Job Title: Assessment Delivery Lead (IELTS)
Contract: Full time, permanent, 35 hours per week
Salary: £66,800-£89,300 per annum
Location: Cambridge, Hybrid
Help ensure IELTS continues to be fair, consistent and trusted around the world.
We’re looking for someone who understands the responsibility that comes with a high‑stakes assessment and enjoys making complex systems work smoothly. As Assessment Delivery Lead, you’ll guide how test content is produced and how results are determined, working closely with colleagues across IELTS to protect quality and support continuous improvement.
We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world‑leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.
About The Role
You’ll lead the end‑to‑end assessment delivery function, from content production through results determination and standards, in a highly regulated, global environment. You’ll set clear expectations for quality, anticipate risks to test validity, and coordinate mitigations with Security, Governance and partners. You’ll also deputise for the Head of Assessment, and work in step with the Operations Delivery Lead to maintain continuity during peaks.
Additional responsibilities and accountabilities include:
* Shaping and delivering the IELTS assessment strategy; setting quality thresholds and approving readiness of components
* Overseeing results cycles and sign‑offs; keeping documentation and schedules tight and up to date
* Working closely with Technology, Product, Research, Operations and Regulation on improvements and tooling (e.g., item banking and calibration)
* Prioritising content production and results work; making decisions on acceptability of content and results at component/product level
This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40‑60% of their time collaborating and connecting face‑to‑face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long‑term health condition.
About You
You’re someone who brings sound professional judgement, confidence working across complex teams, and the ability to keep high‑stakes work moving calmly and clearly. You make decisions with care, communicate openly, and adapt quickly in busy periods. You’re comfortable in an environment where accuracy matters, collaboration is essential, and the stakes are genuinely significant.
Required
* Knowledge of assessment theory and practice
* Awareness of end‑to‑end assessment delivery processes for content production, results determination and standards
* Senior leadership in complex, matrixed organisations, with a track record of influencing at senior levels and making evidence‑based decisions in high‑stakes contexts.
* Proven delivery in regulated, risk‑controlled environments (e.g., awarding/assessment bodies, financial services, healthcare, government), with sound judgement when balancing compliance, business objectives and public trust
* Hands‑on experience modernising complex operational workflows and implementing or optimising tooling (e.g., item banking, calibration, workflow or case‑management platforms) to support reliable, scalable digital delivery.
* Proven ability to translate operational, technical and regulatory requirements into clear processes and decision frameworks that support high‑stakes services.
* Extensive experience in embedding quality assurance, continuous improvement and risk management in all processes and documentation, and experience putting these into practice across the lifecycle of a digital or hybrid product.
If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
Desirable
* Experience applying AI or machine‑learning‑enabled tools to enhance content production, automate workflows or improve operational efficiency, with a strong understanding of associated risks, controls and governance in regulated environments
* A recognised EFL/ESL teaching qualification or relevant related qualification
* Understanding of the IELTS ecosystem, including partnerships, governance and product context
* Knowledge of the IELTS test construct, including test content production and results determination processes
* Practical understanding of the security measures required to safeguard test and results validity
* Degree in a relevant field; MBA advantageous
For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.
We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long‑term health condition, and best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long‑term health condition.
Rewards And Benefits
* 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
* Discretionary annual bonus
* Group personal pension scheme
* Life assurance up to 4 × annual salary
* Green travel schemes
Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.
The closing date for all applications will be 29 March 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect face‑to‑face interviews to take place w/c 6th April 2026.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long‑term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.
We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.
Why join us
Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.
We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.
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