Head of Quality Assurance & Assessment
Candidate Pack
Head of Quality Assurance
and Assessment
A message from our Chief Executive Officer
Welcome to Agored Cymru.
Our vision is “to enable individuals to gain the knowledge and skills they need to maximise their potential, enrich their lives and contribute to their communities and a strong economy.”
We achieve this by developing high-quality bilingual products and services that are accessible to all learners and that meet the needs of all types of providers and employers.
Our expert teams have been supporting providers and supporting learner success for over 30 years. To ensure we have maintained our relevance within an ever-changing education sector we have constantly evolved our offer and ways of working to align with the requirements of our providers and stakeholders.
We firmly believe in providing the best service possible with the foundations to ensure our staff have the relevant up-to-date skills and knowledge to support our centres and partners.
If you are ambitious and want to work as part of a team where your skills are recognised and rewarded, we would like to hear from you.
Darren Howells
CEO
About Agored Cymru
Agored Cymru is a recognised awarding body and Access Validating Agency with a proud history of supporting learners, providers and employers for more than 30 years.
Our qualifications, assessment services and educational programmes support thousands of learners across Wales and the wider UK, helping individuals develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress in learning, employment and life.
As a charitable organisation and social enterprise, our purpose extends beyond qualification delivery. We are committed to widening participation, promoting social mobility and creating accessible opportunities for learners from all backgrounds.
We work with schools, colleges, universities, training providers, local authorities, employers, third-sector organisations and government stakeholders to develop qualifications and learning solutions that respond to the needs of learners, communities and the economy.
Quality, integrity and public confidence sit at the heart of everything we do. Our quality assurance and assessment systems play a critical role in ensuring that every learner receives a fair, valid and reliable assessment experience, and that every qualification awarded maintains the standards expected by regulators, providers and employers.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to become the senior operational leader responsible for quality assurance and assessment standards within a recognised awarding body. The role combines leadership, accountability, operational decision-making and continuous improvement, offering the successful candidate the chance to make a significant contribution to learner outcomes, regulatory confidence and organisational success.
Why This Role Matters
This is a pivotal leadership role within Agored Cymru at an exciting point in the organisation’s development.
As a recognised awarding body and Access Validating Agency, Agored Cymru is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, assessment and regulatory compliance across a diverse portfolio of qualifications and learning programmes. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are strengthening our quality assurance and assessment functions to ensure that learners, centres, employers, regulators and stakeholders continue to have confidence in the integrity of our qualifications and assessment outcomes.
The Head of Quality Assurance and Assessment will play a central role in safeguarding standards, protecting the integrity of certification decisions and ensuring that quality assurance systems remain robust, proportionate and responsive within an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Beyond regulatory compliance, this role provides a unique opportunity to shape the future development of quality assurance and assessment practice within Agored Cymru. The successful candidate will help influence how standards are maintained, how risk is managed and how quality assurance supports innovation, growth and learner success across a diverse and evolving qualification portfolio.
As part of a newly strengthened leadership structure, the role forms one of the key pillars supporting Agored Cymru's regulatory framework. Working alongside the Director of Qualifications and Assessment and the Compliance, Risk and Audit function, the Head of Quality Assurance and Assessment provides independent operational assurance that standards are being maintained, and regulatory obligations are being met.
Reporting to the Deputy CEO and Responsible Officer, the successful candidate will provide leadership for quality assurance and assessment delivery across the organisation. They will lead the development of a modern, intelligence-led quality assurance framework that supports innovation while maintaining regulatory confidence and public trust.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence how quality assurance, assessment and standards are managed within a respected awarding organisation that is committed to widening participation, supporting learners and delivering meaningful social impact across Wales and beyond.
Why Join Us?
This role offers the opportunity to:
• Lead quality assurance and assessment activity within a recognised awarding body and Access Validating Agency.
Shape the future development of quality assurance and standards management at a time of organisational growth and transformation.
Work closely with senior leaders, regulators, centres and stakeholders to protect the integrity of qualifications and learner outcomes.
Lead a highly skilled team committed to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
Contribute to an organisation that combines commercial success with a strong social purpose and commitment to widening participation.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this role, please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for the role to hr@agored.cymru.
The closing date for applications will be close of business on Friday 17th July 2026.
Agored Cymru reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received and may begin interviewing before the closing date.
First stage interviews will be held online to ensure accessibility and flexibility for all candidates.
• First stage interviews are expected to take place week commencing 27th July 2026.
• Second stage interviews are planned for week commencing 3rd August 2026.
Please note that you must have proof that you have the right to work and live in the UK.
Role Description
| Job Title | Head of Quality Assurance & Assessment |
| Reports to | Deputy CEO & Responsible Officer |
| Division/Department | Quality Assurance |
| Employment Status | Permanent |
| Location | Wales / Hybrid with flexibility for the right candidate |
| Salary Range | GBP 48,000 – 50,000 per annum (depending on experience) |
Role Purpose
The Head of Quality Assurance and Assessment is responsible for leading and continuously improving Agored Cymru's quality assurance and assessment systems, ensuring that standards are maintained across all qualifications, centres and assessment activity.
The postholder will provide senior leadership for the organisation's quality assurance function, ensuring that assessment delivery, certification decisions and centre performance are subject to robust, risk-based oversight that meets regulatory requirements and protects the integrity of learner outcomes.
Working closely with the Deputy CEO and Responsible Officer, the role will act as the organisation's senior authority on quality assurance and assessment delivery, providing assurance that standards are applied consistently, risks are effectively managed and regulatory obligations are met.
The postholder will lead the development of a modern, intelligence-led quality assurance framework that supports continuous improvement, strengthens confidence in standards and enables Agored Cymru to operate effectively within an evolving regulatory landscape.
As a key member of the wider leadership community, the Head of Quality Assurance and Assessment will contribute to organisational planning, regulatory readiness and strategic decision-making, ensuring that quality assurance remains central to Agored Cymru's reputation, credibility and future success.
Role Responsibilities
Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the organisation’s quality assurance strategy and framework, ensuring that it is risk-based, proportionate and aligned to regulatory requirements.
Design and maintain a robust Centre Assessment Standards Scrutiny (CASS) framework, ensuring that quality assurance activity is intelligence-led and responsive to risk, performance and emerging issues.
Oversee the delivery of external quality assurance activity across all centres, ensuring that monitoring is consistent, proportionate and effective in maintaining standards.
Maintain operational control of the claim approval and certification process, ensuring that all certification decisions are evidence-based, consistent, auditable and aligned to regulatory expectations.
Approve and oversee centre interventions, including sanctions and actions, ensuring that responses are proportionate, consistent and aligned to defined frameworks.
Lead the investigation and resolution of malpractice, maladministration and adverse effects, ensuring that all cases are managed in accordance with regulatory requirements and supported by robust evidence.
Ensure that moderation and standardisation processes are effective in maintaining consistency of assessment and QA judgements across centres and assessors.
Ensure that all QA activity is supported by clear, complete and auditable records, providing a defensible evidence base for decisions and regulatory engagement.
Work in structured partnership with the Director of Qualifications and Assessment to ensure that assessment strategies are effectively operationalised in delivery, and that there is alignment between design intent and delivered outcomes.
Maintain a dynamic QA risk framework, ensuring that risks relating to centre performance, assessment practice and certification are identified, assessed, monitored and escalated appropriately.
Provide oversight of centre performance, ensuring that issues are identified early and that appropriate actions are implemented to protect standards.
Lead preparation for and response to regulatory audits, reviews and information requests relating to quality assurance, ensuring that systems and evidence withstand scrutiny.
Ensure that QA systems effectively support regulatory compliance, maintaining confidence in standards across all qualifications and centres.
Provide high-quality reporting and analysis to the Responsible Officer and senior leadership, ensuring clear visibility of QA performance, risks and issues.
Ensure effective management and control of the delegated QA budget, including planning, monitoring and reporting on resource allocation and expenditure.
Lead and develop a high-performing QA team, ensuring that capability, consistency and performance are aligned to organisational requirements.
Role Accountabilities
Quality Assurance System Ownership
The postholder is accountable for the design, implementation and effectiveness of the organisation’s quality assurance system. They will ensure that QA frameworks, processes and controls are robust, risk-based and capable of maintaining standards across all centres and qualifications.
Certification Control and Decision Integrity
The postholder is accountable for maintaining operational control of certification decisions, ensuring that all claims are subject to appropriate scrutiny and that outcomes are valid, consistent and defensible. They will ensure that high-risk decisions are identified and managed appropriately.
Centre Compliance and Intervention
The postholder is responsible for the monitoring of centre performance and the application of interventions, ensuring that centres operate in line with requirements and that standards are protected. They will ensure that sanctions and actions are applied consistently and proportionately.
Malpractice and Regulatory Incident Management
The postholder is responsible for managing malpractice, maladministration and adverse effects, ensuring that cases are investigated thoroughly, decisions are evidence-based and regulatory requirements are met.
Standards Maintenance and Consistency
The postholder is responsible for ensuring that standards are consistently applied across all centres and assessment activity, supported by effective moderation, standardisation and QA processes.
QA Risk Management
The postholder is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing risks relating to quality assurance, ensuring that issues are addressed proactively and escalated where necessary.
Audit Readiness and Regulatory Defensibility
The postholder is accountable for ensuring that QA systems, processes and decisions are fully auditable and capable of withstanding regulatory scrutiny.
Financial Oversight and Resource Management
The postholder is accountable for the effective management of the QA budget and resources, ensuring that activity is aligned to risk and organisational priorities.
Data, Insight and Continuous Improvement
The postholder is accountable for using QA data, intelligence and performance insight to drive continuous improvement in systems, processes and outcomes.
Governance and Reporting
The postholder is accountable for providing clear, accurate and timely reporting to the Responsible Officer and senior leadership, supporting effective oversight and decisionmaking.
Cross-Organisational Alignment
The postholder will work in structured partnership with the Director of Qualifications and Assessment, ensuring that assessment strategies are effectively translated into delivery and that there is a clear and balanced interface between strategic design and quality assurance.
They will maintain a clear distinction between:
• Strategic and technical ownership (Director role)
Operational assurance and control (Head of QA role)
• QA delivery (Lead QA and QA Managers)
They will retain final operational decision-making authority for QA matters, while ensuring that decisions are informed by operational insight and consistent application of frameworks.
General Statement
All staff are expected to create an environment of service excellence by engaging and thinking from the customer's perspective and being highly motivated to deliver outstanding customer service.
All staff are expected to be aware of and comply with the policies, processes, and procedures of the organisation.
You may be asked to undertake any other duties commensurate with the nature and level of the post.
The duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description are liable to change to meet the needs of the business. The Chief Executive Officer will discuss and agree any significant changes that arise.
All managers must ensure that staff are treated consistently, equally, and fairly in the management of their performance. You will motivate, inspire outstanding performance, and deal appropriately with performance that needs to be improved.
Person Specification
Qualifications
➢ Degree-level qualifications in a subject area relevant to the role or equivalent experience.
Agored Cymru welcomes applicants from all educational and professional backgrounds that demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed for the role.
Experience, Knowledge & Skills
➢ In-depth understanding of quality assurance systems and methodologies
➢ Strong knowledge of CASS, EQA, moderation and standardisation
➢ Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks including Ofqual, Qualifications Wales, CCEA and QAA
➢ Advanced understanding of assessment principles and standards
➢ Strong analytical and risk management capability
➢ Strong leadership and decision-making skills
➢ Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
➢ Financial and resource management capability
Personal Qualities
➢ Ability to relate to and work in line with organisational values.
➢ Strong professional judgement and integrity.
➢ High attention to detail and commitment to standards.
➢ Ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage risk.
➢ Strong leadership and influencing capability.
➢ Commitment to continuous improvement of regulatory compliance.
➢ A commitment to providing first class customer service to external clients and customers and Agored Cymru colleagues.
➢ An understanding of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and actively fostering an inclusive environment.
➢ Ability to work independently and on their own initiative.
➢ Self-motivated with a flexible approach to work and a willingness to undertake regular Continued Professional Development (CPD).
Values and Behaviours
➢ Demonstrate Agored Cymru’s values and behaviours
➢ Take a practical, solution-focused approach
➢ Provide a helpful and professional service to colleagues
➢ Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical colleagues
➢ Build constructive working relationships across the organisation
➢ Handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately
Other Requirements
➢ Ability to operate through the medium of Welsh is desirable
➢ Willingness to travel across the UK, including overnight stays
➢ Full driving licence
Working at Agored Cymru
We are both a business and a charity, united by a mission to support our centres and empower education in Wales and beyond.
Our leadership team and Board of Trustees is deeply committed to our educational and charitable goals, ensuring everything we do is driven by purpose and impact.
We take pride in our customer-focused approach, collaborating with schools, colleges, charities, and learning providers nationwide to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Our team is made up of 40-plus core staff, supported by a wider network of consultants and associates, bringing the total workforce to around 60 dedicated professionals.
We are entering an exciting period of organisational development, investing in our qualifications, assessment systems, quality assurance arrangements and digital capabilities to ensure we remain responsive to learners, centres, employers and regulators. This role will play a key part in helping shape that future.