External Affairs Coordinator

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.

External Affairs Coordinator

Permanent

London: £35,963–£39,915 or Manchester: £34,539–£38,334

Hybrid Working – minimum of 2 days in office per week

Do you want a role that strengthens your career in public affairs, policy, media and education, with exposure to meaningful and high‑impact work? Due to a promotion, we now have a role available in the External Affairs team.

The work of the External Affairs Coordinator shapes how AQA engages with the the wider education sector on vital developments across curriculum and assessment and wider education policy. You'll support meaningful influencing activity that helps create better outcomes for learners and contributes to education at a national level.

You'll coordinate and deliver external affairs plans that help AQA maximise its external impact. You'll bring clarity, structure and alignment across multiple teams so activity is well‑sequenced, purposeful and visible. If you have experience in similar roles, charities or education organisations we would welcome an application from you.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for:

• Planning and coordinating activity across comms, policy and public affairs to keep external influencing work on track

• Maintaining and communicating a live forward‑planning grid of reports, events and publications

• Producing briefings, reports and updates that support senior leaders and external engagement

• Supporting the delivery of AQA’s public affairs events programme

• Supporting External Affairs Senior Leadership Team with the development of the AQA’s influencing strategy.

What’s in it for you

• Opportunities to shape work that influences national education debates

• Career development through hands‑on experience across policy, public affairs and communications

• A supportive hybrid working environment

• The chance to contribute to education reform at an exciting time of change

• 25 days annual leave, rising with service, with additional office closure at the end of December

• Private Medical Insurance and a Healthcare Cash Reward Plan

• A great pension offer which could see combined contributions of 18.5%

• Up to four days leave to enable volunteering opportunities

Diversity and inclusion

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background – is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What we are looking for

• You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy bringing structure, clarity and energy to a busy and fast‑moving environment

• Experience coordinating projects or activity across teams

• Strong written communication, including summarising information clearly

• Confident stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building

• Excellent organisational skills including scheduling, note‑taking and proofreading

• Interest and some experience in politics, and/or education policy

Application process

To apply, please submit your CV and complete the application questions. The application deadline is 23:59 on 16 March 2026.

Interviews will take place in person in the week beginning 30 March 2026.

Please note that an Enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful candidate.

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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

Purpose: To lead on the planning and delivery of external affairs plans, working collaboratively across the business with multiple stakeholders, with the goal of increasing AQA’s impact within our influencing work. The post holder will facilitate the smooth and effective operation of the External Affairs business area by providing administrative and planning support to the team, particularly through managing a live grid of proposed external activities such as report publications and events. The post holder is also responsible for reporting on the progress and milestones across AQA’s influencing strategy.Landscape: It is important that attention is paid to the sequencing of policy reports, events and planned communications activities, to maximise the impact AQA has externally. The postholder will be key in making that vision a reality – planning and coordinating activities, as well as providing administrative support as necessary for individual teams during high workload periods. The External Affairs business area is at the heart of the Influencing strategy, so the postholder will play an important role in ensuring it’s implemented, reviewed and reported on for senior internal stakeholders.

Activities:
Responsible for planning and monitoring progress to ensure key deliverables and milestones are achieved within workstreams related to the Influencing strategy
Responsible for organising and chairing regular cross-department working groups and team meetings
Working collaboratively with senior leaders across AQA departments, holding them to account to ensure key Influencing strategy deliverables are delivered
Managing the comparison of quotes and business cases for key Influencing strategy project spend to prove value and justify spend
Managing and updating overarching planning documents to keep on track of when key events and reports are happening
Supporting the Head of External Affairs in complying with AQA reporting, strategy updates, and assurance processes, and with organising any large and/or regular meetings
Produce briefings for events and provide updates for elsewhere in AQA, for example for the Chief Executive Officer
Working with public affairs colleagues in managing events, such as booking venues, procure name tags, request dietary information from attendees, etc
Working with public affairs colleagues to manage AQA’s strategic stakeholder management system
Supporting policy colleagues in publishing reports, for example analysing data, researching policy areas and with proof reading
Supporting media colleagues during busy times, for example by proofreading communications and helping to keep track of external media interest
Working with the Head of External Affairs to help foster a joined-up approach to working across comms, policy and public affairs
Conducting specialist research into external events and stakeholders to inform strategy

Need to know (to be successful in this role, you will need to know):
Experience in the implementation and tracking of projects, including across departments
An understanding of the context within which the External Affairs business area and AQA operate, including good knowledge of the political landscape and the education policy arena
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders
Experience of delivering, reviewing and reporting on a preferably politically influential strategy
Good analytical skills, for example summarising stakeholder insight research
Good working knowledge and understanding of administrative procedures, processes and relevant IT applications
How to develop and maintain high quality planning documents, in particular timelines and grids
Good writing skills, for example experience of drafting briefings and/or proofreading documents for publication
Excellent attention to detail, for example spotting errors in a document or when something is missing in preparing for an event
A good general level of education including Maths and English GCSE or equivalent (A-C grades)