Description
Summary
The vocational and apprenticeship landscape is undergoing significant reform, with V Levels and new Level 2 pathways reshaping provision from 2027, and apprenticeships facing significant reform. This comes as AQA gears up for reform to GCSEs and A levels as part of the government’s reform of general qualifications (GQ).
The Lead Stakeholder Engagement Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping AQA’s influence and strategic stakeholder engagement, with a focus on vocational qualifications (VQ) reform and the post-16 landscape. Working across departments and with external stakeholders, the postholder will support the design and delivery of high-quality qualifications through enabling strategic and joined up external engagement.Landscape:
The Lead Stakeholder Engagement Manager sits within AQA’s Strategy and Vocational directorate, reporting to the Head of Strategic Innovation. This is a specialist role focusing on effective stakeholder engagement which is core to delivering our priorities linked to the growth of our vocational services, and effective qualification and assessment reform. The role is designed to operate cross-functionally and across AQA Group. The role will work closely with AQA Group vocational organisations including TQUK and Realise, and with teams such as External Affairs, Product, and GQ Assessment reform.
Activities:
Strategic collaboration, planning and delivery
• Work with the Head of Strategic Innovation and senior colleagues across AQA Group to design and deliver strategic approaches to stakeholder engagement, with a particular focus on vocational qualifications and offers, and join up with general qualifications reform.
• Work with the Head of Strategic Innovation to develop internal approaches and ways of working that support joined up cross-functional strategic stakeholder engagement.
• Work with colleagues across AQA group to improve processes and tools related to strategic stakeholder engagement and joined up working.
• Work with External Affairs and other relevant teams to develop our approach and priorities for events, activities, strategic communications and partnerships to increase the profile, reach and influence of AQA’s vocational offers, and support design and delivery as needed.
• Work at pace to lead the delivery of strategic stakeholder projects, ensuring alignment with AQA’s broader strategy.
Stakeholder Engagement
• Establish strong relationships across AQA Group
• Develop strategic stakeholder engagement approaches and plans for external stakeholder groups and areas, in liaison with relevant colleagues across AQA group.
• Build and maintain relationships with identified stakeholders in the education, skills and employment sectors to support the delivery of high-quality qualifications.
• Represent AQA at conferences, activities and events as needed.
• Monitor and report on stakeholder engagement and insights to the Head of Strategic Innovation, the Executive and wider Directorates as relevant.
Thought Leadership & Innovation
• Develop innovative ways of working and thinking about stakeholder engagement and sharing and applying insights.
• Proactively identify areas of opportunity and risk in order to help improve the quality of qualifications reform.
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
Essential Criteria
• Strong understanding of education and skills policy and the sector, and its implications for qualifications and assessment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills including with senior stakeholders.
• Significant experience of stakeholder mapping and developing strategic stakeholder engagement approaches and plans in complex contexts.
• Significant experience of developing and embedding effective ways of working, processes and tools for stakeholder engagement and management within complex contexts.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and strong facilitation skills.
• Experience working in or with educational or skills organisations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to translate insights into actionable approaches and plans.
• Strategic thinker with a collaborative mindset and a passion for educational impact.
• Able to work flexibly and adapt to changing internal and external contexts.
Desirable Criteria
• Understanding or experience of the vocational landscape and its implications for qualifications and assessment.
• Connections with stakeholders in the vocational, skills or employment sectors.