Exams Manager

MidKent College; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Gillingham is seeking a dedicated Examinations Manager to manage the Examinations Department. Responsibilities include overseeing the examinations process, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing a team. The ideal candidate should have experience in educational management and a strong understanding of JCQ requirements. This role offers competitive compensation and full-time permanent position.

Qualifications

• Experience managing staff and operational functions in an educational environment.
• Strong understanding of JCQ and awarding body regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the operational functions of the Examinations Department.
• Ensure compliance with JCQ, awarding body, and government regulations.
• Oversee the preparation of exam timetables and logistics.

Skills

Management

Communication

Compliance

Education

Relevant education and qualifications

Job description

Application Deadline: 27 November 2025

Department: Examinations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Cross College (Maidstone & Gillingham)

Reporting To: Laura Skillen

Compensation: £41,390 - £48,759 / year

Description

Manage staff and operational functions of the Examinations Department, providing an efficient and high-quality service through the effective management of all aspects of the examinations function, overseeing the processing of examinations, assessments and accreditation within the College, whilst ensuring that entries are made in a timely manner and examinations and assessments are compliant with JCQ and awarding body regulations.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure that the Examinations department provide rigorously maintained exams processes which adhere to JCQ, awarding body and government regulations, managing the Exams budget, taking a lead role in the development and maintenance of effective examination systems and procedures including the production, implementation and review of relevant policies and procedures across the College
• Ensure timely registrations, entries and certification claims are submitted to awarding bodies and are made in accordance with their deadlines and recorded appropriately on the College management information system. This will include managing achievement processing in line with College and audit timelines.
• Work collaboratively with Curriculum Directors and liaise with the curriculum teams and support them in submitting registration and exam entries to the examinations department in a timely manner.
• Manage a designated team of staff, undertaking recruitment, selection, absence management and 1-2-1s, taking responsibility for allocation of duties, training, managing and monitoring individual and team workloads, discipline, development, time keeping, approval of annual leave etc., and the cost effective use of overtime and time off in lieu for staff, ensuring full compliance with relevant college policies and procedures at all times.
• Implement and manage good practice in relation to the security of handling, storage and distribution of examination/ assessment materials in accordance with awarding body regulations including the logistics of external examinations.
• Oversee the preparation of exam timetables, ensuring that accuracy and compliance with examining body requirements is maintained at all times, leading and managing the logistics of accommodating large sets of students at key periods e.g. during maths and English exams, including working with managers across the College and adequate planning to ensure smooth examination and assessment experiences for students.
• Work closely with the Director of MIS & Exams and the MIS Manager to review and maximise the use of the College management information systems to make sure that unnecessary / manual processes are removed where appropriate, working with the MIS & Admissions functions to improve integration and provide streamlined and efficient processes, with a focus on student facing systems. This will include working closely with the MIS manager to ensure accurate representation of student outcomes in recorded data sets.
• Provide training and support to users of College exams systems, including producing detailed training and development documents and any associated manuals for system users to ensure systems are clear and robust and can be effectively utilised. Lead on the provision of cross-college invigilation training annually for large exam series involving all College staff.
• Work closely with the Director of Quality to ensure any reportable issues and/or issues raised by Awarding Organisations regarding assessment and exams are addressed in a timely manner.
• Maintain contact with external networks and awarding organisations to ensure sharing of good practice, awareness of updates and changes to methodology and regulatory requirements for the managing and processing of College Examinations.
• Manage JCQ inspections, responding to and/or implementing any changes relating to findings or actions as a result of inspections.

Application Requirements

To ensure compliance with safeguarding guidelines, all applicants must complete the application form in full. This includes providing:

• A full employment history from the time you left full-time education, with details of any gaps in employment explained.
• Information on all relevant education and qualifications.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered. Your co-operation helps us maintain the highest standards of safety and care for children and young people.

Benefits

Click here to view MidKent College benefits.