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. Job Title: Business Analyst Contract type: Permanent Location: Manchester Salary: £47,000 - £53,000 Working arrangements: Hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office
Purpose of the role
This role is about turning complex business challenges into practical outcomes. Working at the intersection of business and technology, you’ll collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement, define requirements and deliver effective solutions that support AQA’s end-to-end assessment lifecycle. Across projects, products and change initiatives, you’ll analyse processes, shape solution design and ensure business needs are translated into tangible outcomes. Through this work, you’ll influence decisions, drive continuous improvement and help deliver lasting value for AQA and the learners we serve.
Key responsibilities
- Working with stakeholders and technical teams to gather, analyse and document business requirements.
- Translating requirements into user stories, specifications, process maps and other delivery artefacts.
- Supporting the design, development and implementation of technology solutions that align with business priorities.
- Coordinating and supporting User Acceptance Testing, including acceptance criteria, test scripts and issue resolution.
- Managing risks, dependencies and backlog priorities to support successful delivery.
- Maintaining accurate project documentation, reporting and records within tools such as Azure DevOps and SharePoint.
- Sharing knowledge, promoting Continuous Improvement and best practice and supporting colleagues within the wider BA team.
What’s in it for you
- A platform to influence education nationally and represent AQA at key events
- Career development and professional growth in a leading education charity
- Hybrid working and flexibility to support work-life balance
- Comprehensive benefits including Bupa Health Insurance, Health Care Cash Plan, Life Assurance and an Electric Vehicle Leasing scheme, generous, combined pension contributions up to 18.5% and 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas
- An inclusive culture that welcomes new perspectives, values collaboration and encourages innovative thinking to improve how we support teachers and students
You’ll thrive in this role if you have:
- Extensive experience as a Business Analyst within complex technology or business transformation environments.
- The ability to engage, influence and challenge senior stakeholders to achieve successful business outcomes.
- Strong commercial and strategic awareness, with the ability to align solutions to organisational goals.
- Experience shaping business outcomes through requirements definition, process improvement and solution design.
- A collaborative approach, with experience working across multiple projects and navigating ambiguity in a changing environment.
- A proactive, outcome-focused approach with the confidence to navigate complexity and drive change.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the confidence to lead workshops, build consensus and drive progress.
- Experience delivering business analysis within Agile, Waterfall or hybrid delivery environments, with the ability to adapt your approach to suit the needs of the initiative.
- A strong understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and experience working closely with technology teams to deliver business and customer value.
- Experience using tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms to manage requirements, document processes and support delivery.
Diversity and inclusion
At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work.
We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact.
We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
This is a chance to make a meaningful contribution to education while developing your expertise in a complex and technology-focused environment.
Smart Working
We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.
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Business Analyst in Manchester employer: AQA Recruiting
AQA is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and wellbeing of its employees while making a significant impact on education in the UK. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, AQA offers extensive learning opportunities, a supportive work culture, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous annual leave and healthcare support. Located in Milton Keynes, this role as Operations Shift Team Leader not only allows you to lead and develop teams but also provides the chance to influence operational performance during peak periods, ensuring that millions of learners receive their qualifications on time.
