Senior Project 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.

Are you a Senior Project Manager with a strong background in technology and digital delivery, looking for variety, challenge and the opportunity to work on large‑scale programmes that really matter? Our growing team delivers complex programmes that are transforming education. From digital exams and assessment technology to enterprise platforms and cloud‑based solutions, our projects have a real and lasting impact on young people across the UK.

We are seeking a skilled, delivery‑focused Senior Project Manager to join our Programme and Project Management team. You will be aligned to a portfolio of technology-enabled change initiatives, working across enterprise and digital platforms that support and enable our core services.

You will be responsible for leading projects through delivery, managing plans, risks, issues and dependencies, and ensuring outcomes are delivered at pace, to cost and to quality. This includes coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams, working with internal specialists and third‑party suppliers, and engaging confidently with senior stakeholders across the organisation.

What’s in it for you?

• Enjoy a flexible work environment with a 35‑hour week and extensive opportunities for learning and progression.
• Benefit from a competitive pension scheme, starting at 6% and rising up to 11.5%.
• Receive 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
• Comprehensive health coverage from day one, including Bupa PMI, Health Cash Plan and Life Assurance.
• Participate in eco‑friendly transport schemes, including electric vehicles and cycle‑to‑work options.

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

• A strong track record of delivering technology or digital projects within a large or complex organisation.
• Recent, hands‑on experience delivering technology-enabled change, ideally within the last 18–24 months.
• Confidence working day‑to‑day with Director and Senior Management level stakeholders, including reporting, influencing and escalation.
• Experience delivering projects in Agile or hybrid delivery environments.
• A recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, MSP, AgilePM or equivalent).

Desirable experience:

• Delivery of digital platforms, enterprise systems or cloud-based solutions.
• Exposure to cloud technologies (e.g. Azure) and modern digital delivery environments.
• Experience managing complex integration, dependencies and third‑party suppliers.
• Coaching or supporting other Project Managers through matrix leadership (without formal line management).

Activities:

• Develop, maintain and track progress of the Projects, ensuring key milestones are identified and communicated to key stakeholders.
• Work with the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams to ensure the delivery of key project milestones to time and quality, and within the project budget.
• Support the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams in developing a critical path of key activities, providing planning support and identifying and managing dependencies across the plans.
• Manage the change risk log and associated reporting, working with work-stream leads to identify and mitigate risks accordingly.
• Prepare and deliver regular RAG status reports and updates and other reporting mechanisms as required for various stakeholders.
• Participate in the strategic development of the Programmes and Projects teams.

Knowledge:

• General understanding of the Projects and Programmes environment.
• An excellent understanding of project methodologies and tools.
• Good understanding of change management methodologies.

Qualifications (or equivalent experience):

• Degree level.
• Project management qualification.
• Change management qualification.

Skills:

• Strong people management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate team members and other colleagues to meet deliverables and adhere to agreed processes and ways of working.
• 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.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to work collaboratively, negotiate, influence and provide constructive challenge.
• Able to solve problems and unblock challenges that may hinder project progress.
• Able to coach project members in sound project discipline without over burdensome project theory and models.
• Assertive and resilient to be able to challenge project members and stakeholders when they are not delivering on their accountabilities.
• Data savvy and able to analyse, interpret and report back complex information in a meaningful way.
• Ability to resolve problems and adapt to change in a fast-moving environment.
• Regularly displays courage and calmness under pressure; and actively encourages others to do the same.

Experience:

• Working with Exec level stakeholders.
• Delivering business change programmes and/or large projects.
• Involvement in cultural change programmes.
• Involvement in target operating model implementation programmes.
• Working with IT departments.