External Affairs Coordinator

• locations
• London
• Manchester

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Today

• job requisition id
• R7582

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.

External Affairs Coordinator

Permanent

London: £35,963–£39,915 or Manchester: £34,539–£38,334

Hybrid Working – minimum of 2 days in office per week

Do you want a role that strengthens your career in public affairs, policy, media and education, with exposure to meaningful and high‑impact work? Due to a promotion, we now have a role available in the External Affairs team.

The work of the External Affairs Coordinator shapes how AQA engages with the the wider education sector on vital developments across curriculum and assessment and wider education policy. You'll support meaningful influencing activity that helps create better outcomes for learners and contributes to education at a national level.

You'll coordinate and deliver external affairs plans that help AQA maximise its external impact. You'll bring clarity, structure and alignment across multiple teams so activity is well‑sequenced, purposeful and visible. If you have experience in similar roles, charities or education organisations we would welcome an application from you.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for:

• Planning and coordinating activity across comms, policy and public affairs to keep external influencing work on track

• Maintaining and communicating a live forward‑planning grid of reports, events and publications

• Producing briefings, reports and updates that support senior leaders and external engagement

• Supporting the delivery of AQA’s public affairs events programme

• Supporting External Affairs Senior Leadership Team with the development of the AQA’s influencing strategy.

What’s in it for you

• Opportunities to shape work that influences national education debates

• Career development through hands‑on experience across policy, public affairs and communications

• A supportive hybrid working environment

• The chance to contribute to education reform at an exciting time of change

• 25 days annual leave, rising with service, with additional office closure at the end of December

• Private Medical Insurance and a Healthcare Cash Reward Plan

• A great pension offer which could see combined contributions of 18.5%

• Up to four days leave to enable volunteering opportunities

Diversity and inclusion

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.

What we are looking for

• You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy bringing structure, clarity and energy to a busy and fast‑moving environment

• Experience coordinating projects or activity across teams

• Strong written communication, including summarising information clearly

• Confident stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building

• Excellent organisational skills including scheduling, note‑taking and proofreading

• Interest and some experience in politics, and/or education policy

Application process

To apply, please submit your CV and complete the application questions. The application deadline is 23:59 on 16 March 2026.

Interviews will take place in person in the week beginning 30 March 2026.

Please note that an Enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful candidate.

#CRE23

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.

Full Job Description

Summary

Activities:

Responsible for planning and monitoring progress to ensure key deliverables and milestones are achieved within workstreams related to the Influencing strategy

Responsible for organising and chairing regular cross-department working groups and team meetings

Working collaboratively with senior leaders across AQA departments, holding them to account to ensure key Influencing strategy deliverables are delivered

Managing the comparison of quotes and business cases for key Influencing strategy project spend to prove value and justify spend

Managing and updating overarching planning documents to keep on track of when key events and reports are happening

Supporting the Head of External Affairs in complying with AQA reporting, strategy updates, and assurance processes, and with organising any large and/or regular meetings

Produce briefings for events and provide updates for elsewhere in AQA, for example for the Chief Executive Officer

Working with public affairs colleagues in managing events, such as booking venues, procure name tags, request dietary information from attendees, etc

Working with public affairs colleagues to manage AQA’s strategic stakeholder management system

Supporting policy colleagues in publishing reports, for example analysing data, researching policy areas and with proof reading

Supporting media colleagues during busy times, for example by proofreading communications and helping to keep track of external media interest

Working with the Head of External Affairs to help foster a joined-up approach to working across comms, policy and public affairs

Conducting specialist research into external events and stakeholders to inform strategy

Need to know (to be successful in this role, you will need to know):

Experience in the implementation and tracking of projects, including across departments

An understanding of the context within which the External Affairs business area and AQA operate, including good knowledge of the political landscape and the education policy arena

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders

Experience of delivering, reviewing and reporting on a preferably politically influential strategy

Good analytical skills, for example summarising stakeholder insight research

Good working knowledge and understanding of administrative procedures, processes and relevant IT applications

How to develop and maintain high quality planning documents, in particular timelines and grids

Good writing skills, for example experience of drafting briefings and/or proofreading documents for publication

Excellent attention to detail, for example spotting errors in a document or when something is missing in preparing for an event

A good general level of education including Maths and English GCSE or equivalent (A-C grades)