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. Interim Assessment Training Manager 12 months Fixed Term Contract Located in either Guildford or Manchester Salary – North (£45,754 - £51,247) South (£47,641 - £53,360) Would you like to play a key role in build ing, refresh ing and deliver ing training materials for both internal AQA colleagues and the many thousands of teachers and assessment experts that we work with in their roles as AQA a ssociates ? Your work will support them to creat e question papers and mark schemes in line with A QAs marking standards and assessment quality principles. Strengthening our wide suite of qualifications, including our market leading GCSEs and A-levels In this role, you will use your knowledge of best practice in a ssessment d esign and working within a regulatory environment to e xte nd our associate ’s assessment expertise. The training will align with AQA’s a ssessment d esign principles and processes, that you will have the opportunity to influence. Reporting to the Head of Knowledge Management as part of an evolving Associate Training team, you will work closely with our Assessment and Research team s. What's in it for you? You'll work on a hybrid working model which works for you and the team alike, with the ability to pay up to 7% into your pension and employer contributions up to 11.5%, 25 days annual leave with Christmas on top rising with service, alongside a host of other wellbeing benefits including the Headspace App, Life assurance, PMI and Access to a Health Cash plan. What you’ll be doing Define the strategic approach for all assessment expertise training solutions. Lead on the design and implementation of all assessment expertise training solutions, including programmes, materials and activities that meet the needs of AQA colleagues and associates. Commission and manage the delivery of all assessment expertise training, in conjunction with AQA colleagues, associates and external specialists, as appropriate. Create and update all assessment expertise training materials, including online presentations, workshop materials, multimedia, reference resources, and formative assessments, where applicable. Analyse the overarching assessment design and quality insights to deliver systematic improvements to AQA’s training offer in these areas. Evaluate the effectiveness of all assessment expertise training solutions to help define our strategic approach and influence AQA’s delivery of world-class assessments. Evaluate the effectiveness of all assessment expertise training solutions to help define our strategic approach and influence AQA’s delivery of world-class assessments. What you’ll need to succeed. In-depth knowledge and understanding of assessment design and the regulatory environment in which AQA operates Excellent understanding of assessment products and practices Limitations and advantages of different systems of assessment delivery Ability to analyse and synthesise complex data and information to help formulate strategy and influence delivery of training interventions Knowledge of training and development approaches The ability to communicate complex issues in a clear and engaging way The ability to consult and negotiate with a variety of people, internally and externally Good communication and presentation skills The ability to write well for different audiences to influence outcomes and inform decision making The ability to interpret complex quantitative data and statistics to identify trends and patterns and use this analysis to influence assessment design practice and training Please upload your most recent CV with a cover letter detailing your skills and experience for this role. You could wait until applications close on the 3 rd February at 23:59 to apply, but we will be interviewing as applications come in and reserve the right to close the advert early should we find the right person so apply today. Every application will receive a written response 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 Analyse and review overall assessment performance issues and commission and use research to identify organisation assessment training needs. Lead on the development and delivery of a comprehensive education assessment training programme for colleagues and senior associates such that it leads to significant improvements in assessment practice and outcomes. Lead on the strategy for increasing teacher understanding of good assessment design such that it leads to sensible discussions about assessment reliability and validity. Support assessment analysts and other key stakeholders to drive improvements in assessment quality.Accountabilities Role specific: Use assessment expertise and analysis of assessment performance to define the strategic approach to assessment design training Lead and manage the design and implementation of assessment training approaches, programmes, materials and activities that meets the different needs of colleagues across AQA and senior examiners/associates such that it leads to improvements in reliability and validity of assessment. Analyse overarching assessment data and research reports to understand systematic improvements needed in assessment design and performance and design training interventions to deliver these improvements. Analyse the understanding of assessment design expertise across AQA colleagues and associates to influence the strategic approach to training and use this to evaluate the effectiveness of training interventions. Lead on the creation and update of assessment design training course content and materials, which may include presentations, workshop materials, multimedia and online materials, reference resources, and formative assessments. Lead on identifying and prioritising the organisation’s ongoing education assessment training needs in order to support the delivery of world class assessments. Commission, manage and coordinate the delivery of assessment design course content and materials from staff colleagues and external specialists as appropriate. Manage, deliver and support the delivery of face-to-face training to staff colleagues and senior examiners/associates in the latest assessment design best practice. Identify, engage and manage external specialists to deliver training on assessment design where appropriate. Design and manage training interventions to agreed cost, time and quality measures. Work with colleagues and senior examiners/associates to ensure the effective application of the knowledge, skills, and understanding acquired through assessment design training, including ensuring best practice is shared and embedded across different subjects and assessments. Work with colleagues in Organisational Development to identify effective and efficient delivery mechanisms for training programmes to assure successful delivery. Engage with external stakeholders on assessment design issues to understand what world class assessment looks like, influence outcomes and input into assessment strategies. Create and support the delivery of the strategy for increasing teacher understanding of good assessment design which can influence their decision making and allow meaningful engagement with complex assessment issues. General accountabilities To comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS. Where business needs change, to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile. Additional Information In order to undertake this role you may be required to interact directly with students in a supervised environment. Due to this interaction, this role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with AQA’s Child Safeguarding Policy. As post holders will or may be visiting customers and centres, there is a requirement for them to complete a Child Safeguarding Declaration in line with the AQA Child Protection Policy. Person profile Behaviours – holding the Customer at the heart of all we do [the role holder will be able to demonstrate the mindset that drives the following behaviours] Collaborative: works with others to achieve the organisation and team vision, contributing expertise and developing self and others to achieve excellence - A/I/P Innovative: challenges self and others to create solutions and strives for improved ways of working - A/I/P Empowered: understands individual part to play in achieving success; takes ownership and accepts accountability - A/I/P Positive: takes a flexible, forward looking, solutions focused approach - A/I/P Ambitious: consistently aiming high and delivering for our customers - AI/P Knowledge and Skills In-depth knowledge and understanding of assessment design and the regulatory environment in which AQA operates - A/I/T Excellent understanding of assessment products and practices in AQA and limitations and advantages of different systems of assessment delivery - P Ability to analyse and synthesise complex data and information to help formulate strategy and influence delivery of training interventions - A/I/T/P Knowledge of training and development approaches - A/I The ability to communicate complex issues in a clear and engaging way - A/I/P/T The ability to consult and negotiate with a variety of people, internally and externally - A/P Good communication and presentation skills - I/P/T The ability to write well for different audiences to influence outcomes and inform decision making - A/P The ability to interpret complex quantitative data and statistics to identify trends and patterns and use this analysis to influence assessment design practice and training - A/I The ability to work both independently and as part of a team and lead groups of peers, associates and other colleagues - P The ability to work accurately under time pressure and meet deadlines ensuring consistently high quality results - A/I/P Good interpersonal skills with the ability to influence colleagues and senior associates such that the right behaviours and approaches are adopted. - I/P Ability to plan and manage complex packages of work and prioritise effectively - A/I/P Good general IT skills and the aptitude to learn new packages and processes - A/P Flexible and creative problem solver with the ability to think outside the box and adapt to change - I/P Maintain constructive links with other teams and work collaboratively to deliver targets - I/P Receive feedback and learn from mistakes for continuous self-development - I/P Core Competencies [the role holder will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following core competencies to a level appropriate to the role – the 3 competency levels are defined in the Q&M competency framework] Customer service - L2 Developing and managing self - L2 Leadership - L3 Planning and organising - L3 Change management - L2 Effective communication - L3 Problem solving - L3 Commercial focus - L2 Qualifications and Experience [the role holder will have the following qualifications and experience required for the role, including any regulatory or compliance requirements] A degree in a field with a significant quantitative element - A Experience of education assessment analysis and design - A/I Experience of developing and delivering training - A/I AQA’s Behaviour Framework which is assessed through the selection/probation process Assessment key (criteria to be assessed at the selection stage) A – application (it is essential to provide evidence on application for shortlisting purposes) I – interview T – test (or work sample) P – probation