Head of Reform Policy and Engagement

• locations
• London
• Manchester
• Guildford
• Milton Keynes

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Yesterday

• job requisition id
• R7775

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.

Head of Reform Policy & Engagement

Permanent

Manchester: £70,000 - £80,000

Milton Keynes, London, Guildford: £72,500 - £83,000

Hybrid working - 2 days per week plus travel to other AQA sites

At a pivotal moment for GCSE and A‑level reform, you’ll be at the forefront of guiding how assessment evolves for the next generation. This is an opportunity to help shape the landscape of qualifications for the next generation and millions of learners, influencing decisions that will define the future of curriculum and assessment for years to come.

In this role, you’ll use your knowledge of curriculum and assessment to bring coherence, insight and strategic alignment to AQA’s reform work, helping position AQA as a trusted voice with policymakers to ensure policy and regulatory decisions that will support the development of outstanding new qualifications.

As an independent education charity, we set and mark over half of all GCSEs and A levels taken in the UK every year, and our qualifications are highly valued by employers and universities. Our income is reinvested into research, innovation and initiatives that help young people realise their potential, and your expertise will contribute directly to that impact.

About the role

lead AQA’s policy engagement for General Qualifications (GQ) reform, working directly with the

Department for Education (DfE)and

Ofqualon the decisions that shape the future of assessment. This includes ensuring coherence, alignment and influence as AQA

reviews and reforms its full suite of GCSEs and A‑levelsover the coming years.

You’ll partner with senior leaders across Product, Assessment, Research, Regulatory Compliance, Commercial and Vocational, ensuring AQA’s expertise informs both policy development and implementation. A core part of your role will be influencing through matrix leadership — working respectfully and effectively with senior colleagues such as Heads of Product, Subject Sector Leads and senior assessment and research colleagues to ensure we use our expertise to influence DfE, Ofqual and subject stakeholders strategically to achieve the best policy outcomes for the sector.

This is a highly visible, trusted role: you will regularly represent AQA with DfE, Ofqual and subject stakeholders and may contribute expert commentary at roundtables, conferences and sector engagements, and, with External Affairs colleagues, help develop strategic messaging for Ministers, officials, subject associations and media audiences.

What’s in it for you?

This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of GCSEs and A‑levels at a moment when decisions are being made daily. You’ll shape policy that affects millions of students, teachers and schools — backed by the scale, insight and national reach of AQA.

You’ll also benefit from a strong, clearly defined package, including:

• A generous pension scheme with up to 11.5% employer contribution based on your employee contributions.
• 25 days annual leave, rising with service, plus bank holidays as well as discretionary companywide paid leave in December.
• Smart working, combining home working with purposeful in‑person collaboration.
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme and mental‑health resources.
• Professional development, including leadership development and access to AQA’s internal research and insight.
• Cycle‑to‑work, tech and lifestyle salary‑sacrifice schemes.

If you want to apply your strategic assessment policy expertise on a truly national stage, this is your moment.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead AQA’s day‑to‑day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual, providing expert challenge, alignment and clarity on reform priorities.
• Help to shape AQA’s policy positions, ensuring they are coherent, evidence‑based and strategically aligned with our charitable purpose, commercial considerations and ourfull GCSE and A‑level portfolio.
• Influence through respectful matrix management, partnering with senior subject and assessment experts to support strong, consistent engagement across all subjects.

• Work with colleagues to ensure AQA’s engagement with DfE, Ofqual and subject stakeholders is

  strategic and impactful, identifying risks, opportunities and messages that support AQA’s reform goals.
• Ensure insight flows effectively, supporting strong decision‑making and cross‑organisational alignment.
• Represent AQA externally, positioning AQA as a credible, trusted reform partner.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Significant understanding of the qualification, curriculum and assessment policy and regulatory landscape.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholdersin complex policy, regulatory or government environments.
• Experience engaging with DfE, Ofqual, senior civil servants or regulatory officials.
• Sound judgement and strategic thinking, with the ability to spot risks and opportunities in the bigger picture.
• Credibility to represent a major national organisationin high‑level discussions.
• Experience partnering with senior subject matter experts, with an ability to lead through influence rather than hierarchy.
• A collaborative, partnership‑driven approach, bringing people with you and building trust.
• Resilience and comfort with complexity, operating confidently at pace through ambiguity and change.

Application process

Applications are open until Monday 6 April. After the closing date, we will review all submissions carefully before confirming the shortlist.

• First‑stage interviewswill take place onThursday 16 Aprilvia Microsoft Teams.

• Candidates progressing to the final stage will be invited to a

  face‑to‑face interview on Monday 28 April in AQAs London office.

All candidates will be notified of outcomes at each stage, and any preparation materials will be shared in advance.

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

Diversity and inclusion statement

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.

#PRO22

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

The postholder will work closely with Heads of Product and Subject Sector Leads (responsible for subject stakeholder engagement, e.g. with subject associations), providing effective matrix management, support and development to ensure that Product leads have effective subject stakeholder strategies in place and the stakeholder engagement capabilities to deliver those strategies.

The postholder will require the expertise and credibility to represent AQA externally at senior level. They will own the day-to-day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual. Along with other senior staff, they may represent the organisation at roundtables, speak at conferences and otherwise represent AQA externally (including with customers) as required.

Manage AQA’s day-to-day policy stakeholder relationships for GQ reform.

Work closely with senior colleagues, notably in External Affairs, Strategy & Vocational and Regulatory Compliance (including the Responsible Officer) to ensure an aligned approach.

Contribute to the stakeholder engagement strategy for GQ reform, bringing strategic insight and subject matter expertise to shape which stakeholders we engage with, how, and what our objectives are.

Develop plans and key messages, proactively identifying areas of opportunities and risk, and ensure these are used effectively to influence stakeholders and shape decisions and outcomes to help achieve our overall reform strategy.

Ensure we gain the insight we need from stakeholder engagement and that this is effectively disseminated internally.

Ensure that our stakeholder engagement maximises our educational impact in line with our charitable purpose.

Ensure that our stakeholder engagement influences effectively for commercial purposes where appropriate, and is sensitive to commercially-privileged information.

Own the day-to-day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual, building and maintaining strong relationships to ensure our expertise effectively informs policy development.

Support Product leads in developing impactful subject stakeholder engagement strategies.

Support Product leads in developing their capabilities in stakeholder engagement, providing materials, training, etc. as appropriate.

Act as a subject matter expert to support External Affairs & Comms colleagues when developing key messages for external audiences including Ministers and the media.

Represent AQA externally as required, e.g. at roundtables, speaking at conferences, etc.

Monitor and report on reform stakeholder engagement and insights as required.

Essential Criteria:

Proven ability to provide effective strategic leadership in challenging and time-sensitive contexts

Substantial experience of influencing and engaging senior stakeholders

Significant experience of stakeholder mapping and developing impactful stakeholder engagement strategies and plans in complex contexts

Strong knowledge and understanding of assessment/qualification development, awarding bodies and AQA’s policy and regulatory landscape

Understanding of and relationships with major education stakeholders

Knowledge of AQA’s market context, customers and competitors

Understanding of the commercial landscape, the ability to strategically influence effectively to achieve commercial aims, and the ability to recognise and preserve commercially-privileged information

Experience in working with colleagues, using your expertise to support them in developing their thinking, knowledge and plans

Experience developing and embedding effective ways of working, processes and tools for stakeholder engagement and management within complex contexts.

Demonstrable ability to lead and move in a rapid, agile and responsive way

Ability to inform strategic decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation and to translate that into frameworks and plans for implementation

Ability to lead and operate through adversity and uncertainty

Desirable Criteria:

Extensive knowledge of/experience engaging with DfE and Ofqual

Experience of engagement with Ministers, senior civil servants, Spads and/or senior regulatory officials