• Job Description

  Req#: R4390

  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 seven million GCSEs and A-levels each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

  Executive Director of Corporate Affairs and Strategy

  Permanent

  Salary range: Competitive

  Based from any AQA Office: Manchester, Milton Keynes, London or Guildford

  Are you looking for an influential, strategically focused Executive position that will not only directly impact the future of the organisation but also overall education policy?

  Does shaping, evolving and influencing an integrated and cohesive strategy that puts AQA at the forefront of educational assessment in all its forms excite you?

  Can you be an advocate for leading through change, motivating, coaching and challenging in equal measure at a corporate level?

  Purpose

  You will be a key member of AQA’s Executive team, closely supporting the CEO in evolving, overseeing and communicating the progress of AQAs ambitious and transformative strategy in line with our charitable purpose. You will be at the centre of shaping policy and enhancing AQA’s reputation in the UK and abroad, internally and externally. The role of Executive Director of Corporate Communications and Strategy will oversee three related functions: External Affairs; Internal Communications and Colleague Engagement; and Strategy Oversight.

  What’s in it for you?

  You will have a real and tangible impact in shaping the future of the organisation, moving AQA from the largest and most successful exam board in the UK, to becoming an influential and global assessment specialist in the wider education sphere. You will benefit, and hopefully thrive, from working in a highly regulated charitable environment, yet one with a commercial focus.
  
  The next 3-5 years will be critical in transforming the educational environment both nationally and globally and you will have real autonomy and influence to drive the future direction of AQA which will be at the forefront of that.

  • Access to an enhanced contributory pension scheme (up to 18.5%).
  • Life Assurance, BUPA PMI, Health cash plan, 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Christmas off, increasing with service to 30 days annual leave.

  What you will do

  • Promote AQA as a leading provider of mainstream qualifications and assessment products and services, positioning AQA as a key contributor to national policy on education and assessment through corporate communications and policy influencing.
  • Act as an ambassador representing AQA to all external stakeholders, supporting three related functions: Policy, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Oversight to produce effective, multi-channel communications.
  • Oversee milestones & metrics, evolving strategy through intelligence gathering and being alert to the competitive environment through a complex internal and external context.
  • Collaborate across the organisation to ensure colleagues understand and are engaged in delivering a step-change in our brand and are ready to deliver on our future focussed strategy.
  • Drive and lead from the front in implementing a media relations strategy, both proactively and in response to unplanned developments or crises.
  • Maintain key internal relationships with the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards, AQA Executive team, partners, stakeholders and customers on all matters relating to strategy.
  • Represent AQA in liaising with national bodies, including inter alia Ofqual, DfE and other awarding organisations, and develop other stakeholder relationships to further AQA policy and interests.

  What you need to succeed

  • Direct experience and understanding of educational and curriculum developments, policy and practice, and trends and regulatory constraints in the UK educational sector.
  • Knowledge and experience of the full range of communications channels and media, and of relevant research techniques and methodologies.
  • High level communication skills both through media and face-to-face and the ability to convey complex issues with clarity and precision.
  • Demonstrable ability to shape and implement executive level business strategy & organisational policy development.
  • Experience of representing organisations and building strong external relationships at senior levels.
  • Advocate for leading from the front and delivering positive change whilst bringing people with you.
  • A drive to influence, coach, motivate and develop a team of subject matter experts.
  • Your interpersonal and diplomatic skills, emotional intelligence, and judgement to influence and persuade others.

  Our Aim

  AQA is an independent education charity and the UK’s largest provider of academic qualifications taught in schools and colleges. We believe that quality assessment is an essential ingredient for a good education, so we’ve been rewarding achievement by designing and delivering fair and inclusive assessment since 1903.

  Our belief in the importance of fair and inclusive assessment and the positive impact it has on teaching, learning and society, is our compass, and what drives us forward. We’re proud to provide high quality assessments that are fair, reliable, and support learners on their educational journey, and our diversification strategy will help us extend our reach and support a wider range of learners in new ways.

  As an independent education charity, we reinvest our income back into education. This means we’re able to continuously improve our qualifications and assessments and the support we provide. It also funds other educational services, such as assessment research that benefits the whole education system. In 120 years, our mission hasn’t changed, but the way we improve assessment keeps on evolving.

  What next?

  Please provide your CV and a comprehensive cover letter outlining your motivation and transferable skills for the position via our Workday careers portal. Closing date for applications: 23:59 on Monday August 28 2023.
  
  The screening process will consist of a prescreening call, two Interview stages held via MS Teams and Face to Face respectively to be held in September 2023.
  
  For an informal discussion about this role please reach out to Emily Taper: AQA Recruitment Lead or Jonathan Glover: AQA Core Recruitment Manager.
  
  AQA is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children. The successful candidate must be willing to undergo enhanced DBS checks as part of the appointment process.

  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

  Role purpose
  The purpose of this role is to promote AQA as a leading provider of mainstream qualifications and assessment products and services. Positioning AQA as a key contributor to national policy on education and assessment through corporate communications and policy influencing. To support the Chief Executive Officer and colleagues in formulating, communicating, overseeing and reporting delivery of AQA’s strategy in line with our charitable purpose.
  
  Principle accountabilities
  Lead AQA’s influencing of policy and activity across the educational sector acting as an ambassador and representing AQA externally in discussions with key stakeholders and partners.
  Establish effective external networks to promote AQA’s influence in the wider educational debates at a national level and develop the capacity and capability of the organisation to communicate more effectively and to promote the work and influence of AQA.
  Lead the professional communications teams to produce effective, multi-channel communication for all AQA external stakeholders and internal colleagues, which support AQA’s business objectives, raises our profile and standing externally and promotes AQA as an employer of choice.
  Provide technical advice and counsel to the Chief Executive and AQA Executive team on a wide range of communication and engagement matters to support AQA’s delivery of its purpose and objectives.
  Lead the communications function to develop a corporate approach to stakeholder management and implement a media relations strategy, both proactively and in response to unplanned developments or crises.
  Create effective internal communication strategies and channels, building communications capability amongst AQA leaders in order to foster staff engagement and improve whole-organisation working and productivity including ownership and development of the intranet so that it becomes an efficient business resource.
  Support the CEO and Executive team to set direction, develop, enhance and oversee the delivery of AQA group’s strategy, leveraging the strength and knowledge of the whole group to meet policy objectives, maximising future opportunities in line with our charitable purpose, and support commercial subsidiaries in effecting their strategies within the overall AQA group.
  Maintain key relationships with the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards, AQA Executive team, partners, stakeholders and customers on all matters relating to strategy.
  Conduct and commission research into markets, competitors and the educational environment, bringing forward information for the Executive and Board to review and refresh AQA’s strategy in both domestic and international markets.
  Manage, effectively track and monitor implementation of AQA’s strategy.
  Develop and maintain collaborative working practices that feed into other corporate strategies that create a competitive advantage and financial contribution levels, especially around AQA’s delivery and operational models.
  Maintain oversight of the delivery of AQA group’s strategy, ensuring progress is reported according to need, contributing to the management of risks and opportunities.
  Ensure the organisation is focussed on delivering the strategy through defined projects with clear deliverables, and not creating or pursuing activities/workstreams that do not.
  
  General Executive Accountabilities
  Advise on and contribute to AQA strategy as part of a wider leadership team and provide active support to broader organisational policy development and implementation.
  Model leadership behaviours with confidence and get the best from direct reports and the teams by providing them with clarity, recognition and feedback, while continuously looking to enhance performance through coaching and development, seeking to enhance performance in line with business objectives.
  Coach direct reports to stretch and develop their potential and ensure high levels of empowerment that underpin a strong leadership culture within the team.
  Contribute to the development of a robust business planning culture that supports a social enterprise ethos.
  Prepare and manage an annual budget, and any project or programme budgets, in accordance with AQA’s procedures, and manage all other resources effectively and in line with any procedural requirements. Represent AQA in liaising with national bodies, including inter alia Ofqual, DfE and other awarding organisations, and develop other stakeholder relationships to further AQA policy and interests. Contribute to AQA’s governance arrangements, acting as part of AQA’s Policy and Advisory Committees where required, and taking responsibility at statutory board level for one or more commercial subsidiaries.
  
  General accountabilities
  To comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
  Where business needs change, to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile.
  
  Additional information
  As the postholder will be visiting our customers from time to time, he or she is required to complete a Child Safeguarding Declaration in line with the AQA Child Protection Policy.
  
  Reporting
  This role is a member of the AQA Executive Team and will report directly to AQA’s Chief Executive Officer.
  
  Person profile
  A broad understanding of the sector and the charitable context in which AQA operates and its main stakeholder and customer groups.
  Direct experience and understanding of educational and curriculum developments, policy and practice, and trends and regulatory constraints in the UK educational sector.
  Knowledge and experience of the full range of communications channels and media, and of relevant research techniques and methodologies
  High level communications skills both through media and face-to-face and the ability to convey complex issues with clarity and precision.
  Proven ability to think and operate strategically, and to provide clear, balanced and challenging advice at a senior level on strategic issues.
  Significant experience at a senior level of resource management (people, finance, physical resources) and risk management.
  Experience of successful change leadership, delivering benefits from changes and bringing people with you.

• About the company

  AQA, formerly the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, is an awarding body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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