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.
Subject Support Manager – Design & Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation & Nutrition
Manchester: £43,000 - £48,900
Milton Keynes, London, Guildford: £44,700 - £50,900
Hybrid: one day in the office per week plus extensive national travel including overnight stays
If you're ready to take your passion for D&T beyond the classroom and influence how thousands of students experience the subject, this is your opportunity to make a national impact.
About the role
This is an opportunity at a time of growth to join an expanding Subject Support function, so if you're ready to take your expertise in Design & Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation & Nutrition beyond the classroom and influence how thousands of students experience the subject, this is your opportunity to make a national impact.
Alongside shaping the subject’s future, you’ll handle the practical support teachers need: answering centre queries, producing subject updates, delivering Curriculum Connect sessions, analysing data to identify centres needing support, and representing AQA at conferences.
These roles are ideal for teachers looking to broaden their impact, or for those who have moved beyond classroom teaching into EdTech, CPD, or other education-focused sectors and now want to influence education more broadly through AQA.
Purpose
Working in a wider subject support team of 50 that is continuing to grow, you’ll support teachers in delivering qualifications across Design & Technology, Food, and Engineering.
Drawing on your assessment and curriculum knowledge, you’ll help shape how our qualifications are delivered in classrooms. You’ll play a key part in assessment reform and influencing national education beyond individual schools.
What's in it for you
- The chance to make a meaningful impact on education while growing your career.
- A real sense of purpose where your work will influence national education.
- Opportunities for growth and professional development.
- Being a part of AQA’s inclusive and values-led culture.
- A benefits package including up to 11.5 % pension contribution, BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service, along with discretionary Christmas closure days.
In this role, you'll be responsible for:
- Representing AQA and delivering key subject messages to external audiences.
- Supporting schools, centres, and teachers with subject-related queries, and planning and delivering the specifications.
- Engaging with teachers both face-to-face and online to support continuous improvement and subject confidence.
- Building strong relationships with subject stakeholders and using insights to shape future developments.
- Gathering and analysing data and customer feedback using relevant tools to inform decisions and improve delivery.
- Collaborating with internal teams such as Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Events to ensure alignment and smooth delivery.
You'll thrive in this role if you have:
- A clear and confident understanding of one or more of the Design & Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation & Nutrition areas, their specifications, and current pedagogy.
- An understanding of GCSE and/or A Level assessment and awareness of the wider education landscape.
- Current or former teaching experience and ability to demonstrate credibility with teachers.
- Experience that shows you’ve already extended your influence beyond your own classroom, for example through subject networks, CPD delivery, EdTech projects or other outward-facing responsibilities.
- The ability to use data effectively to inform delivery and understand customer impact.
- Clear and empathetic communication skills, including presenting to teachers, parents and students and responding to questions or challenges.
- The ability to explain AQA’s offer in a clear and accessible way.
- Flexibility to travel extensively, including occasional overnight stays.
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.
Application process
Please attach your CV and a covering letter, outlining your transferable skills and motivation for this role.
Closing date
23:59 on Monday April 06
Onboarding expectations
The expected start date can align with teacher notice periods or earlier if required.
If applicable, successful candidates will be unable to maintain an Associate role with AQA or any other exam board.
Enhanced DBS requirement
Please note that an Enhanced DBS will be required for the successful candidate.
# PRO22
Full Job Description
Summary
The key purpose of your role is to support customers, improve customer satisfaction and experience to achieve Customer and Product and organisational objectives. Your role will contribute to and support the planning and delivery of all activities for your subject(s).
The focus will be supporting customers and selling our qualifications through subject expertise, to retain and grow our market share. You will also be responsible for using your subject expertise to provide internal consultancy plus building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders where needed.
The role will require extensive national travel to represent AQA, deliver to customers and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
Landscape
- To understand the educational landscape particularly within your subject area.
- To understand and engage with the strategic priorities of AQA and its evolving structure.
Activities
- Achieve challenging goals and milestones for delivery of your subject(s).
- Contribute to planning, monitoring, and delivering Customer and Product priorities for your subject(s) (e.g., creation, monitoring and delivery of subject-focused annual plans).
- Use relevant systems, reports and dashboards to support and record delivery for your subject to meet delivery targets.
- Lead and support projects or workstreams within Customer and Product which are of a commensurate level to your role, maximising development opportunities.
- Engage with key stakeholders to support planning and delivery of priorities (e.g., Product Management, Marketing, Sales, Customer Training and Events).
- Contribute to effective identification and management of risks and dependencies.
- Ensure your work supports continuous improvement in process and delivery, to improve customer experience and satisfaction.
- Collaborate with other teams to help reduce failure demand from customers (e.g., improved first contact resolution of customer enquiries).
- Promote customer centricity, be an advocate for the customer across the business and provide subject-based customer insight.
- Be a brand advocate for AQA with customers and associates.
- Represent the team, subject, and Customer & Product as part of wider organisational projects and priorities.
- Contribute to business-wide processes where needed to support customer-facing activity (e.g., incident management and awarding).
- Responsible for the engagement and management of associates to support delivery to customers within your subject(s) in line with the AQA associate strategy.
- Engage with and influence subject-level stakeholders such as subject associations and learned societies to build advocacy and support and to provide both stakeholder and customer insight to inform current and future developments (e.g., at times of reform).
- Present at stakeholder events in collaboration with the Product Management team, in line with the product growth strategy, in order to influence stakeholder views and decisions to ensure AQA is seen as the board of choice for the subject.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- An excellent understanding of the subject, specifications, and current pedagogy.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills in line with AQA brand and tone of voice.
- Former teaching experience or ability to demonstrate credibility with teachers.
- Leadership skills including stakeholder engagement and collaborative working.
- Influencing and brand advocacy.
- Organisation, planning, and prioritisation skills.
- A continuous improvement mindset.
- A big picture mindset.
- The ability to have robust conversations with customers and stakeholders, own and deliver corporate messages.
- Ability to use relevant data to inform effective delivery and support monitoring of impact to customers.
- Modelling of organisational values and behaviours.
- An understanding of AQA’s assessment products, processes and practices relevant to your subject(s).
#J-18808-Ljbffr