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.
Subject Lead - Science
Permanent
Manchester: £46,500–£53,000
Milton Keynes or Guildford: £48,000–£55,500
Hybrid Working- at least two days per week in the office or with a customer; national travel and overnight stays maybe required.
Join AQA as Subject Lead for Science
Due to recent announcements on assessment reform, we are expanding the AQA Science Subject Support team. This pivotal leadership role will guide a team of Science experts to deliver outstanding support for teachers and ensure AQA maintains its leading position in the GCSE and A Level market.
If you’re ready to take your passion for Science beyond the classroom and influence how thousands of students experience the subject, this is your opportunity to make a national impact.
Why this role matters
This role is ideal for experienced educators who are looking to move beyond the classroom and now want to shape education more broadly through AQA.
Are you ready to apply your leadership and Science expertise to a meaningful role in a charitable setting? If you’ve recently led a Science team and taught GCSE and A Level Sciences, and you’re passionate about shaping the future of education, consider joining the UK’s leading awarding body.
With increased investment in understanding and supporting our customers, this role offers a chance to make a tangible impact on AQA’s flagship subject. You’ll contribute to educational reform, influence subject-level policy, and drive forward our diverse support and product offerings.
Purpose
As Subject Lead for Science, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering AQA’s Science curriculum strategy. You’ll ensure AQA remains the top choice for educators by enhancing our customer support and strengthening our subject-specific offerings.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and inspiring a team of four Science subject experts, coaching and developing them to deliver exceptional support.
- Acting as a primary point of contact for teachers, providing clear and accessible guidance on specifications and assessments.
- Collaborating with stakeholders across the UK to deliver impactful support materials and events.
- Working closely with Product Management to align classroom needs with AQA’s product development.
- Representing AQA at conferences and events, sharing insights and building relationships with educators.
What’s in it for You?
Career Development
- Lead and influence in your area of expertise, with opportunities to represent AQA at national conferences.
- Transition your leadership and curriculum knowledge from the classroom to a national platform, shaping the future of mathematics education.
- Gain valuable insights into assessment content and delivery.
Personal Growth and Wellbeing
- Bupa Health Insurance, Health Care Cash Plan, Life Assurance, and an Electric Vehicle Leasing scheme.
- Generous pension contributions of up to 11.5%.
- 25 days of annual leave, increasing with service, plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas.
- Opportunities for volunteering leave and professional development.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need:
- Recent experience leading a Science department or equivalent, with a strong understanding of the GCSE and A Level syllabus.
- A deep knowledge of assessment processes and the wider educational landscape.
- Strong data interpretation skills to inform decision-making and enhance customer support.
- The ability to travel across the UK, with occasional overnight stays.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of presenting to diverse audiences and handling challenging conversations.
- Proven matrix management skills to influence a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Make your mark on Science education—join AQA and help shape the future.
Application Process
To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.
Application deadline: Sunday 30th November 23:59
Pre-screen call with the Recruiter, followed by;
First stage: Teams Interviews with a pre-set scenario - 8th and 9th December
Second stage : Face to Face with a presentation - 15th and 16st December
Decisions: Made in time before year end.
The successful candidate will ideally start on or before April 2026
The expected start date will align with teacher notice periods or earlier if feasible. * An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role.
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.
* Successful candidates will be unable to maintain an Associate role with AQA or any other exam board.
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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
Supporting customers retaining and growing market share through subject expertise. You will also be responsible for using your subject expertise to provide internal consultancy, providing customer insight plus building and managing relationships with external stakeholders where needed.
In addition to subject expertise, leadership will be a key part of this role. You will be part of the leadership of the Subject Support Team. Your role will be to ensure all activities for your subject(s) are planned, monitored and managed effectively to deliver to customers and achieve Customer and Product and organisational objectives. Where relevant you will line manage the subject delivery support team for your subject area and will be responsible for the performance of this team and ensuring effective deployment of this resource to deliver key priorities.
The role will require extensive national travel to represent AQA, deliver to customers and collaborate with internal and external stakeholdersLandscape:
To understand the educational landscape particularly within your subject area.
To understand and engage with the strategic priorities of AQA and its evolving structure.
Activities:
Responsible for setting and meeting challenging goals and milestones for delivery of your subject(s)
Responsible for planning, monitoring and delivering Customer and Product priorities within your subject(s). Eg) Responsible for the creation, monitoring and delivery of subject focused annual plans
Where appropriate, be responsible for managing and monitoring performance of a small team e.g. including talent spotting, development opportunities and driving high performance.
Use relevant systems, reports and dashboards to plan and record delivery for your subject to meet delivery targets.
Lead and support projects or workstreams within Customer and Product which are of a commensurate level to your role, maximising development opportunities
Engage with key stakeholders to support effective planning and delivery of priorities e.g., Product Management, Marketing, Sales, Customer Training and Events and Customer & Product Planning Manager.
Responsible for effective identification and management of risks and dependencies
Ensure your work supports continuous improvement in process and delivery, to drive customer experience and satisfaction levels
Responsible for working with other teams to reduce failure demand from customers in your subject(s) e.g improve first contact resolution of customer enquiries.
Promote customer centricity, be an advocate for the customer across the business and provide subject based customer insight.
Be a brand advocate for AQA with customers and associates.
Represent the team, subject(s) and Customer & Product as part of wider organisational projects and priorities
Contribute to business wide processes where needed to support customer facing activity eg) incident management and awarding
Responsible for the recruitment and management of associates to support delivery to customers within your subject(s) in line with the AQA associate strategy.
Engage with and influence subject level stakeholders such as subject associations and learned societies to build advocacy and support and to provide both stakeholder and customer insight to inform current and future developments eg, At times of reform
Present at stakeholder events in collaboration with the Product Management team, in line with the product growth strategy, in order to influence stakeholder views and decisions to ensure AQA is seen as the board of choice for the subject.
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
An excellent understanding of the subject, specifications and current pedagogy
People leadership skills
Former teaching experience or ability to demonstrate credibility with teachers
Excellent communication, presentation and training skills in line with AQA brand and tone of voice
Basic project leadership skills
Operational Management skills
Stakeholder management and collaborative working
Influencing and brand advocacy
Organisation, planning and prioritisation skills
A continuous improvement mindset
A big picture mindset
The ability to have robust conversations with customers and stakeholders, own and deliver corporate messages
The ability to interpret data to inform decision making, monitor delivery and impact to customers
Modelling of organisational leadership habits and values and behaviours
An understanding of AQA’s assessment products, processes and practices relevant to your subject(s)