Operations Manager - Fast Track

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.

Operations Manager - Leadership Fast Track
2-year Fixed Term Contract
£42,000 - £49,750 – Milton Keynes

Onsite with flexibility for remote working outside of peak periods
Start Date: January 20th, 2025

Are you ready to lead with purpose and help shape the future of education? Join our team as a Fast Track Operations Manager, where your leadership will make a real difference. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and encourage women, people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, and those from underrepresented groups to apply.

About Us:

AQA is the UK’s leading provider of GCSEs and A-levels, delivering qualifications that are valued by teachers, learners, and employers. We are dedicated to ensuring fairness and accuracy in assessment, helping students to unlock their potential and achieve their goals. As a trusted name in education, we believe that our workforce should reflect the diversity of the students and communities we serve. That’s why we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

Programme Overview:
As part of our Fast-Track Leadership Programme, you will rotate through three 8-month placements, designed to enhance your leadership

capabilities and operational expertise. Reporting to senior operations leaders, you’ll lead diverse teams, manage key operational processes, and ensure the smooth delivery of exams.

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture where you can grow and thrive. You'll receive support through a bespoke leadership development programme, including mentoring and a qualification from Manchester Business School accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leading and nurturing diverse teams, ensuring a culture of respect, inclusion, and high performance.
• Managing end-to-end exam delivery, ensuring the success of thousands of learners.
• Driving improvements and encouraging innovation across teams, while promoting collaboration.
• Developing your leadership skills through structured mentoring and accredited learning opportunities.
• Supporting continuous improvement by fostering a culture of learning, adaptability, and teamwork.
• Balancing flexibility and team presence by being onsite during peak periods, while enjoying flexibility during non-peak times.

What’s in it for you?

• Leadership Development: Gain an accredited leadership qualification from Manchester Business School (CMI) and fast-track your career.
• Inclusive Culture: Be part of an organisation that values diversity and supports people from all backgrounds to thrive and excel.
• Generous Leave: Start with 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days, plus Christmas and New Year leave.
• Volunteer Days: Up to 5 paid days to support causes important to you.
• Wellbeing: Internal inclusive networking groups, Private medical insurance from day one, mental health support, cycle-to-work schemes, and gym discounts.
• Pension: Employer contributions up to 11.5%.
• Work-Life Balance: A 35-hour workweek with flexibility, especially during non-peak periods.

What You Bring to the Role:
We are looking for individuals with a variety of experiences and backgrounds who bring the following essential qualities:

• Proven experience in leading teams of people, with a focus on developing and empowering others to perform at their best.
• Demonstrable evidence of studying for a professional qualification whilst in the workplace or a degree-level qualification or equivalent.
• A collaborative, supportive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• The ability to drive change and innovation while ensuring high-quality outcomes.
• A strong focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for learners.
• A commitment to continuous learning and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

Location and Flexibility:
You’ll be based in our Milton Keynes office, with flexibility for remote working outside of peak periods. During peak times, onsite presence will increase, with additional hours or weekend work possible (overtime eligible). Parking is available, and some travel to other AQA offices may be required.

Join Us and Make a Difference:
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a forward-thinking organisation committed to diversity, inclusion, and educational excellence. If you're ready to lead, inspire, and make a difference, apply today.

What do I do next?

Apply now by sending your CV and a supporting statement outlining your motivation and transferable skills by visiting our website.

Closing date for applications Sunday 10th November 2024

The selection process:

Pre-screening Video interview Middle of November, followed by a first stage online panel interview to take place in early to end of November with final face to face interviews held onsite week commencing 6th December 2024

Equal Opportunities

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, military background or any other aspect which makes people unique.

Our charitable purpose:

To advance education by enabling teachers and students to realise their potential. This is our ‘higher’ purpose and ambition that encompasses everything we do, it’s what we are passionate about, what inspires us and what makes a difference to all our customers, stakeholders and society.

#CRE23

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 Operations Manager (Fast-track development) is a forward thinking experienced leader who is passionate about driving AQA forward to achieve success. The role holder will be responsible for leading an established operational delivery team day to day ensuring they achieve high performance and achieve excellent results throughout the end to end exam series delivery. They will be accountable for coaching, supporting, developing their team and creating an environment where everyone knows their contribution and feels valued. The role holder will be an enthusiastic experienced leader who has a track record of not being afraid to challenge the ‘status quo’ in order to drive continuous improvement across the department whilst maintaining series delivery standards ensuring we never let a learner down.Landscape:
Sponsored by the Director of Operations and supported the Head of Operational Delivery the scheme will be made up of 3 x 8 month placements in established operational roles.
The role holder will report directly into the relevant ‘Head of’ department for their placement alongside being supported with mentorship from senior leaders across AQA.
Sitting within the Operations division and accountable for ensuring candidates exam papers are processed, marked and results issued. Specific objectives and role requirements will be issued with each placement.
Responsible for day to day leadership of a team of permanent employee’s and temporary seasonal employee’s, varying in size and varying in operational roles depending on the placement.
Operating in a regulated environment, this role is subject to close scrutiny and must adhere to the Ofqual conditions of recognition. The role holder will regularly be required to provide assurance and updates to Director level.
Working towards immovable deadlines of exam results days where they will play a significant contribution to having all papers processed, marked and results issued on time.
Activities:
Provide strong role modelling of AQA Leadership style and values. Getting the very best from direct reports and teams by providing clarity, feedback, coaching and development, while continuously seeking to enhance performance in line with strategic objectives.
Ensure high levels of motivation across the department, particularly in periods of significant and stretching delivery targets during peak summer period. Driving performance through clear accountability and ensuring the maximum development of skills and capabilities within the team and creating development opportunities for people across the wider team.
Promote a culture that challenges the ‘status quo’ and encourages excellence, driving continuous improvement across the relevant department. Also working collaboratively with other areas across AQA.
Set ambitious goals for self and team, clearly defining accountabilities and responsibilities of operational delivery, whilst seeking opportunities to deliver above expectations.
Decision making accountability; Able to deal with a wide range of competing priorities and business requirements. Assessing risks and making decisions based on clear understanding of issues from several perspectives and sources often with limited time and information on which to base a decision.
Forecast, plan and deliver all activities required to ensure the successful delivery of the department, maintaining clear communication with all key stakeholders throughout. Including planning and managing spending on people resources and direct costs throughout the year, delivering to financial targets.
Where required manage third party, productivity and behaviours to ensure successful delivery to schedule and quality targets.
Proactively drive own development, setting clear, challenging development goals with clear actions to success.
Advocate for customers by proactively identifying opportunities to improve the experience for our customers and drive change across operations.
Build and maintain string relationships across Operations, the Chief Operating Office and wider AQA to build trust and achieve maximum success.
Exemplify AQA values and behaviours in order to put customers first and set the standard for the wider team.
Directly or indirectly support the overall business strategy including specific programmes of work that will underpin this.
Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to HSE, GDPR, Equal Opportunities, EDI and ISMS.
To be successful in this role, you will need to be:
A credible operational leader with experience of developing high performing teams with tight delivery timeframes
People focussed leader with excellent people and communication skills including experience of coaching, developing and nurturing their team to success.
Flexible, adaptable and able to adapt to new departments hitting the ground running
Results focused: make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace.
Skilled in defining and interpreting data requirements, analysis and trends, utilising these to drive the department forward.
Experienced in setting and delivering against demanding KPIs.
Committed to an excellent customer focus – able to focus own, teams and others’ work to the best outcome from the customer perspective.
Experienced in leading and embedding successful change and transformation programmes within an operational environment.
Able to translate the strategy of the organisation into measurable activity and set clear goals and expectations amongst your teams.
Able to change and influence the future of AQA by looking up and ahead identifying opportunities to drive improvements.
A champion of operational excellence fostering a collaborative spirit and relentlessly seeking opportunities for continuous improvement.
Commercially awareness to an excellent standard with knowledge of financial planning
Educated to degree level (or equivalent) and have a minimum of two years’ experience working in an operational leadership role.