EQA - External Quality Assurer

S Knights Recruitment; Manchester; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is seeking an External Quality Assurer (EQA) to oversee a remote caseload of centres across the UK, with occasional travel to Chorley. The role focuses on external quality assurance, centre monitoring and continuous improvement within vocational contexts.

The candidate will apply risk-based judgement and provide constructive challenge to centres. The organisation delivers assessment solutions across vocational qualifications and apprenticeships, emphasising regulatory

Qualifications

• Proven experience in external quality assurance within vocational education.
• Ability to manage remote centre caseloads with risk-based sampling.
• Strong report-writing, feedback and improvement-planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage an allocated caseload of centres through planned EQA sampling and monitoring activity.
• Conduct remote and occasional in-person quality assurance visits using appropriate systems and platforms.
• Apply risk-based professional judgement to determine the nature and frequency of centre monitoring.
• Review assessment and internal quality assurance activity to ensure compliance with relevant requirements.
• Produce accurate, evidence-based EQA reports with clear findings and recommendations.
• Agree proportionate action plans and monitor progress through to satisfactory completion.
• Identify and engage all needed risk aspects where required.
• Participate in and lead standardisation and moderation activities.
• Contribute to scrutiny and validity reviews supporting the development of qualifications and apprenticeship products.
• Provide constructive challenge, guidance and support to centres while maintaining independent professional judgement.
• Maintain current occupational knowledge relevant to allocated qualifications and assessment activity.
• Contribute to quality improvement, peer development and wider organisational projects.

Skills

Vocational QA experience

Stakeholder management

Report writing

Remote working organisation

Education

External Quality Assurance qualification (or pursuing)

Job description

External Quality Assurer (EQA)

Location: Remote / UK-wide – occasional travel to centres and Chorley

Salary: £35,000 – £41,000 per annum

Job Type: Full-time | Part-time considered

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced External Quality Assurer (EQA) with a background in Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction or vocational education?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established awarding and apprenticeship assessment organisation in a role focused on external quality assurance, centre monitoring, vocational assessment and continuous improvement.

You’ll manage a remote caseload of centres, applying a proportionate, risk-based approach to quality assurance while building professional relationships and providing constructive challenge that genuinely helps centres improve.

The organisation is particularly interested in candidates with Engineering & Manufacturing experience, although strong EQA professionals from Construction or related vocational sectors will also be considered.

About the Organisation

Our client operates within the vocational qualifications and apprenticeship assessment sector, delivering regulated products and assessment solutions across a range of occupational areas.

The organisation is committed to maintaining robust quality standards while working collaboratively with centres, assessors and external stakeholders to support consistent, fair and effective assessment.

You’ll become part of a specialist quality team where independent judgement, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement are central to the role.

The Role

As an External Quality Assurer, you’ll provide independent, evidence-based assurance across an allocated portfolio of centres.

You’ll undertake risk-based sampling and monitoring, identify areas for improvement, agree action plans and provide clear feedback to support centres in maintaining high standards.

• Manage an allocated caseload of centres through planned EQA sampling and monitoring activity.
• Conduct remote and occasional in-person quality assurance visits using appropriate systems and platforms.
• Apply risk-based professional judgement to determine the nature and frequency of centre monitoring.
• Review assessment and internal quality assurance activity to ensure compliance with relevant requirements.
• Produce accurate, evidence-based EQA reports with clear findings and recommendations.
• Agree proportionate action plans and monitor progress through to satisfactory completion.
• Identify and engage all needed risk aspects where required.
• Participate in and lead standardisation and moderation activities.
• Contribute to scrutiny and validity reviews supporting the development of qualifications and apprenticeship products.
• Provide constructive challenge, guidance and support to centres while maintaining independent professional judgement.
• Maintain current occupational knowledge relevant to allocated qualifications and assessment activity.
• Contribute to quality improvement, peer development and wider organisational projects.

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for a confident and credible EQA, External Quality Assurer, Quality Assurer or vocational quality professional who can combine technical knowledge with strong stakeholder management skills.

You will ideally have:

• A recognised External Quality Assurance qualification, or be actively working towards one.
• Strong experience within vocational education, qualifications, assessment or quality assurance.
• Engineering and/or Manufacturing occupational experience would be highly desirable.
• Construction or a related vocational background will also be considered.
• Strong understanding of vocational assessment and internal and external quality assurance.
• Experience undertaking sampling, centre monitoring, standardisation or moderation.
• Knowledge of Ofqual Conditions of Recognition and regulated qualification requirements.
• Experience providing constructive challenge and agreeing improvement actions with centres.
• Excellent report-writing skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Confidence handling challenging conversations while remaining fair, professional and independent.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a remote caseload effectively.
• Experience with apprenticeships, apprenticeship reforms or complex assessment methods such as projects and case studies would be advantageous.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to centres and the Chorley office.

Why Apply?

• £35,000 – £41,000 salary.
• Fully remote working with flexible UK location.
• Full-time and predictable part-time options considered.
• Opportunity to work within a specialist awarding and apprenticeship assessment environment.
• Work across vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and complex assessment activity.