Senior Strategy Manager, Education & Assessment Reform 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.

Help shape the future of qualifications. The education landscape is changing. Curriculum reform, evolving customer expectations, advances in assessment technology and a rapidly changing policy environment are creating significant opportunities and challenges for awarding organisations. This is your opportunity to help shape the response.

As Senior Strategy Manager, you'll play a key role in defining how AQA's qualifications evolve in response to reform. Working at the heart of our Product Management function, you'll help translate complex educational, market and policy developments into practical strategies that support schools, colleges, teachers and learners across the UK. This is a rare opportunity to influence decisions at a national scale whilst working alongside senior leaders across the organisation to shape the future direction of qualifications.

What you'll be doing

• Contribute to the development and delivery of AQA's assessment reform strategy, helping to ensure our products continue to meet the needs of customers, learners and the wider education sector.
• Shape strategic thinking on complex education and qualification reform issues.
• Support the development of long-term qualification and product strategies.
• Use insight, evidence and research to inform recommendations and decision making.
• Develop approaches to product prioritisation, planning and performance measurement.
• Bring together stakeholders from across the organisation to build alignment and momentum.
• Translate strategic direction into practical actions and deliverable plans.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and respond to developments across education and assessment.

You'll regularly work with senior stakeholders, influencing decisions, navigating ambiguity and helping the organisation make evidence-based choices in a fast-changing environment.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience shaping strategy, products, programmes or large-scale change.
• The ability to turn complex information into clear, practical recommendations.
• Confidence working through ambiguity and using evidence and insight to inform decisions.
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build alignment.
• Excellent analytical thinking, collaboration and sound judgement.
• An in-depth understanding of the education system in England.
• Experience gained within education, educational publishing, assessment, curriculum, product management, policy, strategy, transformation or a similarly complex environment.

Why join us?

Few organisations have the opportunity to influence education at the scale that AQA does. This role offers the chance to contribute to one of the most significant periods of change the qualifications sector has experienced in decades. You'll help shape decisions that impact learners, teachers and education providers across the country while working alongside colleagues who are passionate about improving education.

What's in it for you?

• A unique opportunity to influence qualification and assessment reform at a national level.
• Exposure to senior leaders and strategic decision-making across AQA.
• The chance to shape long-term product and qualification strategy.
• A varied role combining strategy, insight, stakeholder engagement and implementation.
• A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
• 25 days' annual leave, rising to 30 days, plus Christmas closure days.
• A benefits package including a pension with combined contributions of up to 18.5%, healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.
• The opportunity to be part of AQA's inclusive and values-led culture, with access to a range of employee networks and communities.

What's next?

To apply, please upload your CV together with a short supporting statement outlining:

• Why you're interested in this opportunity.
• The experience and skills you would bring to the role.
• How your background would help you contribute to AQA's assessment reform strategy.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 23 August 2026. The selection process is expected to include:

• A short screening call with a recruiter.
• A first-stage Teams interview during the week commencing 31 August 2026.
• A final face-to-face interview during the week commencing 7 September 2026.

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.