Application Delivery Manager

AQA Recruiting; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35-hour week

Hybrid work arrangement

Pension + healthcare

Wellbeing & volunteering

AI-enabled delivery improvements

Job summary

AQA, the UK's largest provider of academic qualifications, is seeking an Application Delivery Manager in Manchester. This senior leadership role will oversee enterprise application delivery, coordinating internal teams, supplier partners and matrix-managed resources to drive high‑quality change across Dynamics 365, Power Platform and enterprise AI.

You’ll shape delivery demand, capacity and sourcing, apply evidence-led prioritisation, and strengthen Agile governance, enabling faster, reliable

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise SaaS delivery teams, internal and external partners.
• Strong knowledge of cloud SaaS change delivery, ideally Dynamics 365/Power Platform/AI.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead change.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary internal teams, partners and matrix-managed resources as one delivery function.
• Allocate priorities and capacity across strategic projects and releases.
• Strengthen Agile delivery, governance, testing and release management.
• Shape demand, capacity and sourcing for the application portfolio growth.

Skills

Enterprise SaaS delivery

Influence stakeholders

Agile methods

Azure DevOps

Tools

Dynamics 365

Power Platform

Enterprise AI

Job description

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.

Application Delivery Manager – Permanent, Manchester. Salary: £77,100 – £87,200. Working arrangements: Hybrid, with two days a week in the office including Thursday as the team anchor day.

Shape how enterprise applications change is delivered across AQA. This is a new senior leadership role with the scope to shape AQA’s Enterprise Applications delivery approach. You’ll bring internal teams, specialist partners and matrix‑managed resources together to deliver high‑quality, impactful change across a growing software portfolio that includes Dynamics 365, Power Platform and enterprise AI. Your decisions will help AQA maximise our growing technology investment and support the services colleagues and customers rely on to deliver fair assessment for learners. You’ll join the Enterprise Applications leadership team and lead the functional technology change delivery teams. This is an IT leadership role focused on building Product development delivery capability and achieving business outcomes. You’ll own the view of delivery demand, capacity and capability, make evidence‑led choices about priorities and sourcing to optimise the blended operating model that can grow with AQA’s needs.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

leading multidisciplinary internal Functional teams, supplier partners and matrix‑managed business analysis and testing resources as one coordinated delivery function agreeing priorities and allocating capacity across strategic projects, product enhancements and releases resolving resource pressures, challenging unrealistic demand and escalating material risks with clear options holding internal teams and delivery partners to account for quality, pace, value, risk and agreed outcomes strengthening Agile delivery, governance, quality assurance, testing, release management and documentation building a forward view of demand, skills, capacity and sourcing needs as the application portfolio grows coaching your direct reports, developing capability and creating clear ownership for successful transition into live service

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

You’ll be comfortable making decisions across a complex portfolio while bringing people with you and keeping the focus on achievable outcomes. demonstrable experience leading enterprise SaaS application delivery teams, including internal specialists and third‑party partners knowledge of cloud SaaS change delivery, ideally across Dynamics 365, Power Platform or enterprise AI, or closely transferable platforms knowledge of optimal uses of AI within enterprise solutions and to enhance software delivery processes expert applied knowledge of change delivery methods, including Agile, and tools such as Azure DevOps evidence of prioritising competing demand, allocating constrained resources and turning strategy into realistic delivery plans the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and lead people through change

What’s in it for you?

• The opportunity to shape an evolving function, influence important technology decisions and make a meaningful contribution to education while growing your leadership impact.
• a 35‑hour working week with flexible, hybrid working
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days
• a benefits package including up to 11.5% pension contribution, Bupa healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities
• the chance to lead change across a growing enterprise SaaS portfolio and help embed AI‑enabled improvement
• an inclusive, values‑led culture with employee networks including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision‑making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Smart Working We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.

Diversity and inclusion AQA is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision‑making and impact. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.