Senior Strategic Leader, People & Transformation

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days

Hybrid working

Pension up to 18.5%

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Health cash plan

Volunteer days

Job summary

AQA is seeking a senior HR leader to shape the future of its people strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead a People function of around 25 colleagues and impact more than 1,500 employees across AQA Education, guiding organisational development, HR business partnering and workforce transformation through technology and AI.

This role blends strategic influence with hands-on leadership, partnering with the Executive Team, Directors and Trade Unions to align priorities,

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of leading strategic HR Business Partnering teams.
• Extensive Employee Relations and Trade Union experience.
• Experience influencing Executive, Board or Trustee-level stakeholders.
• Experience shaping organisational change, workforce planning and leadership capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and negotiation skills.
• Collaborative, strategically minded and outcomes-focused approach.
• Credibility and judgement to act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the People function and set the strategic agenda across AQA.
• Partner with senior leaders to drive workforce transformation and organisational effectiveness.
• Champion Diversity & Inclusion and lead Employee Relations and People Services.
• Provide trusted advice to Executive Team, Directors and Trustees.
• Shape the people strategy to enable long-term success.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Strategic HR Business Partnering

Employee relations

Executive stakeholder influence

Organisational change

Workforce planning

Stakeholder management

Trusted adviser

Job description

AQA is seeking a senior HR leader to shape the future of its people strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead a People function of around 25 colleagues and impact more than 1,500 employees across AQA Education, guiding organisational development, HR business partnering and workforce transformation through technology and AI.

This role blends strategic influence with hands-on leadership, partnering with the Executive Team, Directors and Trade Unions to align priorities,