Freelance Quality and Curriculum Reviewer (QCR) / External Quality Assurer (EQA)

Remote with occasional travel | Competitive | Contract

Overview of the company

Open College Network South East Region Ltd, trading as Laser Learning Awards (LASER), is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, established in 2006 following the merger of several Open College Networks in the south east of England. It is a well-established awarding organisation which has developed from its Open College Network origins into a flourishing successful business whilst remaining true to its values and charitable objects of increasing and widening participation in education and training. LASER is regulated by Ofqual and offers qualifications and bespoke accreditation used by a wide range of organisations including further education colleges, schools, local authorities, voluntary and charitable organisations and private training providers.

Overview of the role

We are seeking experienced and knowledgeable professionals to join us as Freelance External Quality Assurers on a flexible freelance basis, supporting our quality assurance activities throughout the year as required. In this role, you will play a vital part in maintaining the integrity of our qualifications. Working closely with recognised centres, you will help ensure that assessment decisions are valid, reliable, consistent and fully aligned with national standards and regulatory requirements. Your expertise will contribute to maintaining high-quality learner outcomes while supporting centres to continuously improve their practices.

As an External Quality Assurer, you will undertake a range of quality assurance activities, including conducting external quality assurance visits, audits and assessment sampling. You will review assessment and internal quality assurance systems, evaluate compliance against regulatory and organisational requirements, and provide constructive feedback designed to support continuous improvement. You will also contribute to the recognition and onboarding of new centres where required, assisting them in establishing robust quality assurance processes from the outset. Through regular monitoring and risk-based quality assurance activities, you will identify areas of good practice as well as opportunities for development, producing clear and professional reports with recommendations for improvement.

A key part of the role involves building positive and productive relationships with centres. You will act as a trusted adviser, providing guidance, training and support to help centres meet and maintain quality standards. In doing so, you will help promote confidence in our qualifications and services while contributing to a culture of excellence across our network of recognised centres.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will be educated to Level 4 or above and hold Assessor and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualifications. You will have experience in quality assurance, auditing, compliance monitoring, or a similar quality-focused environment, together with a strong understanding of assessment and verification practices. You will be an excellent communicator with strong report-writing skills, capable of presenting findings and recommendations clearly and professionally. Highly organised and self-motivated, you will be comfortable managing your own workload, working independently, and adapting to changing priorities. A keen eye for detail, strong IT skills, and a genuine commitment to quality and continuous improvement are essential.

As this is a freelance role, flexibility is important. You should be available to undertake monitoring activities throughout the year on an ad-hoc basis, with demand likely to increase between April and August. The role will also require travel and occasional weekend working when necessary.

Desirable Experience and Qualifications

While not essential, we would particularly welcome applications from individuals who hold an External Quality Assurance (EQA) qualification and/or a degree-level qualification. Experience of working with an Ofqual-recognised and/or QAA-recognised awarding organisation would also be advantageous, as would knowledge of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) sector.

Why Join Us?

This is an excellent opportunity to apply your quality assurance expertise in a flexible, freelance capacity, supporting centres to deliver high standards and helping to safeguard the integrity of qualifications. You will have the opportunity to work with a variety of organisations, share your professional knowledge, and make a meaningful contribution to quality improvement across the sector.

Working Arrangements

This opportunity is offered on a freelance, self-employed basis through an annual contract, with assignments provided as required in line with organisational needs. It is ideally suited to experienced quality assurance professionals seeking the flexibility to undertake external quality assurance work which may be alongside other professional or consultancy commitments. As an independent contractor, you will be responsible for maintaining an appropriate professional home-working setup. This includes access to a reliable high-speed internet connection, suitable IT equipment and software, and a workspace that enables you to carry out your duties effectively and professionally. While much of the role will be undertaken remotely, regular travel to recognised centres and other designated locations will be necessary to conduct external quality assurance activities, such as centre visits and to attend standardisation events. As a self-employed professional, you will also be responsible for managing your own tax affairs, National Insurance contributions, and any other statutory obligations associated with self-employment.

If you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to succeed in this role, we would welcome your application.

Closing date: 5:00pm on Monday 7 September 2026.

Interview date: online week commencing 14 September 2026.