Psychometrics and Innovation Manager
Apply locations Manchester Guildford time type Full time posted on Posted 3 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: March 3, 2025 (12 days left to apply) job requisition id R6192
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.
Psychometrics & Innovation Manager
Permanent
Manchester: £64,757 - £75,572
Guildford: £67,427 - £78,689
Shape the Future of Assessment in a Newly Created Psychometrics & Innovation Manager Role
Think you can revolutionise how assessments are designed and delivered? Imagine the impact you could have in transforming educational testing through data-driven insights, innovative approaches, and cutting-edge research.
We’re seeking a Psychometrics & Innovation Manager to work closely with the Head of Standards and Innovation to develop a wide variety of assessments. You’ll guide a dedicated team of six statisticians and quantitative researchers, applying statistical approaches to awarding and ensuring assessments remain valid, reliable, and fair. In this important role, you’ll be central to AQA’s strategic development, collaborating across the organisation to create new opportunities, introduce innovative practices, and strengthen our ability to adapt to the ever-changing educational landscape, meeting both current and future needs.
What’s in it for you?
1. Impact: Guide transformative projects that elevate assessment quality and fairness, creating meaningful change in education.
2. Empowerment: Inspire and nurture a passionate team, fostering an environment of continuous growth, collaboration, and innovation.
3. Collaboration: Work with diverse internal stakeholders, sharing insights that shape strategic decisions.
4. Growth: Develop professionally through leadership opportunities, CPD activities, and exposure to high-impact projects.
5. Enjoy a flexible work environment with a 35-hour week and extensive opportunities for professional and personal development.
6. Access to an enhanced contributory pension scheme which could see you paying in 7% and AQA contributing 11.5% (Other options are available).
7. Receive 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
8. Comprehensive health coverage from day one, including Bupa PMI, Health Cash Plan, and Life Assurance.
9. Participate in eco-friendly transport schemes, including electric vehicles and cycle-to-work options.
To be successful in this role, you will need:
* Advanced knowledge of assessment techniques, psychometrics, and statistical analysis.
* Strong leadership and team management skills.
* Experience in educational assessment.
* Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
* Ability and willingness to constructively challenge the thinking of others.
* Strong analytical thinking to synthesise complex information.
How do I apply?
Read the full job description and upload your most recent CV and Cover Letter by following the link provided. Closing date for applications will be Sunday 2nd March.
AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and supported to thrive.
Full Job Description
Summary
The role supports the Head of Standards and Innovation in guiding the team in the development and testing of new assessment approaches, taking them to proof of concept. The post holder will manage a small team, including statisticians and quantitative researchers, who will be responsible for planning and implementing statistical approaches for awarding and results, in addition to supporting the wider business to improve the quality of marking and moderation. The post holder will also work with stakeholders across the organisation to establish and maintain a network of internal customers and be responsible for sharing outputs and communicating with the business around the innovative initiatives and approaches that are being developed within the team. This will require specialist knowledge of assessment techniques and psychometrics, research, statistical and data analysis techniques, as well as exceptional management skills.
Activities:
1. Recruit, train, lead and manage a team of psychometricians, technical experts, researchers and statisticians to develop and trial new assessment and testing approaches, working with the Head of Standards and Innovation, and other stakeholders, to ensure that initiatives are delivered to plan and to a consistent high quality and prioritised according to business needs.
2. Oversee the planning and implementation of statistical approaches, processes and procedures for awarding and results purposes.
3. Provide proactive advice, guidance and expertise to managers and other stakeholders on psychometrics, evaluating and monitoring requests to the team.
4. Build effective working relationships with internal colleagues, influencing thinking in relation to new and innovative testing approaches.
5. Support the Head of Standards and Innovation to develop and implement planning activities, specifically relating to medium-term delivery plans across the team.
6. Work collaboratively with Head of Standards and Innovation to build and deliver team development plan and people plan, encompassing engagement activities, skills mapping and development, and driving CPD activities.
7. Deputise for the Head of Standards and Innovation as required at internal and external groups.
8. Review the outputs of the team where appropriate, ensuring that they are clear, succinct, accurate, and fit for purpose and audience.
9. Develop and maintain collaborative working practices that feed into organisational objectives and facilitate knowledge exchange within psychometrics outputs.
10. Represent the team on AQA groups, sharing insights to inform and support AQA decision making, where required.
11. Model and encourage a motivated and positive team culture, focused on service delivery and continuous improvement.
12. Champion and foster a culture of accountability.
13. Ensure that projects meet business needs flexibly, responsively, and to agreed time, cost and quality criteria.
14. Demonstrate commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change.
15. Ensure AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
1. Broad understanding of the political, educational and business context within which AQA works.
2. Understanding of, and experience in applying, approaches to performance measurement and management in a customer, product or technical environment.
3. Understanding of educational assessment, and the policy and regulatory context in which AQA operates.
4. Excellent knowledge of a range of assessment and psychometric approaches, and research techniques, and their purposes, use, and potential impact.
5. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to build rapport with a diverse range of stakeholders internally and externally and to be a role model for a partnership-based matrix style of working.
6. Highly numerate and a good understanding of quantitative and qualitative analytical and statistical techniques, and their use in support sound decision-making.
7. Ability to understand stakeholder requirements and translate those into actionable tasks.
8. Demonstrable experience for the role – a degree in an analytical, technical, or mathematical discipline may be beneficial but is not required.
9. Ability to think analytically, to understand and synthesise complex, diverse, and incomplete information and to present reasoned arguments.
10. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
11. Ability and willingness to constructively challenge the thinking of others.
About Us
AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year. Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential. As part of AQA, you’ll very quickly appreciate the determination and unwavering passion to deliver this goal in everything we do. To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.
Reasonable Adjustments
If you have any requirements for reasonable adjustments in relation to the application, interview or the prospective job, please contact Faye Harrison (she/her) at fharrison@aqa.org.uk or on 07813 724161. We are asking for this information to make the process as equitable as possible for each candidate. Please note that Faye will not be able to assist you with enquiries regarding Temporary vacancies or non-recruitment enquiries. If you have query regarding Temporary vacancies, please contact: temprecruit@aqa.org.uk
Smart Working
We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
AQA is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes people unique.
Conflict of Interest
Please note that due to the confidential nature of our work, we are unable to employ people for our temporary roles who are currently a candidate for Key Stage 4 and 5 public examinations.
Safeguarding
AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. We’re dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly.
For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website here.
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