources across multiple programmes, campaigns and initiatives.
• Leading and developing a team of Coordinators and Analysts, creating a collaborative, high-performing environment and ensuring delivery is supported by robust tracking, analysis and insight.
• Using performance data, reporting and insight to support decision making, drive continuous improvement and ensure effective delivery against agreed objectives.

You'll thrive in this role if you're highly organised, enjoy bringing structure to complexity and can build strong relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. You’ll bring:

• Experience leading planning, operational coordination, project management or programme delivery activities within complex environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge constructively and build alignment across senior teams.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing individuals within a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and turn insight into practical actions and recommendations.
• Experience working in customer-focused, sales, support, marketing or go-to-market environments would be advantageous.

What's in It for You

This is a great opportunity to influence strategically important activity while developing your leadership and planning expertise within a purpose-driven organisation. The opportunity to shape activity that supports schools, teachers and learners across the UK. Exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional decision making across multiple business areas. Opportunities to develop your leadership, programme management and operational planning skills. The chance to work within an organisation that values collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

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

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role by 23.59 on Sunday 26 July. First stage interviews will take place remotely on Tuesday 04 and Wednesday 05 August, second stage interviews will take place in our Manchester office on Monday 10 August and London office on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 August.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning framework, governance and delivery oversight of Sales and Subject Support activity, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and reform activity within the scope of the integrated go-to-market model.
• Provide effective leadership and line management to Coordinators and Analysts, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and development-focused team culture.
• Support the successful delivery of initiatives that enhance customer engagement, strengthen subject support, improve operational coordination and contribute to commercial and customer outcomes.
• Act as a central point of coordination between Sales, Subject Support, wider directorate planning functions and other directorates to ensure aligned and integrated delivery, while shaping priorities, escalating trade-offs and supporting senior decision-making.
• Partner with Regional Sales Managers, Portfolio Leads and senior stakeholders to influence and shape cross-functional activity, dependencies, risks and priorities across teams and programmes of work.
• Monitor delivery performance, identify and escalate risks or issues, and provide clear, timely reporting, options and evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement across planning, operational processes, reporting, governance and ways of working to increase efficiency, effectiveness and overall business impact.

Qualifications / Education

N/A

Work Experience

Significant experience in planning, scheduling, operational coordination or project/programme management. Proven experience in people leadership and line management. Experience working with senior stakeholders to shape priorities, influence decisions, manage risks, dependencies, resources and delivery. Experience using data, reporting and CRM systems to support planning, prioritisation and performance oversight. A background in sales planning, customer support, customer-facing operations, marketing operations or go-to-market planning is desirable.

Competencies

• Leadership and people management.
• Strategic planning and operational execution.
• Stakeholder management and influence.
• Planning framework leadership, governance and delivery oversight.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
• Commercial and customer awareness.
• Communication and collaboration.
• Governance, reporting and risk management.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Data-led planning and prioritisation.