Programme Manager 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.

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.

Essential Criteria

Knowledge

• Strong 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.

Qualification

• Educated to degree level or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Management qualification, Programme Management or industry standard practitioner qualification desirable.

Skills

• Demonstrates 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.
• 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 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 skills

• Ability 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.
• Ability to lead by example to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders.

Experience

• Programme / project leadership role with evidence of successful change management on a large scale technology transformation initiative.
• 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.