Senior External Examiner BTEC - HN 4-7 - Public Services

Pearson; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson is seeking a Senior External Examiner for Higher Nationals to provide expertise in interpreting specifications and driving standardisation across its Principal Subject Areas. You will monitor assessment practices and contribute to reporting on national standards across centres and relevant frameworks.

The role requires strong QA experience, excellent communication and leadership skills, with a track record in delivering training and coordinating standardisation activities within Pearson

Qualifications

• Strong background in quality assurance and assessment practices.
• Experience in verifying regulated qualifications.
• Exceptional communication skills and leadership能力.
• Proven ability to deliver and coordinate training sessions, including standardisation.
• In-depth knowledge of specifications relevant to your sector and standards.
• Demonstrated leadership in essential QA activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate standardisation meetings with the assessment team.
• Represent Pearson in examination appeals and board hearings.
• Act as senior escalation point in the quality assurance process.
• Monitor and support supervisors and External Examiners to ensure consistent standardisation.
• Participate in the Senior Assessment Review process as required.
• Provide information to address centre inquiries and complaints.
• Deliver customised support and expertise to centres in your sector.
• Demonstrate exceptional organisational abilities within a regulatory framework.

Skills

Quality assurance

Assessment practices

Regulated qualifications

Leadership training

Communication skills

Standardisation

Regulatory knowledge

Education

UK recognised teaching qualification

CPD evidence in subject area

Teaching experience (1+ year)

Job description

Senior External Examiner (Higher Nationals)

About Pearson

At Pearson we're committed to a world that's always learning. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology, and each other to surpass these boundaries, we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world's innovations, personal and global.

We are the UK's largest awarding body and offer qualifications that are globally recognised and benchmarked, with educational excellence rooted in a range of General and Vocational courses.

Purpose

In the role of Senior External Examiner, you will provide specialised expertise in interpreting specifications and ensuring standardisation within a Principal Subject Area (PSA). Your responsibilities will include monitoring assessment practices and internal verification across various programs within your PSA, with the goal of reporting on national standards across centres and relevant frameworks.

Core Services

When carrying out your role; please be mindful that you represent Pearson and that you should always maintain your professional integrity. Therefore, it is essential that you:

• Ensure compliance with all parts of the terms and conditions and other policies.
• Act at all times in a way which will not bring Pearson, it's employees and its representatives into disrepute.
• Adhere to Pearson policies and guidance related to data privacy and security of information.
• Remain respectful and advocate for others to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion, in a professional manner.
• Raise any concerns if you suspect or are made away of any malpractice, maladministration and/ or Safeguarding issues.
• Adhere to deadlines given by Pearson and ensure that all work is carried out to the best of an individual's ability.
• Respect the confidentiality of centres and learners.
• You are responsible for the provision of your own IT equipment and must therefore ensure it is capable of running Pearson required software, relevant malware, appropriate anti-virus software and a suitable internet connection. As well as this we require a Personal email address attached to a secure account. (This cannot be a work email)
• Collaborate and communicate in a timely manner with Pearson.

Role Specific Services and Expectations

In addition to Pearson's core service expectations, this role requires the following specialized responsibilities:

• Assume full accountability for upholding the standards of your contracted qualifications.
• Lead and coordinate standardisation meetings in collaboration with the assessment team upon Pearson's request.
• Represent Pearson in meetings related to appeals, including participation in examination appeal board hearings.
• Act as a senior escalation point throughout the quality assurance process, drawing on strong organisational skills.
• Monitor and support the performance of supervisors and External Examiners to ensure consistent standardisation.
• Participate in the Senior Assessment Review process as required.
• Provide essential information or evidence to address centre inquiries and complaints, enabling informed decision-making.
• Deliver customised support, guidance, and expertise to centres in relation to your sector.
• Demonstrate exceptional organisational abilities and expertise in quality assurance processes, with the capacity to effectively lead and support teams within a regulatory framework.

This role requires a proactive approach to quality assurance and a commitment to maintaining Pearson's high standards across all responsibilities.

Experience and Qualifications required:

Experience :

As a representative of the company, you will be expected to have experience in, or be able to demonstrate the ability of the following:

• Strong background in quality assurance and assessment practices.
• Experience in verifying regulated qualifications.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Proven ability to deliver and coordinate training sessions, including standardisation and other standards-focused activities.
• In-depth knowledge of specifications relevant to your specialist sector, encompassing both internal and external requirements.
• Examples of previous leadership or support roles in essential quality assurance activities.

Qualifications:

Qualifications required to apply for your chosen role at Pearson will depend on the qualification you are delivering. Please contact Pearson ahead of your application if you have any questions on the requirements.

Vocational Qualifications (eg. BTEC/FS/WBL/HN)

• A minimum of one full academic year of teaching experience in the relevant subject area/sector within the last 8 years and/or extensive knowledge and experience in Pearson assessment, quality and processes and national standards within the last 5 year
• Relevant CPD evidence in the subject area/sector within the last 12 months
• A UK recognised teaching qualification

Please note upon successful application Pearson may ask you to provide proof of the qualifications required.

Application Information We have a number of opportunities available for teaching professionals to join our growing teams of examiners, moderators and verifiers.

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Closing date: 19 October 2026 at midnight