Community Engagement Manager

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bupa Health Insurance

Health Care Cash Plan

Life Assurance

EV Leasing

Pension contributions 18.5%

25 days leave

Job summary

AQA in Manchester/London is seeking a Community Engagement Manager to connect with teachers, learners and employers, shaping qualifications, skills and future opportunities.

You'll join the Policy and Public Affairs team to strengthen relationships, develop engagement programmes and broaden AQA’s influence across the education sector. Hybrid work with office presence required.

Qualifications

• Experience in education, community engagement, business engagement or a related field.
• Proven ability to build and maintain diverse stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent communication skills and adaptability to different audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond to changing circumstances.
• Genuine interest in education and discussing issues affecting learners, educators and employers.
• Experience managing partnership programmes, grants or stakeholder networks.

Responsibilities

• Build and grow relationships with employers, business leaders and industry stakeholders to inform discussions about skills and education.
• Develop and deliver engagement strategies for teachers via events, digital channels and professional communities.
• Lead youth voice initiatives giving young people meaningful opportunities to influence decisions.
• Develop partnerships with universities, FE providers and sector leaders to support qualification innovation.
• Lead AQA's Purpose Driven Partnership Programme including grants management, delivery, impact measurement and reporting.

Skills

Education experience

Community engagement

Stakeholder relations

Communication skills

Project management

Job description

Contract type: Permanent
Location: Manchester or London
Salary: Manchester £44,000 - £47,000 | London £45,000 - £50,000
Working arrangements: Hybrid, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office

Help shape the future of education by connecting the voices that matter most.

As Community Engagement Manager, you'll work at the heart of conversations that influence education across the UK. You'll connect with teachers, learners, employers, FE and sector leaders, helping ensure their experiences and insights inform the decisions that shape qualifications, skills and future opportunities. Whether you're developing new partnerships, leading youth voice initiatives or bringing together stakeholders around shared challenges, your work will help AQA stay informed, connected and responsive to the communities we serve.

If you're someone who thrives on building relationships, creating meaningful partnerships and turning ideas into action, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Purpose of the role

You'll join AQA's Policy and Public Affairs team, working closely with colleagues across our External Affairs function to strengthen relationships and build engagement with key audiences.

In this role, you'll lead programmes that create meaningful connections, generate valuable insight and strengthen AQA's influence across the education sector. You'll work with a wide range of stakeholders, from young people and educators to employers, FE leaders and strategic partners, ensuring their perspectives help shape our thinking and future direction.

No two days will be the same. One day you might be launching a new partnership or facilitating a stakeholder event. The next, you could be leading a youth engagement programme or using stakeholder insight to inform strategic discussions. You'll have the opportunity to shape new initiatives, develop partnerships and ensure the voices of key communities help inform AQA's thinking and future direction.

Key responsibilities

• Build and grow relationships with employers, business leaders and industry stakeholders, using their insight to help inform discussions about skills, qualifications and the future of education.
• Develop and deliver engagement strategies for teachers through events, digital channels and professional communities, ensuring their perspectives help shape AQA's work and wider educational debates.
• Lead youth voice initiatives that give young people meaningful opportunities to influence decisions affecting their education, skills and future pathways.
• Develop partnerships with universities, further education providers and sector leaders to support qualification innovation, strengthen post-16 insight and expand AQA's reach across the education landscape.
• Lead AQA's Purpose Driven Partnership Programme, a new grant-giving programme where you will be responsible for supporting the allocation of new grants, ongoing relationship management, delivery, impact measurement and reporting.

What's in it for you

• A platform to influence education nationally and represent AQA at key events
• Career development and professional growth in a leading education charity
• Hybrid working and flexibility to support work-life balance
• Comprehensive benefits including Bupa Health Insurance, Health Care Cash Plan, Life Assurance and an Electric Vehicle Leasing scheme, generous combined pension contributions up to 18.5% and 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas
• An inclusive culture that welcomes new perspectives, values collaboration and encourages innovative thinking to improve how we support teachers and students

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience working in education, community engagement, business engagement or a related field.
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your style for different audiences.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to changing circumstances and make sound decisions.
• A genuine interest in education and confidence discussing issues affecting learners, educators and employers.
• Experience managing partnership programmes, grants, stakeholder networks or community-based initiatives.

Diversity and inclusion

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.

Make your mark on Community Engagement Projects within education-join AQA and help shape the future.

Onboarding expectations

Please note that an Enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful candidate.

Successful candidates will be unable to maintain an Associate role with AQA or any other exam board.