Senior Product Development Manager (Qualifications & Assessments)

Ascentis; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Hybrid head office Lancaster

Job summary

Ascentis is seeking a Senior Product Development Manager to lead the development, review and delivery of qualifications and assessments. You will drive improvements, shape processes, and work with colleagues across the organisation to deliver excellent outcomes for customers and learners.

You will provide line management, mentoring and coaching to a high-performing team, supporting their development, removing barriers and encouraging innovation in a quality-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Experience within qualifications, assessment, education, awarding, compliance, quality assurance, or another regulated environment.
• Adaptable, resilient, and able to manage competing priorities and projects.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, review, and delivery of qualifications and assessments to ensure relevance, compliance and fit-for-purpose outcomes.
• Shape efficient systems and processes and drive continuous improvement across the product development function.
• Provide line management, mentoring and coaching to a high-performing team and support their development.

Job description

Starting Salary: £41,666 per annum

Job Type: Permanent

Working pattern: 35 hours per week. Monday-Thursday in our Head Office in Lancaster, work from home on Fridays (flexible working options will be considered)

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same? Are you passionate about qualifications, assessment, quality, and continuous improvement? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking for a proactive and collaborative Senior Product Development Manager to join our Product Development team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who combines strong operational and leadership skills with a genuine passion for supporting people, improving processes, and delivering high-quality qualifications and assessments.

Whilst experience of qualifications, assessment, awarding, education, or other regulated environments will be highly valued, we are equally interested in individuals who bring curiosity, adaptability, sound judgement, and a willingness to learn. We recognise that great candidates may come from a variety of backgrounds and encourage applications from those who can demonstrate transferable experience and the ability to navigate complex, quality-driven environments.

About the role

You’ll play a key role in leading the development, review, and delivery of qualifications and assessments, ensuring they remain relevant, compliant, and fit for purpose. You’ll help shape efficient systems and processes, drive continuous improvement, and work closely with colleagues across the organisation to deliver excellent outcomes for customers and learners.

Just as importantly, you’ll provide line management, mentoring, and coaching to a team of talented, high-performing colleagues. You’ll support their development, remove barriers, encourage innovation, and help create an environment where people can do their best work.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience within qualifications, assessment, education, awarding, compliance, quality assurance, or another regulated environment.
• Is adaptable, resilient, and comfortable managing competing priorities and projects.
• Enjoys solving problems and finding practical ways to improve systems and processes.
• Can confidently lead, mentor, coach, and support others.
• Builds positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Takes ownership, shows initiative, and brings a proactive mindset.
• Is committed to quality, continuous improvement, and delivering excellent outcomes.
• Is keen to learn, develop, and embrace new approaches and technologies.

What you’ll find here

You’ll be joining a friendly, supportive, and knowledgeable team that values collaboration, openness, and continuous learning. We believe in empowering our people, sharing expertise, and giving colleagues the support they need to succeed.

This is a role that offers variety, challenge, and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the future development of qualifications and assessment.

Closing date: 14 September 2026 12pm

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed, and the vacancy may close once a suitable candidate has been appointed. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Samantha Whiteley ([e-mail]) or Jack Wilcock ([e-mail]). We would be delighted to answer any questions and help you decide whether this could be the right opportunity for you.

About us

We are proud to be one of the UK's leading educational charity groups, encompassing an awarding organisation, and a provider of dyslexia intervention software. Our enthusiastic people bring genuine passion and natural energy to everything that they do and through their infectious energy they transform the lives of thousands of people each year through the power of education. It has never been a more exciting time to join Ascentis as we continue our journey of growth across the UK and overseas.

We are market leading in the education sector and the specialist areas we operate within, maintaining the #1 provision for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in the UK as well as being a leading Access Validating Agency. We are based in Lancaster but we have a national reach, with a significant customer base in London. We have recently secured two major achievements, winning the Innovation of the Year and Awarding Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Federation of Awarding Bodies awards.

In addition to working with Colleges, Training Providers and Local Education Authorities, Ascentis also operates within the Primary and Secondary school sector in the UK and International schools, using our specialist IDL software that provides multi-sensory programmes in literacy, numeracy and phonics. Today the software is used by thousands of children across the world.

Ascentis is made up of brilliant people, unique in terms of background, personality, characteristics, experience and skill. We value our people for the differences they bring to the table and believe this diversity is powerful.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

To find out what our employees have to say about working at Ascentis watch the video found here.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays, birthday day off, closure days gifted during the Christmas period, increased annual leave with long service and an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (up to a maximum of 43 days)
• Competitive pension benefits, including a salary sacrifice scheme
• Access to Informal Flexibility, allowing you to flex your working times and location where viable
• Incremental service benefits as a family-friendly employer, including enhanced Maternity, Neonatal, Paternity, Shared Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay, Sick Pay, Life Insurance, and Paid Compassionate Leave
• Access to state-of-the-art office and break facilities, such as bean-to-cup coffee machine, vending machine, pool table, Xbox, outdoor seating, dressing room (with access to hair dryers, straighteners, airers, shower facilities), Harry Potter reading room, employee library and more
• Free parking, locked bike storage shed
• Access to car electric charging points (charges payable by employee)
• Tailored learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Home and Tech Scheme
• Discounted gym membership at 3-1-5 Health Club
• 24-hour employee helpline and a proactive focus on wellbeing
• Aviva DigiCare+ health app with access to virtual GP appointments, annual health check and more
• Reward and recognition scheme, regular team building and communication activities

Department Product Development Locations Ascentis Remote status Hybrid Yearly salary £41,666 Employment type Full-time