Competitor & Market Analyst

AQA Education; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education organization in Manchester is seeking a Competitor & Market Analyst to turn complex data into actionable insights. This hybrid role involves analyzing the education landscape and presenting findings to senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a degree, experience in research and analysis, and strong communication skills. This position offers professional growth, a collaborative culture, and a range of benefits including medical insurance and a generous pension scheme.

Benefits

Professional growth opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Generous pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Gym facilities

Qualifications

• Experience delivering research and analysis projects independently.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong understanding of the education landscape.

Responsibilities

• Interpreting complex asks from senior leaders and translating them into actionable research.
• Gathering intelligence on competitors and the education market.
• Presenting findings with confidence to influence strategic decisions.

Skills

Microsoft Access

SQL

Analysis Skills

Microsoft Powerpoint

Data Mining

Market Research

Microsoft Excel

Data Analysis Skills

Education

Relevant degree or qualification

Job description

At AQA were committed to advancing education and were committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and its our people who make this happen.

Job title: Competitor & Market Analyst
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Manchester
Salary: 46550 - 51800
Working arrangements: Hybrid two days a week in the office

Ready to turn complex data into compelling stories that shape the future of education Join AQA and make your insights this role youll influence decisions at the highest level by presenting clear actionable intelligence that helps us stay ahead in a changing market.

Purpose of the role

As a Competitor and Market Analyst youll play a critical role in helping AQA understand the education and assessment landscape better than anyone else. Youll interpret senior stakeholder needs transform data into meaningful insights and confidently present recommendations that inform strategic decisions and drive impact for teachers and learners.

Key responsibilities

• Interpreting complex asks from senior leaders and translating them into actionable research and insight.
• Gathering and interpreting intelligence on competitors and the wider education market to inform strategy.
• Analysing AQAs market position and identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Bringing data to life through clear engaging analysis and visualisations that resonate with senior stakeholders.
• Presenting findings with confidence and clarity to influence decisions across AQA.

What we are looking for

Youll thrive in this role if you:

• Have experience delivering research and analysis projects independently.
• Can work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver a comprehensive understanding of our customers market and competitors.
• Can confidently present complex data and insights to senior stakeholders using visualisation.
• Understand the education landscape and apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies effectively.
• Are proactive inquisitive and focused on continuous improvement.

Whats in it for you

This is an opportunity to make a real impact in education while developing your career. Youll benefit from:

• Working on projects that shape AQAs long-term strategy.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
• A collaborative culture that values innovation and inclusion.
• 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.
• Flexible working a 35-hour week and 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and Christmas closure).

Diversity and inclusion statement

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 everyoneregardless of religion ethnicity gender identity or expression age disability sexual orientation or backgroundis 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 a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role by 23.59 on Sunday 18 January.
• First stage interviews will take place remotely throughout the week of 26 January second stage interviews will take place in our Manchester office on 5 and 6 February.

Full Job Description

Summary

The Customer Intelligence team’s mission is to influence AQA to make confident decisions on the basis that we understand customers and the market better than anyone else. We strive to be the exam board of choice. We do this by delivering relevant insights at the right time to allow us to better understand our customers the market and our future potential. Stakeholders will receive trustworthy data and meaningful insights to inform decision making and agree prioritised areas for development improvement and opportunity.

The Competitor and Market Analyst supports all teams across Customer & Product providing valuable data insights to drive performance and support strategic decision-making. The postholder will undertake research analyse and interpret evidence and intelligence from competitors and wider market to provide forward looking market intelligence.

In this role you will use expertise in analysing quantitative and qualitative data to develop insight about competitors and the market. AQA is a leading exam board and education charity. As well as delivering high quality assessment we believe it is vital that we use our research insight and expertise to support strategic decision making. The Customer Intelligence team works across all areas of the organisation providing insights guidance and supporting improvement efforts to ensure our customers are kept front and centre in everything we do. The postholder will be used to working in a fast‑paced environment delivering clear and actionable insight and recommendations for AQA.

This role reports into the Customer Intelligence Business Partner working across Customer and Product and wider AQA to develop actionable competitor insight that drives the organisation to make necessary changes to improve our products services and support that we offer our customers that make us distinct as an awarding organisation.

Activities: Proactively gather and interpret information and intelligence regarding the education and assessment market to provide input to the development of the Customer & Product strategy and reporting. Perform analysis of AQAs market position in existing markets and/or where new opportunities are identified. Work across the business to ensure competitor and wider market intelligence is used to inform our long‑term strategic approach. Support strategic projects with a focus on market issues. Work collaboratively across Customer and Product to understand the business needs and provide market and competitor insight where appropriate. Provide insight on potential future products and services. Conduct in‑depth analysis synthesising complex diverse intelligence to identify trends anomalies and recommend opportunities for improvement. Analysing data sets of multiple types to find insight about our competitors and markets that we can act on. Accountable for digesting several sources of information and translation into cohesive narratives. Work closely with other analysts research and insight roles across the business and the Customer Intelligence Business Partner to devise the best approaches and methods for our analysis including use of AI. Present complex data in a clear and concise manner to stakeholders providing clear actionable insights. Ensure data accuracy and compliance with relevant regulations and policies. To comply with all AQAs policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to HSE Equal Opportunities and ISMS. Where business needs change to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role.

Need to know (to be successful in this role you will need to have knowledge/experience of):

• A degree or other relevant qualification (such as an apprenticeship) in a relevant field.
• Proven experience of delivering projects independently preferably in an education-related or assessment-related context.
• Strong understanding of the education landscape.
• Experience of using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies for analysis and insight including statistical data analyses data visualisations surveys interviews and focus groups.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• A self‑starter with an inquisitive and proactive approach.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong communication and data visualisation skills are essential.
• Confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders.

Key Skills

• Microsoft Access
• SQL
• Analysis Skills
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Securities Law
• Data Mining
• Investment Banking
• Market Research
• Microsoft Excel
• Visual Basic
• Bloomberg
• Data Analysis Skills