Standards and Awarding Manager in Guildford

Hybrid working - minimum 2 days per week in the office

Help shape fair outcomes and maintain confidence in qualifications

Every year, millions of qualification results rely on robust awarding processes, sound judgement and the careful interpretation of evidence. As a Standards and Awarding Manager, you'll bring data, assessment evidence, analytical thinking and professional judgement together to support fair, consistent and defensible awarding decisions.

You'll join a specialist team at a point of change, helping AQA shape future approaches to standards maintenance, awarding and the delivery of general and vocational qualifications through innovation and process improvement.

This is a role for someone who understands standard setting or awarding and is confident working with data. You may come from another awarding organisation, assessment or research background. What matters is that you can interpret evidence, make clear recommendations and explain technical decisions in a way others understand.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Managing awarding activity and the approval cycle across a portfolio of qualifications, ensuring regulatory compliance
• Reviewing awarding evidence, data and technical information and applying judgement to support grade boundary recommendations, approval processes and awarding decisions.
• Building relationships with assessment managers, research and data specialists to reach robust, evidence-led decisions.
• Explaining complex technical evidence via reports, briefings, training, webinars and stakeholder conversations.
• Representing AQA externally when required, contributing to awarding and standards discussions across the sector.

What's in it for you?

You'll build specialist expertise and directly contribute to delivering fair outcomes for learners whilst shaping awarding and standards setting approaches for the future.

• 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
• 25 days' annual leave, rising to 30 days with service, plus additional Christmas closure days.
• Generous pension scheme with combined contributions of up to 18.5%, available from your first day.
• BUPA private medical insurance, a healthcare cash plan and access to wellbeing support.
• Up to five paid volunteering days each year.
• Access to a range of colleague networks and development opportunities.

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience delivering complex, high-stakes processes within a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of awarding methodology, standard setting or related qualifications activity.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence interpreting data and evidence to support recommendations and decisions.
• The ability to balance technical detail, professional judgement and practical decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to a range of audiences.
• Experience building effective stakeholder relationships and providing constructive challenge where appropriate.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• A proactive approach to problem solving, risk management and continuous improvement.
• An interest in assessment, standards, awarding and evidence-based decision making.

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 welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What's Next?

Applications close at 23:59 on Monday 16 November 2026.

Face-to-face interviews will take place during the weeks commencing 23 November and 30 November 2026

Applications made to AQA are reviewed by humans, not AI.

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