Senior Project Manager

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.

Senior Project Manager

Permanent
Manchester £56,000 - £66,000
Smart Hybrid Working - 2x days a week in the office

Are you an experienced Project Manager looking for development, variety, challenge and progression?

Our growing team is working across a range of projects that will transform education. From AI to digital exams and high-tech initiatives, all of our projects positively impact the lives of young people and help them progress to the next stage of their lives.

We are seeking a skilled and proactive Senior Project Manager who will initially be aligned to our Enterprise IT Services team. You will be working on a portfolio of projects aligned to infrastructure, cloud and EUC technologies and will be responsible for planning and executing projects according to strict deadlines and within budget. This includes acquiring resources and coordinating the efforts of team members and third-party contractors or consultants to deliver projects according to plan. You will also define the project's objectives and oversee quality control throughout its life cycle.

You’ll be leading a portfolio of technology projects in an enterprise scale organisation and infrastructure using Azure and Cisco technologies, with approximately 3,000 end user devices geographically supporting a hybrid workforce across five office locations.

What’s in it for you?

• Leadership Opportunity: Lead a series of projects that will transform the digital experience for EUC and Infrastructure services.
• Growth: Enjoy a supportive culture that values leadership, continuous improvement, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Enjoy a flexible work environment with a 35-hour week and extensive opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Benefit from a competitive pension scheme, starting at 6% and rising up to 11.5%.
• Receive 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
• Comprehensive health coverage from day one, including Bupa PMI, Health Cash Plan, and Life Assurance.
• Participate in eco-friendly transport schemes, including electric vehicles and cycle-to-work options.

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

• Experience of leading projects in a large organisation.
• Effective stakeholder management, influencing and collaborating at all levels.

Desirable experience:

• Project management expertise in Microsoft modern desktop technologies.
• Project management expertise associated with Microsoft Azure and Cisco technologies, SD-Wan.
• Delivered projects that have improved digital employee experience (DEX).
• Have an awareness of ITIL, ISO/IEC27001, and Cyber Essentials Plus frameworks to ensure projects are delivering appropriate compliance and security.

How do I apply?

Read the full job description and upload your most recent CV by following the link provided.

Closing date for applications will be Sunday 27th April.

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.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place. Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose: To lead the delivery of Large Projects and/or multiple medium/small projects in the Projects and Programmes Portfolios. This role encompasses a variety of potential programmes and work-streams.

In this role you will be required to analyse complex situations and issues, and manage multiple inter-dependent change-related activities driven by different programmes and stakeholder requirements.

The role of the Senior Project Manager is to work with the Stakeholders, Delivery teams, and AQA leadership and management teams to ensure that all activities in the overall Project Plan are delivered to time and quality. To track and report project delivery and progress. To identify and manage dependencies, risks and issues. To hold all project members to account for their areas of the Project and to work in a matrix-managed environment with competing change needs and drivers.

Landscape: The Senior Project Manager will have line management responsibility and will report into the Head of Projects in the Programmes & Project Management team and is one of the teams that make up the FCS Business Change Hub. This role will have regular interaction with teams across AQA including project representatives, senior leaders, and FCS and business change hub colleagues. The Senior Project Manager may also work with third party consultants and suppliers where the nature of the project requires such support.

Activities: Develop, maintain and track progress of the Projects, ensuring key milestones are identified and communicated to key stakeholders. Work with the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams to ensure the delivery of key project milestones to time and quality, and within the project budget. Support the Programme, Delivery and AQA leadership teams in developing a critical path of key activities, providing planning support and identifying and managing dependencies across the plans. Manage the change risk log and associated reporting, working with work-stream leads to identify and mitigate risks accordingly. Prepare and deliver regular RAG status reports and updates and other reporting mechanisms as required for various stakeholders. Participate in the strategic development of the Programmes and Projects teams.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Knowledge: General understanding of the Projects and Programmes environment. An excellent understanding of project methodologies and tools. Good understanding of change management methodologies.

Qualifications (or equivalent experience):

Degree level. Project management qualification. Change management qualification.

Skills: Strong people management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate team members and other colleagues to meet deliverables and adhere to agreed processes and ways of working. Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organisation, leading by example to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders. Excellent communication skills including the ability to work collaboratively, negotiate, influence and provide constructive challenge. Able to solve problems and unblock challenges that may hinder project progress. Able to coach project members in sound project discipline without over burdensome project theory and models. Assertive and resilient to be able to challenge project members and stakeholders when they are not delivering on their accountabilities. Data savvy and able to analyse, interpret and report back complex information in a meaningful way. Ability to resolve problems and adapt to change in a fast-moving environment. Regularly displays courage and calmness under pressure; and actively encourages others to do the same.

Experience: Working with Exec level stakeholders. Delivering business change programmes and/or large projects. Involvement in cultural change programmes. Involvement in target operating model implementation programmes. Working with IT departments.