Assessment Product Manager

AQA; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational assessment organization is seeking an Assessment Product Manager to drive the development of innovative assessment products. This critical role entails leading product strategies, collaborating with various teams, and utilizing data-driven insights to enhance educational solutions. The position offers a hybrid working model, with an attractive salary range and professional development opportunities, contributing to AQA’s mission of transforming assessment experiences globally.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme with up to 11.5% employer contributions

Private medical insurance

Flexible working hours

Access to learning and development opportunities

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Modern offices with gym facilities

Qualifications

• Experience in educational or commercial product development and management.
• Ability to manage priorities and deliver complex tasks consistently on time.
• Knowledge of the educational landscape and AQA's operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of innovative assessment products.
• Define and deliver product strategies that support AQA’s growth.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and quality.

Skills

Experience in product development or management (education or assessment)

Demonstrable communication and influencing skills

Commercial awareness

Analytical and data-driven approach

Collaborative mindset

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

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.

Job title: Assessment Product Manager

Contract type: Permanent
Location: Manchester, Milton Keynes, or London
Salary: North £48,500–£55,000 | South £50,500–£57,000
Working arrangements: Hybrid – typically two days in an AQA office each week, which can include your base office or other AQA sites to collaborate with colleagues and drive innovation

Have you developed a new assessment product for a specific market or created a digital learning and assessment solution that’s been adopted nationally or internationally? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Shape the future of assessment

We’re building something new – and we want you to be part of it. AQA Assessment Services Ltd is creating a dedicated team to develop innovative assessment products that go beyond the traditional 14–18 space. These roles are at the heart of our ambition to transform how learners interact with learning and assessment, both in the UK and internationally.

As an Assessment Product Manager, you’ll be joining a pioneering department that’s shaping AQA’s future. You’ll lead the development and management of products from ideation through to launch, ensuring they are commercially viable, impactful, and aligned with AQA’s strategic objectives.

Why join us?

• Collaboration at the core: You’ll work face-to-face with a newly formed department, shaping its culture and influencing its direction. While we encourage two days a week in an AQA office, this can be at your base location or another AQA site to work with colleagues and lead innovation.

• Make your mark: Be part of a team driving AQA’s growth strategy and creating digital products.

• Professional development: Access internal product management programmes and opportunities to grow your expertise.

• Inclusive culture: We value diversity, collaboration, and innovation – and we’re committed to creating an environment where differences are celebrated.

Purpose of the role

You’ll lead the development and management of innovative assessment products from ideation through to launch. Your work will ensure these products are commercially viable, impactful, and aligned with AQA’s strategic objectives. This is about creating solutions that go beyond the traditional 14–18 space, meeting the needs of learners at different stages of their journey and influencing how assessment is experienced globally.

In this role, you'll be responsible for :

• Defining and delivering product strategies and roadmaps that support AQA’s growth.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure quality, compliance, and customer focus.
• Using data and insights to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience in product development or management (education or assessment).
• Demonstrable communication and influencing skills, including presenting at senior level.
• Commercial awareness and ability to manage priorities.
• Analytical and data-driven approach.
• A collaborative mindset and a real engagement in continuous improvement.

What’s in it for you

• Exposure to high-impact commercial projects and strategic decision-making.
• A collaborative, inclusive team culture that values your ideas and wellbeing.
• Flexible working, a 35‑hour week, and 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and Christmas closure).
• A generous pension scheme with up to 11.5% employer contributions.
• Private medical insurance, health cash plan, EV leasing, volunteering days, and modern offices with gym.
• Opportunities to shape product strategy across diverse markets and assessment models.
• Access to learning and development, including leadership and strategic thinking.

Diversity and inclusion

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

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by Sunday 7th December 2025 at 23:59.

First stage: Virtual Interviews will take place between 10 and 17 December 2025.

Second and Final stage: Face to Face interviews week commencing 5th January 2026 and will involve a structured interview and a task.

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

Purpose

AQA Assessment Services Ltd (ASL) is driving a new programme of work to successfully implement its ambitious Business Plan to double the size of the business within the next five years. The Product Manager will form part of the team developing and managing a new range of innovative assessment products designed to meet the needs of learners at different stages of their learning experience.

They’ll combine expertise in general, technical and vocational education, to ensure the successful development and ongoing management of specific assessment products within our wider portfolio under guidance of the Head of Assessment Products. We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic assessment product manager with a passion for academic, technical and vocational education, both in the UK and internationally.

Landscape

AQA is the leading exam board in the United Kingdom. We’re an independent education charity with over 120 years of assessment expertise and knowledge. Our purpose is to support education, teachers and learners. We reinvest any surplus into research and innovation, to improve the quality and reliability of assessments and contribute to policy and practice worldwide.

AQA Global Assessment Services combines this expertise with skills from across the wider AQA group. We work in partnership with education ministries, exam boards, and education providers to understand their needs and develop customised end-to-end assessment solutions. ASL will be driving forward strategic initiatives by developing new partnerships, enterprise customers, and large delivery contracts. To be successful in these we will need to develop programmes of work which ensure different parts of AQA are connected in support of the customer requirements.

Accountability

The Product Manager is accountable for leading the development and management of a set of novel products in new assessment areas. This role is crucial in ensuring AQA maintains and expands its market share in these new assessment areas.

Activities

• Customer Focus: Lead and act as the face of AQA’s new assessment product(s) both internally and externally.
• Define the strategy and roadmap for your assigned set of new products, working with teams across AQA to generate ideas for improvements to the design, development and delivery of products and supporting services. Collate and prioritise these and ensure that the approach enhances the end-to-end customer experience and meets stakeholder needs.
• Use assessment knowledge and expertise to ensure the new products and related support services are meeting customer needs and align with pedagogical approaches at all stages of the product life cycle.
• Work collaboratively with the wider AQA teams to drive continuous improvement of AQA’s customer value proposition, ensuring customer insight is at the heart of the proposition.
• Contribute to planning of customer engagement campaigns, events and activities, to ensure that they have the maximum impact within the resource available.
• Manage and deliver strategic projects relevant to product development, management or withdrawal.
• Develop an understanding of actionable insights into what our customers (teachers/schools and government in both the UK and internationally) want and need and an understanding of AQA’s competitive position and customer reputation in the market and use this to contribute to the development of our Product Growth Strategy for AQA.

Financial Management

• Have a robust understanding of the profitability of the product and the factors affecting it, and optimise the performance of the product, balancing the need to achieve financial targets with customer, quality and stakeholder interests.
• Be the commercial champion of the assigned product/s within AQA, defining commercial priorities in line with the overall Product Growth Strategy and communicating these to internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with colleagues to recommend, gain agreement to and annually update, the product’s financial targets with Finance and proactively manage activity across AQA to ensure delivery of those targets.
• Contribute to the collective development of AQA’s pricing policy and advise on pricing decisions in relation to the assigned product.
• Produce evidence-based proposals and financial business cases for new and enhanced products and services in line with AQA’s strategy.

Product and Internal Processes

• Act as the focal point for activity across AQA for the assigned product, when monitoring operational performance and delivery.
• Analyse and interpret data and information to inform sound strategic and operational decisions and priorities.
• Manage the bringing together of expertise from across AQA to collaborate in producing and delivering budgeted annual plans to support delivery of product targets and AQA’s strategic objectives.

People and Culture

• Demonstrate commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile as business needs change.
• Comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
• Work with colleagues in the team to create and embed good practice in product development and management within the team.
• Utilise the available range of digital tools for communication, content creation and information processing in order to work effectively and efficiently. Maintain digital skills to meet business need.

Technology

• Apply business analytics to transform data from research and understanding of the customer environment into customer, market and policy insights and use this to influence stakeholders.

Government and External Relations

Ensure that all product related regulatory and compliance activities, records and risk management processes are maintained and managed.

To be successful in this role you will need to know:

• Knowledge: Product development and management, marketing and the educational landscape in which AQA operates.
• Qualification: Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• Skills: communication, influencing, negotiation, creative thinking, analysis, problem solving, prioritisation, strategic planning and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience: Educational/assessment or commercial product development and management experience, working in a complex matrix environment, managing multiple projects, complex tasks and consistently delivering on time.