Description
Summary
The Head of Reform Policy & Engagement is responsible for leading the development of policy positions and managing AQA’s day-to-day policy stakeholder engagement for GQ reform. Working closely with senior colleagues in GQ, External Affairs, Strategy & Vocational and Compliance, they will contribute to AQA’s policy positions and stakeholder engagement strategy for GQ reform, ensuring a coherent strategy to ensure that AQA influences effectively to achieve both educational and commercial benefits. They will own the day-to-day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual. They will support Product Management with developing effective subject stakeholder strategies and help develop their stakeholder engagement capabilities.This is a senior role reporting to the Chief Qualifications Officer. The role will work closely with the Chief External Affairs & Communications Officer, the External Affairs team and other strategic stakeholder leads in the organisation, notably in the Strategy & Vocational Directorate.
The postholder will work closely with Heads of Product and Subject Sector Leads (responsible for subject stakeholder engagement, e.g. with subject associations), providing effective matrix management, support and development to ensure that Product leads have effective subject stakeholder strategies in place and the stakeholder engagement capabilities to deliver those strategies.
The postholder will require the expertise and credibility to represent AQA externally at senior level. They will own the day-to-day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual. Along with other senior staff, they may represent the organisation at roundtables, speak at conferences and otherwise represent AQA externally (including with customers) as required.
Manage AQA’s day-to-day policy stakeholder relationships for GQ reform.
Work closely with senior colleagues, notably in External Affairs, Strategy & Vocational and Regulatory Compliance (including the Responsible Officer) to ensure an aligned approach.
Contribute to the stakeholder engagement strategy for GQ reform, bringing strategic insight and subject matter expertise to shape which stakeholders we engage with, how, and what our objectives are.
Develop plans and key messages, proactively identifying areas of opportunities and risk, and ensure these are used effectively to influence stakeholders and shape decisions and outcomes to help achieve our overall reform strategy.
Ensure we gain the insight we need from stakeholder engagement and that this is effectively disseminated internally.
Ensure that our stakeholder engagement maximises our educational impact in line with our charitable purpose.
Ensure that our stakeholder engagement influences effectively for commercial purposes where appropriate, and is sensitive to commercially-privileged information.
Own the day-to-day policy relationships with DfE and Ofqual, building and maintaining strong relationships to ensure our expertise effectively informs policy development.
Support Product leads in developing impactful subject stakeholder engagement strategies.
Support Product leads in developing their capabilities in stakeholder engagement, providing materials, training, etc. as appropriate.
Act as a subject matter expert to support External Affairs & Comms colleagues when developing key messages for external audiences including Ministers and the media.
Represent AQA externally as required, e.g. at roundtables, speaking at conferences, etc.
Monitor and report on reform stakeholder engagement and insights as required.
Essential Criteria:
Proven ability to provide effective strategic leadership in challenging and time-sensitive contexts
Substantial experience of influencing and engaging senior stakeholders
Significant experience of stakeholder mapping and developing impactful stakeholder engagement strategies and plans in complex contexts
Strong knowledge and understanding of assessment/qualification development, awarding bodies and AQA’s policy and regulatory landscape
Understanding of and relationships with major education stakeholders
Knowledge of AQA’s market context, customers and competitors
Understanding of the commercial landscape, the ability to strategically influence effectively to achieve commercial aims, and the ability to recognise and preserve commercially-privileged information
Experience in working with colleagues, using your expertise to support them in developing their thinking, knowledge and plans
Experience developing and embedding effective ways of working, processes and tools for stakeholder engagement and management within complex contexts.
Demonstrable ability to lead and move in a rapid, agile and responsive way
Ability to inform strategic decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation and to translate that into frameworks and plans for implementation
Ability to lead and operate through adversity and uncertainty
Desirable Criteria:
Extensive knowledge of/experience engaging with DfE and Ofqual
Experience of engagement with Ministers, senior civil servants, Spads and/or senior regulatory officials