Data Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) in Portsmouth

You've spent years ensuring quality in assessment practice. Now you want to bring that expertise somewhere it genuinely matters — where quality isn't just a compliance exercise, but the backbone of real learner outcomes. This is a flexible, contract role estimated at 2-3 days per month to begin. It can be done remote or from our offices near Liverpool St Station.

About iO-Sphere: Traditional training is broken. People finish courses with theory but no real capability — the experience gap. We solve that. At iO-Sphere, learners don't sit through lectures. They come to work in PRISM, our fully simulated company with 500m+ rows of real data, where they tackle realistic business problems and build practical skills they can use immediately. We also know that technical skills alone don't make someone great at their job. That's why our programmes develop the full skill set: analytical thinking, problem-solving, business acumen, communication, and professional skills. We're one of the UK's fastest-growing Data & AI training companies, and we're building something genuinely different.

Why iO-Sphere?

• Mission with teeth: We don't just talk about democratising opportunity — our business model proves it.
• Real impact: Small team = visible contribution. No hiding in a large org.
• Growth potential: We're at an inflection point — 2026 is when we scale.
• Culture of ownership: High agency, low bureaucracy, decisions happen fast.
• AI-forward: Interesting work at the intersection of AI and learning.

Job Purpose: The Data Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) is responsible for ensuring the quality, consistency and rigour of assessment practice across iO-Sphere's data programmes. The post holder will work closely with assessors on a day-to-day basis, providing expert guidance, coaching and quality oversight to support them in making accurate, fair and well-evidenced assessment decisions. This is a practitioner-facing, associate role. The IQA acts as the first point of contact for assessors, standardising practice across the team and ensuring all learner journeys are assessed to the required standard across our provision.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting Assessors in Daily Assessment Practice: Act as the primary point of support for assessors, providing timely, constructive and expert guidance on assessment decisions, evidence requirements and marking practice. Observe assessors conducting assessment activities – including observations of practice, professional discussions, skills tests and portfolio reviews – and provide structured, developmental feedback. Support assessors in interpreting qualification standards, assessment criteria and awarding body guidance, ensuring consistent application across the team.
• Internal Quality Assurance: Plan, manage and implement a risk-based IQA sampling strategy across all provision types, ensuring appropriate coverage of all assessors, qualifications and learner cohorts. Conduct pre- and post-assessment sampling of assessor decisions and learner evidence, providing written feedback that is clear, developmental and graded against quality standards. Carry out live observations of assessment practice, producing detailed observation records and action plans where development is identified.
• Standardisation & Consistency: Lead and facilitate regular standardisation meetings for assessors, using real learner work to calibrate judgements and embed consistent assessment practice across the team. Develop and maintain standardisation resources, including exemplar evidence, assessment guidance notes and decision-making frameworks to support assessors.
• Quality Improvement & Development: Contribute to the organisation's Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) by providing evidence of assessment quality and identifying areas for development. Use IQA findings to inform targeted CPD activity for assessors, working with the Head of Quality to design and deliver training that directly addresses identified gaps. Support the preparation for Ofsted inspections and awarding body audits, ensuring assessment records, sampling files and standardisation evidence are inspection-ready.

Essential Criteria: Hold a recognised IQA qualification (e.g., Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice, or equivalent), coupled with demonstrable experience in data management and analysis. Hold a relevant assessor qualification (e.g., Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement or equivalent). Demonstrable experience of carrying out internal quality assurance of Data qualifications. Hold a relevant Level 6 qualification in data - we deliver up to Level 5 programmes including L5 Data Engineering. We are open to meeting candidates with a Level 5 qualification who can help on our Level 3 and Level 4 programmes too.

Additional Information: This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references prior to appointment. iO-Sphere is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.