• Job Description

  Req#: R5430

  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.

  Head of Product - Maths

  Permanent

  Manchester - £58,500 - £66,000
  Milton Keynes/London/Guildford - £61,000 - £68,500

  Hybrid working

  Do you believe in the power of education and what it can achieve?

  Would you like the opportunity to set the direction for AQA’s Maths product strategy?

  Are you an inspirational and authentic leader who operates at a strategic level, with expertise in Maths?

  Purpose

  As Head of Product - Maths (at AQA, we define product as the qualification and anything that directly supports it), you will be accountable for leading a team and setting the strategic direction for AQA’s Maths product offering, crucial to ensure that customers choose and continue to choose AQA.

  Landscape

  At AQA, we’re focused on understanding our customers better than anyone else and delivering the support they need, including delivering exciting new products. Because of this, we’re investing in several additional roles in two of our Customer and Product teams – Product Management and Subject Support.

  What you’ll do

  In this incredibly exciting role, you will represent AQA’s Maths offering both internally and externally. As a leader within our Product Management team you will be the focal point for the development and delivery of our product roadmap for Maths, identifying key areas of focus, leading strategic planning and providing oversight. Working with colleagues, you will also lead on the translation of business strategies into coherent, aligned delivery plans.

  You will lead the delivery and maintenance of AQA’s overall Maths product strategy, developing and synthesising customer data to create new insights into our customers’ needs and inform how AQA can gain a competitive advantage in Maths.

  You pride yourself on your excellent leadership and management, influencing, and people skills, while creating highly effective networks at all levels across the organisation and more widely, working collaboratively to ensure the delivery of strategic objectives.

  What’s in it for you?

  • You’ll be a highly visible presence within the Maths community, with our customers and within AQA.
  • With your technical and commercial acumen, you’ll understand that the education sector is experiencing greater visibility and the need to diversify and adapt. This brings its own challenges and rewards.
  • You’ll demonstrate a strong desire to put our customers at the heart of everything we do, which will help you to drive the direction of AQA’s Maths offerings, to ensure commercial success.
  • As part of AQA’s employee offer, you will have access to an enhanced contributory pension scheme (company contributions up to 11.5%).
  • You will also benefit from life assurance, BUPA PMI, EVS, BUPA health cash plan, 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + christmas off, increasing with service to 30 days annual leave.

  To be successful in this role, you will have:

  • Significant expertise in Maths gained through professional roles or teaching experience.
  • Exceptional influencing skills, with experience of building rapport and effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Experience in product management or marketing, with financial and commercial acumen is highly desirable.
  • Flexibility and responsiveness to change , appropriately challenging the thinking of others and championing new ways of working.
  • The ability to synthesise complex, diverse and often incomplete information to provide clarity to colleagues.
  • The ability to inspire and drive high levels of performance by modelling AQA’s values and leadership behaviours.

  Are you ready to shape the future of Maths education, as part of our team? Upload your CV and cover letter via our AQA job portal today.

  What’s next?

  Note : Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we may close the advert early if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews will be held throughout July and August.

  ++ If you are currently working in Education we are aware of the notice periods and are comfortable to wait for the right candidate.

  
  

  AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes people unique. AQA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment. Our Safeguarding Policy is available on our website.

  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 Head of Product is accountable for the strategic management and development of AQA’s English/Maths/Science product offering. This role is crucial in ensuring AQA maintains and expands its market share in these subjects. Key responsibilities include:
  
  • Strategic Leadership: Lead English/Maths/Science developing and executing strategies to defend and grow AQA’s market share position.
  • Subject Coordination: Act as the focal point for these subjects, overseeing the coordination, prioritisation and supervision of related activities in line with AQA’s strategic objectives.
  • Product Development and Delivery: Manage the development and delivery of annual and medium-term product roadmaps, balancing quality, customer needs, commercial viability and stakeholder interests.
  • Representation: Serve as the primary representative for English, Maths, and Science both internally within AQA and externally, aiming to achieve customer acquisition targets and improve customer retention.
  • Strategic Planning: Identify and define strategic activities necessary for meeting AQA’s targets and lead their implementation.
  • Product life cycle management: The post holder is responsible for the assigned portfolio across its entire life cycle.
  • People management: setting SMART objectives for your team, offering consistent guidance and support, mentoring, coaching and developing team members, fostering an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. You will be responsible for ensuring your team achieves high performance and meets its goals aligned to AQA’s overarching strategy.
  • This leadership role, which reports directly to the Head of Product Management, is pivotal in upholding AQA’s position and reputation as a leader in education assessment services.Key Responsibilities:
  Subject Expertise: The role requires significant expertise in English, Maths, and Science, gained through professional roles or teaching experience.
  Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic direction within AQA and represent these subjects to external stakeholders.
  Business Process Management: Oversee the business case process and manage related budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
  Profitability and Accountability: Focus on maximizing the profitability of these subject areas through strategic planning and oversight.
  
  Activities:
  
  Customer Focus
  Lead initiatives to enhance product quality, customer experience and stakeholder satisfaction through continuous improvement
  Represent AQA at external events and develop commercial strategies for product improvement.
  Manage team to align delivery with AQA’s priorities.
  Develop customer value propositions based on deep customer insights.
  Engage in planning and quality assurance of customer engagement campaigns and collaborative projects.
  
  Financial Management
  Optimise product profitability, balancing financial targets with broader interests.
  Act as the product leader within AQA, setting and communicating priorities.
  Update and manage financial targets in collaboration with the Finance department.
  Advise on pricing policies and generate business cases for new developments.
  
  Product and Internal Processes
  Develop and maintain product plans, ensuring timely and budget-compliant delivery.
  Analyse data for informed decision-ma`king and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.
  Regularly review product strategy and plans for ongoing relevance and effectiveness.
  Ensure compliance with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
  
  People and Culture:
  Lead and develop team members, promoting and role modeling a high-performance culture.
  Provide feedback, coaching, and development aligned with business objectives.
  Ensure compliance with AQA policies and demonstrate adaptability to changing business needs.
  
  
  Technology:
  Employ digital tools for efficient and effective communication and content management.
  
  Government and External Relations:
  Apply business analytics for insight-driven policy development and stakeholder engagement.
  Oversee regulatory and compliance aspects of product management.
  
  Success Requirements:
  Knowledge: Product management and marketing, with financial and commercial acumen.
  Qualification: Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
  Skills: Leadership, communication, influencing, negotiation, creative thinking, analysis, problem solving, prioritisation, strategic planning and interpersonal abilities.
  Experience: Educational or commercial product management experience, working in a complex matrix environment, people management

• About the company

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

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