Service Transition Lead

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 54,300 - 60,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave (rising to 30)

Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution)

Flexible, hybrid working

High-profile business-critical programmes exposure

Job summary

AQA is seeking a Service Transition Lead in Manchester to ensure the successful introduction of new IT services. This role plays a crucial part in making sure that new services are ready and supportable from day one.

The ideal candidate will help shape how services transition into real-world use and will have a strong background in service transition or IT project delivery. The position offers a hybrid work model and excellent benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in service transition, service management or IT project delivery.
• Understanding of ITIL principles, certification helpful but not essential.
• Ability to influence and guide stakeholders effectively.
• Experience working across multiple teams or suppliers in an IT environment.

Responsibilities

• Leading service transition across projects to ensure readiness at go-live.
• Defining and securing service acceptance criteria with project teams.
• Connecting teams to ensure stakeholders are prepared for live service.

Skills

Service transition experience

ITIL principles knowledge

Stakeholder management

Strong communication skills

Job description

Fixed term (24 months) Manchester Salary: £54,300 £60,700 Hybrid (minimum 2 days per week in the office)

Introduction

If you enjoy bringing order to complexity and making things work seamlessly behind the scenes, this could be a great fit. As a Service Transition Lead, you'll play a key role in ensuring new IT services don't just go live—but land well. You'll be at the centre of change, helping shape how services transition into real-world use across AQA.

Purpose of the Role

You’ll make sure new and changing services are introduced in a way that is controlled, secure and fully supportable. Working closely with projects and programmes, you’ll ensure everything is in place before go‑live—from support models and documentation through to stakeholder readiness.

This is an opportunity to join a growing function at AQA. Service Transition is now embedded into the wider project delivery framework, meaning every project flows through it. With major programmes on the horizon—including digital transformation, AI‑driven initiatives and the move toward digital exams—you'll be part of shaping how these services land and operate successfully for colleagues and learners alike.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading service transition across projects, ensuring services are ready, supportable and aligned at go‑live
• Working with project teams to define and secure service acceptance criteria, including running readiness checkpoints
• Connecting teams across Enterprise Technology to ensure support teams and stakeholders are prepared for live service

What We Are Looking For

You’ll suit this role if you’re confident working across teams, comfortable challenging where needed and focused on outcomes.

• Experience in service transition, service management or IT project delivery, or a similar governance role
• Understanding of ITIL principles (certification helpful but not essential)
• Ability to influence and guide stakeholders, including handling challenging conversations
• Experience working across multiple teams or suppliers in an IT environment
• Strong communication, with a calm and pragmatic approach

What's in It for You

This is a role where your work has real impact—making sure critical systems are ready and reliable from day one.

• Opportunity to build expertise in service transition and IT service management
• A 35‑hour working week with flexible, hybrid working
• Exposure to high‑profile, business‑critical programmes.
• 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days
• Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution)

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.