Regulatory Relationships Manager

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.

You’ll be stepping into a role with real influence at the heart of AQA’s work. As Regulatory Relationships Manager, you’ll help shape how we engage with our regulators, protect public confidence in our qualifications and safeguard the experience of learners across the UK. This is more than a relationship management role. You’ll lead a specialist team and work closely with regulators and senior colleagues to navigate risk, change and opportunity. If you’re a confident people leader who enjoys complex stakeholder environments and wants to make a meaningful, purpose-led impact, this is a role where you can really make your mark.

Purpose of the role

In this role, you’ll lead AQA’s Regulatory Relationships Team, ensuring effective, timely and well-managed engagement with our regulators, primarily Ofqual. You’ll be responsible for overseeing regulatory processes, managing complex regulatory activity and making sure statutory and assurance requirements are met. You’ll also support colleagues across AQA by providing clear, practical guidance on regulatory rules and standards, helping teams interpret requirements and embed compliance into everyday decision-making. Through this work, you’ll help the organisation operate confidently within the regulatory framework and support them to deliver high-quality qualifications for learners.

Key responsibilities

• Leading and developing a small team of compliance experts to manage day-to-day regulatory relationships, deadlines and casework.
• Overseeing and coordinating regulatory engagement, including event notifications, correspondence, data returns and statutory reporting.
• Supporting AQA teams with clear, practical advice on regulatory rules, compliance and assurance.

What we are looking for

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Are a strong and experienced people manager who knows how to build and sustain high-performing teams.
• Bring excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills, with the confidence to influence at all levels.
• Have experience working with regulatory, compliance, assurance or external standards frameworks, or closely related environments.
• Bring strong analytical and prioritisation skills, able to assess risk and confidently manage competing demands.

What’s in it for you

• The opportunity to shape how AQA works with its regulators and shapes future qualifications.
• Exposure to organisation-wide projects, including compliance assurance and qualification reform.
• A 35‑hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
• 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

To apply, please submit your CV and a short supporting statement explaining why you’re interested in the role. Application deadline: Sunday 17th May. Interview process: Two-stage process including a virtual first interview and an in-person final stage.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place. Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Summary

Purpose: This role leads the planning and implementation of key aspects of qualification regulatory risk, compliance and relationship functions, including managing and overseeing effective and robust annual regulatory assurance plans. The role will support AQA’s Responsible Officer by handling day-to-day regulatory contacts, correspondence, and requests for information, and coordinating responses from across the organisation. In collaboration with senior colleagues from across the business, the role will build and maintain excellent professional relationships with all qualifications regulators and key stakeholders along with working with colleagues from across AQA to establish, maintain and enforce compliance with qualifications regulator requirements.

Landscape: This role line manages the Regulatory Relationships Team; a small team of expert coordinators and leads, who manage our interactions with regulators and provide advice internally on regulatory compliance matters.

Key internal relationships: AQA colleagues across all departments within the business, and its subsidiaries. Senior managers and senior leadership teams, Responsible Officer.

Key external relationships: Qualifications regulators, Joint Council for Qualifications. Other awarding organisations, centres, associates.

Activities:

• Oversee and deliver a centralised ‘first point of contact service’ for AQA for all qualifications regulatory relations.
• Conduct investigations and draft responses to regulatory authorities.
• Provide proactive support, advice, guidance and assurance, assisting the business in managing regulatory risks and supporting colleagues across the business to deal with audits and other regulatory interventions, modelling professional and proportionate responses, to exemplify AQA’s compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Establish and cultivate enhanced professional working relationships with qualifications regulators and other key stakeholders, building trust and credibility and influencing decisions in the commercial interests of the business.
• Manage the provision of support to the Responsible Officer by administering their regulatory correspondence.
• Interpret and implement diverse and complex qualifications regulatory principles and guidance across products, processes and services. To be the lead subject matter expert providing technical advice and assurance to help the business manage core regulatory risks.
• Manage the process for providing the annual statement of regulatory compliance to Ofqual.
• Working with appropriate colleagues from across the business, and taking account of their needs, to lead on the preparation of replies and letters to regulatory consultations, legal notices and information requests.
• Proactively raise awareness across the organisation of the importance of regulatory compliance and minimising regulatory risks.
• Recruit, train, lead and manage a small team of staff to ensure that plans are delivered, ensuring consistently high quality and responsiveness to business needs.
• Champion and foster a culture of accountability.
• Demonstrate commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change.

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

Essential Criteria

• In-depth understanding of regulatory risk, compliance and assurance functions, frameworks and methodologies.
• Broad understanding of the political, educational, regulatory and business context within which AQA works, including understanding of industry regulations.
• Self-motivated and able to successfully manage, motivate and develop individuals and teams, leading by example.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to think creatively and solve complex problems.
• Understand and synthesise complex, diverse, incomplete and potentially contradictory information to support sound decisions and priorities, including diverse and complex legislation and regulatory rules, principles and guidance.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, be able to influence and build a rapport with a range of internal and external stakeholders, and be a role model for a partnership based matrix style of working.
• Track record of ability to work under pressure and in a fast-moving environment, fostering a sense of calm and resilience within teams.
• Flexible and responsive to changing demands, and willing to challenge the thinking of others and to champion new ways of working.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of the wider context within which the Regulatory Relationships and AQA operates.
• Experience of responding to regulatory requirements on behalf of a business.
• Experience of networking, influencing, persuading and engaging with influential external stakeholders to help ensure desired outcomes are delivered.