Policy and Research Manager

AQA Recruiting; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Bupa)

Health Care Cash Plan

Life Assurance

Electric Vehicle Leasing

Pension contributions

25 days annual leave

Job summary

AQA is seeking a Policy and Research Manager in Manchester or London to shape policy positions on qualifications, assessment and education reform. You will lead evidence-based policy papers, monitor developments and build relations with policymakers, regulators and sector leaders to ensure research underpins decision making.

The role sits in a high-profile Policy and Public Affairs team, offers hybrid working, and opportunities to influence national conversations.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy, public affairs or regulatory environments.
• Ability to translate policy thinking into practical outcomes.
• Strong analytical and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain AQA's policy positions with evidence-based rationale.
• Lead policy papers, responses and thought leadership content.
• Monitor regulatory and educational developments and identify risks/opportunities.
• Build relationships with policymakers, regulators and sector stakeholders.
• Commission and manage research projects including surveys and data analysis.
• Translate research into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Represent AQA at policy forums, events and stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Communication

Education

Degree in public policy or related field

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.

Job title: Policy and Research Manager 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 policy through evidence, insight and influence

If you're motivated by turning research into meaningful change and want your work to influence national conversations about qualifications, assessment and education reform, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact. You'll play a key role in developing AQA's policy positions, engaging senior stakeholders across the sector and ensuring evidence and insight sit at the heart of decision‑making. Your work will help shape thinking that affects learners, teachers and the wider education system.

Purpose of the role

You'll be at the centre of AQA's policy and public affairs activity, helping to develop evidence-based positions on qualifications, assessment, curriculum and wider education reform. Working as part of a high-profile Policy and Public Affairs team, you'll monitor emerging policy developments, commission and analyse research, and build relationships with policymakers, regulators and sector leaders. You'll help ensure AQA remains an influential and trusted voice in education, while providing colleagues with clear recommendations and insight that support strategic decision-making.

Key responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining AQA's policy positions, ensuring they remain evidence-based, relevant and responsive to policy changes.
• Leading the production of policy papers, consultation responses, briefings and thought leadership content.
• Monitoring political, regulatory and educational developments, identifying risks, opportunities and implications for AQA.
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, regulators, education organisations, think tanks and other key stakeholders.
• Commissioning and managing research projects, including surveys, polling and data analysis, to inform policy recommendations.
• Translating complex research, evidence and policy developments into clear, actionable insight for a range of audiences.
• Representing AQA at sector events, policy forums, roundtables and stakeholder meetings.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience working in policy, public affairs or a regulatory environment with significant stakeholder engagement responsibilities.
• Experience building productive relationships with government, civil service, regulatory or employer stakeholders.
• The ability to analyse information from multiple sources and develop clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• The ability to translate policy thinking into practical outcomes, partnerships or initiatives that deliver measurable change.
• Knowledge of technical and vocational education policy.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities while delivering high-quality outputs independently.

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

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.

Full Job Description Summary

Purpose: The Policy and Research Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping AQA’s policy positions and strengthening the organisation’s influence across the education and assessment landscape. The role leads the development of evidence‑based policy analysis and insight to inform and shape AQA’s approach to qualifications, assessment, curriculum, and wider education reform, ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront of sector debate. The successful candidate will contribute to AQA’s strategic objectives by building trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, sector bodies, think tanks, and education leaders. The role is responsible for translating complex policy developments into clear, actionable recommendations, helping to position AQA as an authoritative and influential voice on issues affecting learners, teachers, and the education system more broadly. To lead on areas of AQA’s proactive and reactive public affairs and policy strategy as required and to support the Senior Manager – Policy and Public Affairs and Head of External Affairs in handling significant political and policy developments, as well as general stakeholder engagement.

Landscape

This is an exciting opportunity to join a high‑profile Policy and Public Affairs team of five, working within a wider External Affairs function that also encompasses PR and Media Relations and Customer Communications. Operating at manager level, this role does not include line management or budget responsibility, allowing the successful candidate to focus on delivering strategic influence and impact. The post offers the opportunity to shape policy positions, build relationships with key stakeholders, and influence decision‑making both internally across the organisation and externally across the wider education and policy landscape.

Activities

• Developing AQA’s policy positions You will hold the responsibility for helping shape and deliver AQA’s policy positions, formulating policy recommendations that are comprehensive, evidence‑based, and kept updated to reflect any changes in the policy and political landscape.
• Identify and leverage opportunities to expand the AQA’s influence and partnerships
• Work closely with colleagues, across AQA, particularly those in Assessment Reform and Assessment Research to ensure policy positions remain updated and accurate.
• Contribute to positioning the organisation as a thought leader across key agendas, supporting engagement activity, external communications and influencing efforts.
• Lead on writing and contributing to AQA policy and research papers, including formulating recommendations for policy change.
• Work with external partners and agencies to commission new research and insights including data analysis, polling and large‑scale surveys.
• Lead on gathering expert feedback on policy recommendations, including from internal and external stakeholders, and revising/updating messaging and policy positions where appropriate.
• Digest and communicate the implications of policy developments internally and externally, as required, such as through blog posts, position papers and presentations.
• Lead on the AQA’s policy consultations as well as maintaining and updating the consultation tracker, planning the responses accordingly.
• Represent AQA in policy forum, events and roundtables.
• Leads as required on monitoring and analysing publications and announcements from the Department for Education, Ofqual, Parliament and other relevant bodies to anticipate impact on AQA and identify necessary responses.

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Experience in policy, or a related field, with strong stakeholder engagement exposure.
• A track record of building and managing relationships with government, civil service or employers
• The ability to translate policy thinking into practical outcomes, partnerships or initiatives that deliver measurable change.
• The ability to tailor messaging and engagement to different audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple work streams independently.
• Understanding of and interest in the contemporary political environment and the workings and decision‑making structures of government and UK policymaking processes.
• Analytical, able to synthesise information from a variety of sources and identify key issues in complex problems.
• Numerate, with the ability to analyse data and interpret statistics.
• Excellent understanding of different types of evidence and research methods, how different types of evidence are evaluated and can be used to inform policy development and design

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in a regulatory environment
• Knowledge and understanding of technical and vocational policy.

AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year. Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential. As part of AQA, you’ll very quickly appreciate the determination and unwavering passion to deliver this goal in everything we do. To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.

Smart Working

We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.