Description
Summary
The Head of Product is accountable for the strategic management and development of AQA’s English/Maths/Science product offering. This role is crucial in ensuring AQA maintains and expands its market share in these subjects. Key responsibilities include:
•Strategic Leadership: Lead English/Maths/Science developing and executing strategies to defend and grow AQA’s market share position.
•Subject Coordination: Act as the focal point for these subjects, overseeing the coordination, prioritisation and supervision of related activities in line with AQA’s strategic objectives.
•Product Development and Delivery: Manage the development and delivery of annual and medium-term product roadmaps, balancing quality, customer needs, commercial viability and stakeholder interests.
•Representation: Serve as the primary representative for English, Maths, and Science both internally within AQA and externally, aiming to achieve customer acquisition targets and improve customer retention.
•Strategic Planning: Identify and define strategic activities necessary for meeting AQA’s targets and lead their implementation.
•Product life cycle management: The post holder is responsible for the assigned portfolio across its entire life cycle.
•People management: setting SMART objectives for your team, offering consistent guidance and support, mentoring, coaching and developing team members, fostering an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. You will be responsible for ensuring your team achieves high performance and meets its goals aligned to AQA’s overarching strategy.
•This leadership role, which reports directly to the Head of Product Management, is pivotal in upholding AQA’s position and reputation as a leader in education assessment services.Key Responsibilities:
Subject Expertise: The role requires significant expertise in English, Maths, and Science, gained through professional roles or teaching experience.
Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic direction within AQA and represent these subjects to external stakeholders.
Business Process Management: Oversee the business case process and manage related budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
Profitability and Accountability: Focus on maximizing the profitability of these subject areas through strategic planning and oversight.
Activities:
Customer Focus
Lead initiatives to enhance product quality, customer experience and stakeholder satisfaction through continuous improvement
Represent AQA at external events and develop commercial strategies for product improvement.
Manage team to align delivery with AQA’s priorities.
Develop customer value propositions based on deep customer insights.
Engage in planning and quality assurance of customer engagement campaigns and collaborative projects.
Financial Management
Optimise product profitability, balancing financial targets with broader interests.
Act as the product leader within AQA, setting and communicating priorities.
Update and manage financial targets in collaboration with the Finance department.
Advise on pricing policies and generate business cases for new developments.
Product and Internal Processes
Develop and maintain product plans, ensuring timely and budget-compliant delivery.
Analyse data for informed decision-ma`king and facilitate cross-departmental collaboration.
Regularly review product strategy and plans for ongoing relevance and effectiveness.
Ensure compliance with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
People and Culture:
Lead and develop team members, promoting and role modeling a high-performance culture.
Provide feedback, coaching, and development aligned with business objectives.
Ensure compliance with AQA policies and demonstrate adaptability to changing business needs.
Technology:
Employ digital tools for efficient and effective communication and content management.
Government and External Relations:
Apply business analytics for insight-driven policy development and stakeholder engagement.
Oversee regulatory and compliance aspects of product management.
Success Requirements:
Knowledge: Product management and marketing, with financial and commercial acumen.
Qualification: Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
Skills: Leadership, communication, influencing, negotiation, creative thinking, analysis, problem solving, prioritisation, strategic planning and interpersonal abilities.
Experience: Educational or commercial product management experience, working in a complex matrix environment, people management