Lead Researcher

AQA; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 53,000; Full time

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.

Lead Researcher
Fixed Term Contract until August 2026
Manchester: £46,000 - £51,000
Guildford: £48,000 - £53,000
Smart Hybrid Working

Is educational research and innovation your specialism?

Do you have the expertise to lead impactful research projects?

Join AQA as a Lead Researcher and help shape the future of educational assessment.

You will be at the forefront of developing and delivering research and evaluation projects and services. Your extensive assessment expertise will be crucial in providing proactive advice and guidance, shaping the future. You will work collaboratively with various teams to develop and deliver research projects that encompass operational, assessment design, and policy research.

Why Join AQA?

1. You will work within the Assessment Research and Innovation business area, leading thinking in the sector and will have access to a variety of training, development, and mentoring opportunities.

2. This role is vacant due to promotion of the post holder which shows we are committed to your career. Over 50% of our recruitment is offered internally only, which means that this could be your next job, and the one after that.

3. Your research will be impactful, contributing to the development of innovative, valid, and inclusive assessments.

4. The opportunity to join lots of network groups (LGTBQ+, neurodiversity, disAbility, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic minority and more)

5. We will give you a fantastic pension offer which could see combined contributions of 18.5% among other strong benefits.

What will you need to succeed?

1. Demonstrable expertise in educational assessment

2. Experience managing research projects within a matrix management structure.

3. Ability to lead, motivate, and coordinate people within projects. Provide guidance and expertise to support the Research and Evaluation Team through peer reviewing and CPD activities

4. Experience of producing high quality outputs for a range of stakeholders

5. In depth knowledge of a range of research methodologies, including experience of using data analysis software such as ‘R’, Python and NVivo

To apply, please upload your most recent CV with a cover letter detailing your suitability.

Please also upload an example of your writing with the application. Without this we will not be able to consider you for shortlisting. The piece of writing is not limited to peer-reviewed journal articles and may include (published) research reports, webpages / blog posts or conference papers (but not just slides).

Applications will close at 23:59 on Monday 5 May 2025
Interviews will be face to face in the week of 19 May in the office so that you can see where you will be working and meet some of the team you will be a part of.

AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and supported to thrive. Come and be a part of it.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose:

1. The Lead Researcher will be responsible for developing and delivering research and evaluation projects and services.
2. They will use their extensive assessment expertise to provide proactive advice and guidance to managers and other colleagues from across AQA on research and evaluation related issues, and the relationship of these to their areas of work.
3. To work with colleagues from across the business, develop and deliver research and evaluation projects and services for the business, encompassing, as appropriate, operational, assessment design and policy research.
4. To provide guidance and expertise to support the work of the Research and Evaluation Team, through peer reviewing, and contributing to CPD activities as required.
5. Where appropriate, represent AQA at seminars and conferences and on industry-wide groups, sharing insights and expertise to inform and influence decision making and thought in the industry.
6. To use strong interpersonal and communication skills to influence and build rapport with a diverse range of stakeholders internally and externally and to be a role model for a partnership based matrix style of working.
7. Develop and maintain collaborative working practices that feed into AQA’s strategic objectives and facilitate knowledge exchange and co-creation of research and evaluation outputs.

Landscape:

The Lead Researcher will work within the Research and Evaluation team. The team sits within the Assessment Research and Innovation business area and carries out qualitative and quantitative educational research with the goal of supporting AQA to develop innovative, valid and inclusive assessments, whether on paper or on screen, and lead thinking in the sector. Our research programme defines our active areas of interest: accessibility, fairness and SEND; digital assessment (formative and summative); validity and innovation; marking, grading and standards. Our team’s background is in the social and natural sciences and encompasses a broad spectrum of areas of expertise. The successful candidate will have access to a variety of training, development, and mentoring opportunities.

Activities:

1. Applying in-depth methodological expertise to design research.
2. Lead on planning, conducting and delivering research within a matrix management structure, balancing project-level leadership and management with technical input, to ensure successful delivery of research workstreams.
3. To support Research Fellows and Researchers in the delivery of projects.
4. Contributing to research impact and engagement through report writing and other forms of dissemination and communication, developing a recognisable voice within the business as well as a public voice in the assessment research community that contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of AQA’s reputation in educational assessment.
5. Contributing to the ongoing development of the team’s research and development practice, promoting a positive team culture.
6. Build effective working relationships with internal colleagues, influencing thinking in relation to research and evaluation.
7. Ensuring compliance with AQA’s policies and procedures, with particular regard to Ethics and Data Protection.

To be successful in this role, you will need to know/have knowledge and experience of:

1. Doctoral study (or an equivalent professional qualification or demonstrable experience) in psychology, education or the social sciences, which will ideally include statistical training.
2. Strong assessment expertise and knowledge of the assessment research environment and awareness of key debates, players and influencers.
3. In depth knowledge of a range of research methodologies and evaluation techniques and their purposes, uses and potential impact.
4. A knowledge of a range of data analysis software packages such as ‘R’, Python and NVivo.
5. Experience of research project management within a matrix structure.
6. Demonstrable ability to communicate research findings to a range of stakeholders and in a variety of formats (written and spoken forms).
7. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, as well as to lead, motivate and coordinate people within projects.

To succeed: you will need to demonstrate an agile mindset, able to work flexibly and adapt to changing business needs. You will have the ability to think critically about how exams and tests are made, how they work, and how they affect education and life chances. You will be methodical with excellent attention to detail, capable of understanding and synthesising complex, diverse and incomplete information and able to present reasoned arguments. You will have the ability and credibility to build strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders. You will be able to set and meet deadlines and work within resource constraints.