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. Product Owner Permanent Manchester (Hybrid – 2 days a week in the office) Salary: £52,763 - £58,914 Benefits AQA is looking for a Product Owner who can do more than just manage a backlog. We need someone who can translate big-picture strategy into a clear delivery pipeline — and then make sure that pipeline flows smoothly from idea to value. You’ll be responsible for Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Customer Service & Sales), Power Platform, and related applications — shaping long-term roadmaps, driving adoption, and making sure these tools deliver maximum impact across the organisation. As our AI adoption journey develops, your product remit may grow into new areas such as Copilot Studio. Sitting in our Enterprise Applications team, you’ll be a key link between business stakeholders, delivery teams, and suppliers. You’ll balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery, working in an agile environment to prioritise demand, manage dependencies, and champion continuous improvement. What you’ll need to bring Proven Product Owner or pipeline delivery management experience. Strong knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and related Azure ecosystem products. Ability to consult, influence, and challenge stakeholders at all levels. Experience using Agile methodologies and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps). Solid understanding of ITIL principles, change/release management, and software delivery best practice. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a customer-first mindset. What you’ll do Lead the planning, prioritisation, and delivery of product roadmaps and backlogs. Act as the bridge between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders. Optimise system usage, licensing, and performance through ongoing review. Support BAU operations while driving strategic improvements. Stay ahead of industry and product developments to inform roadmaps. Ensure solutions are secure, compliant, and aligned with organisational goals. Matrix-manage resources to deliver high-quality outputs at pace. What you’ll get in return 25 days’ holiday bank holidays Christmas shutdown. Flexible working and genuine investment in your development. 35-hour week. Excellent pension (6% – 11.5% employer contribution). Enhanced family leave. What next? Apply via our portal. Every applicant gets a written response. Closing date for applications: Monday 1st September AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes people unique 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: As a Product Owner in the Enterprise Applications team, you will play a crucial role in the planning, delivery and ongoing management of our service offering, ensuring optimal use of the products across AQA. Focused on Microsoft Dynamics 365 (CS & Sales), Power Platform and related applications, your role is key to driving the long-term product roadmaps and day-to-day pipeline of work to maximize the value that the business gains from these applications. As we move forward on our AI adoption journey, this product remit may expand accordingly (e.g. to aligned areas such as copilot studio). Operating within an agile framework you will collaborate with business stakeholders and technical/functional experts across multiple teams, leading on the prioritisation of demand. You will champion the applications to users and proactively drive improvement opportunities, whilst also supporting BAU support and delivery.Landscape: The role reports into the Head of Enterprise Applications, who in turn reports into the Director of Enterprise Technology. The Product Owner works closely with the Functional and Governance members of the team and matrix manages relevant resources, such as BAs, as required. The role is a gateway to the delivery team and a key business partner interface to stakeholders of all levels across all business areas, particularly those in Customer & Product and Chief Operating Office. Other key relationships include those with colleagues in Assessment Technology, Architecture, Security & Risk, Analytics, Project Management and external suppliers. The role will be technically aware, with a need for strong collaboration, planning and change management experience. As a security focused organisation you will also support the provision of services that enable AQA’s ongoing alignment with legal/ regulatory regulations and standards such as ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. Active risk management and robust continuity planning are another key part of this provision of reliable and secure applications. Activities: Collaborate and proactively engage with stakeholders of all levels across AQA in a business partnering capacity. Be a key interface between technical and non-technical stakeholders and delivery teams. Support user engagement and adoption. Manage and co-ordinate effective delivery of the product roadmaps and pipelines, optimising the flow of work using appropriate tooling (Azure DevOps) and methodologies (Agile). This includes resource planning. Lead on pipeline prioritisation, using in-depth knowledge of business processes and requirements Identify, manage and negotiate dependencies across all technical product roadmaps so as to ensure the prioritisation and delivery of Enterprise Apps solutions on time and to budget. This requires working collaboratively with other Product Owners, technical, functional and business resources and 3rd party suppliers. Deliver and manage a robust and effective change acceptance and prioritisation approach. This should ensure the specification of high quality requirement inputs, and delivery of first class solution outputs, with a clear prioritisation process that is fully aligned to deliver corporate strategy Apply expert knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform and related applications to advise on, and challenge, proposed solution designs and prioritisation decisions to influence strategic direction and ensure the best possible outcomes Ensure best practice software delivery and management processes are in place and adhered to, including quality assurance steps. Develop and deliver Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics reflecting key service areas including support performance, solution delivery, customer satisfaction and benefit realisation. Produce relevant reporting. Ensure the cost effective use of the systems by cost impact assessments, usage of appropriate licence profiles and ongoing tracking/ review of licence approach. Take ownership of BAU support and change related issues and progress to resolution, engaging with external parties (suppliers/ partners) as necessary Stay abreast of industry trends and product updates. Utilise this knowledge to adopt a continuous improvement approach to ensure the ongoing optimisation of the solutions and service being delivered to the business Support and enforce the maintenance of data quality and integrity within the systems Support user activity (testing, training, embedding of changes) as required Model leadership behaviours and get the very best from direct/ matrix managed reports and teams by providing clarity, feedback, coaching, mentoring and development, while continuously seeking to enhance performance in line with business objectives Demonstrate commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change Ensure AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative/ regulatory requirements and standards, including ISO9001/ ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. Proactively manage relevant risks accordingly To be successful in this role, you will need to know: Experienced Product Owner/ pipeline delivery manager. Proven ability to enable the translation of business teams’ strategic aims and day-to-day requirements into a prioritised technology delivery pipeline Good knowledge of Dynamics 365, Power Platform and related products, and how they fit into the wider Azure environment and product landscape Excellent communicator – able to consult, influence, challenge and negotiate effectively with stakeholders and partners, both technical and non-technical, to achieve desired outcomes. Strong problem solving, analytical and presentation skills with a keen understanding of the intersection between technology and business strategy Experience of driving pipeline delivery using appropriate software development methodology (including Agile) and tooling (preferably Azure DevOps) Proven ability to manage issues, risks and problems from identification through to resolution Strong influencer, able to build stakeholder confidence, plus manage ambiguity and competing priorities to deliver in line with business need Customer focused with a proven track record of change delivery to improve customer experience and process efficiency A proactive change oriented leader who can inspire others with a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation and the delivery of results Strong understanding of relevant data and system management principles, their effective application to software, and knowledge of the security and compliance features of the Microsoft products Agile and resilient – able to make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace Solid understanding of project management methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile), change management principles and ITIL - certification desirable Effective leader of people – line or matrix management experience Proactive in resolving issues and driving change proactively and pragmatically in a complex organisation through cross-organisational working Have a “step up” mindset – use sound judgment and take accountability for actions