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 seven million GCSEs and A-levels each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Director of Product Management

Permanent

Guildford, Milton Keynes, London or Manchester

Translate B - £100k - £120k

Hybrid working

Ready to shape the future of education?

If you’re a visionary in product management with a motivation for leading high potential teams, this opportunity is for you!

Due to increased investment, we have grown our Product management team and are now recruiting a Director of Product Management reporting directly into our Executive Director of Customer and Product. You will have 6 direct reports and an overall team of 17 and will be part of the Customer and Product Directorate.

You will play a pivotal role in steering our strategic vision, motivating and coaching an inclusive team whilst fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Together, you’ll work to develop new, groundbreaking products that leverage digital technology to address evolving educational needs and trends. Your leadership will not only enhance our current product offerings but also ensure they remain relevant and effective in an ever-changing and cutting edge landscape.

You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams—marketing, sales, customer, subject support, assessment, operations—to seamlessly bring these products to market, ensuring they support teachers and learners in achieving their goals. Your strategic conclusions will be guided by deep insights gained from market analysis and competitive research, allowing you to seize growth opportunities.

As Director of Product Management, you’ll navigate the complexities of a regulated industry, ensuring our products comply with all standards while advancing our charitable of advancing education.

We’re looking for a leader with a proven track record in product management or educational product development, who can inspire and mentor a diverse team. Your strategic acumen, coupled with a passion for education and a commitment to excellence, will drive our mission forward. Join us in transforming education and making a meaningful impact on the lives of students across diverse communities.

What’s in it for me?

• Spearhead a critical team in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.
• Develop new and continuously improve existing products to stay ahead of market needs.
• Flexible working environment over a 35 hour week and professional and personal development at your fingertips.
• Excellent contributory pension (6% - 11.5% dependent on employee contribution).
• 25 days' annual leave rising to 30 days with service, plus all Bank Holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
• Comprehensive health coverage from day one, including Bupa PMI and Health Cash Plan and Life assurance.
• Eco-friendly transport options through our electric vehicle scheme and cycle to work schemes.

What You’ll Do:

Strategic Leadership: Envision and drive the future of our product offerings, balancing educational excellence with strategic growth.

Team Management: Inspire and nurture a high-performing, inclusive team, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Product Development: Guide the creation of new, innovative products that leverage digital technology, addressing diverse market needs and educational trends.

Product Updates: Continuously enhance existing product lines, ensuring they remain relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Product Roadmap Development: Develop and execute a visionary product roadmap.

Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee every stage of product development, ensuring continuous improvement and market relevance.

Market and Competitive Analysis: Stay ahead of trends and seize growth opportunities through insightful market research.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, sales, customer, subject support, and operations teams to ensure seamless product commercialisation and operational success.

Performance Metrics: Define and track key metrics to measure success, driving continuous improvement with a data-driven approach.

Stakeholder Management: Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring products meet evolving educational needs.

Pricing and Publishing: Manage pricing strategy and partnerships, aligning support materials with strategic objectives.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all products meet regulatory standards, navigating the complexities of a regulated industry.

Profitability and Charitable Aims: Balance a strong focus on profitability with the charitable aims of the organization, ensuring our educational mission remains front and centre.

Digital Diversification: Drive significant investment in digital diversification, embracing technology to enhance assessment methods and support teachers and learners.

What You’ll Need:

• Extensive experience in product management or educational product development.
• Proven people development and management skills, with the ability to inspire, coach, and mentor diverse teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and excellent communication abilities.
• Passion for education and a commitment to improving learning outcomes through assessment.
• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach.

Imagine the satisfaction of seeing your ideas come to life, knowing you’re making a difference in the world of education. At AQA, we value creativity, innovation, and a passion for excellence. Your leadership will not only shape our products but also influence the educational journeys of countless students.

Next Steps

Apply now by sending your CV and a supporting statement outlining your motivation and transferable skills by visiting our website . Closing date for applications: Wednesday 7th August 2024

The screening process will consist of a prescreening call followed by a two stage Interview process held via MS Teams and face to face respectively in September 2024.

All applications will receive a written response.

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. AQA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment. Our Safeguarding Policy is available on our website.

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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

To lead and have accountability for the development and management of AQA's product offering, ensuring it aligns with the needs of customers and students, and meets regulatory standards.

Product Management is accountable for creating the right product to meet our objectives; set the product value proposition; and ensure the product’s commercial success. It requires close engagement with all parts of the Customer and Product Directorate, and colleagues across AQA to achieve this.

At AQA we strive to be the exam board of choice. The Product Management team play a critical role in creating trusted, quality products and support resources that meet customer needs; ensure AQA is easy to do business with; and offers our customers a user-friendly customer experience 100% of the time.

As Director of Product you will pay a critical role in supporting the organisation to be closer to our customers, leading the development of our product offering, and ensuring AQA is successful in any future reform. You will also play a critical role in the future of digital exams.

The Product Management Team comprises of Subject (i.e. English, Maths and Science) and Portfolio Product Management Teams, including a development team who will lead our response in areas such as Digital Exams or the introduction of the Advanced British Standard (ABS). Also included within the Product Management team is our Partnerships Team, which is responsible for building and maintaining relationships and agreements with third parties that strengthen our offer to schools and colleges.It is an interesting and changing time in assessment. The educational landscape is rapidly evolving, with shifts in educational technology, pedagogical approaches, policy, and regulatory requirements. The Director of Product Management will lead the Product Management team to realise the opportunities these changes create and make sure AQA's offering remains at the forefront of the sector and most chosen by customers.

The post also sits on the Customer & Product Senior Leadership Team which also includes the Director of Marketing & Brand; Director Sales and Subject Support; Director of Customer; and Director of Education Technology. It is also part of AQA’s Director group.


Activities:
Strategic Leadership: A member of the Customer and Product Directorate Senior Leadership Team. The Director of Product Management will drive the strategic vision for AQA's product offering, responding to educational insights, customer needs, regulation and policy. Develop and implement product strategies consistent with the company's vision and broader strategy.
Team Management and Development: Lead, coach, develop/mentor a team, guiding them in the execution of their roles. Ensure robust succession planning. Ensure that teams goals are set, monitored and in full alignment with AQA’s strategy.
Product Roadmap Development: Lead the Product Management team to define AQA product roadmap and prioritise activities based on business and customer impact. Communicate product plans, benefits, and expected outcomes to all stakeholders. As Director of Product Management, it is expected that you will ensure oversight of the full roadmap, ensuring both alignment to organisational strategy and delivery.
Product Lifecycle Management: Leadership of a team who will maintain oversight of the entire lifecycle of the AQA’s product from inception to discontinuation, ensuring that through continuous improvement products and services meet customer and market needs.
Market and Competitive Analysis: Working with the data and insights team, commission market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities for growth. Ensure relevant actionable insights are cascaded to appropriate teams across the business.
Cross-functional Collaboration - Commercialisation: Work closely with marketing, sales & account management, customer training and events and subject support teams to support the success of the commercialisation of AQA’s products through the provision of relevant information.
Cross-functional Collaboration - Product: Work closely with the broader chief operation officers team including but not limited to operations, assessment design, associate team and with the Customer and Product subject support teams to support the success of the ongoing operational viability, performance and continuous improvement of AQA’s products and associated commercial outcomes.
Cross-Group collaboration: Working closely with teams from across the AQA group to ensure that they remain fully informed of AQA Education’s strategic direction and aligned where appropriate. This will include liaison with OxfordAQA.
Performance Metrics: Leadership of the Product Management team, to define and analyse key metrics including both leading and lagging indicators of performance to measure success, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Management: Act as a product evangelist to build awareness and understanding across internal teams and external stakeholders. Lead the Product Management team and provide support to the Subject Support team, to engage with key stakeholders across the education sector, including educators, students, policymakers and regulatory bodies, to ensure AQA's products meet evolving educational needs.
Pricing: Accountable for Pricing Strategy, Pricing Framework and Annual Product Level Forecast and their approval by stakeholders.
Publishing and Qualification Support Materials: Management of AQA's Publishing Partnerships and the development of Qualification Support Materials, aligning them with our strategic objectives.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have/know:
Extensive experience in product management or educational product development, with a track record of sustained success. Experience of working within a regulated environment is highly desirable.
Proven leadership and management experience with the ability to inspire, coach and mentor teams, building a talent pipeline within the business.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Passion for education and a commitment to improving learning outcomes through assessment.
Strong analytical skills and a data-driven thinking approach.
Deep understanding of the education sector, particularly in England, including regulatory and compliance requirements related to examinations and qualifications is highly desirable.

About You:
You are a customer centric and commercially strategic minded leader, adept at navigating change, leading team and transforming processes to achieve excellence.
Your leadership style is characterised by high-level influencing, presentation and relationship-building skills.
You possess a blend of leadership, educational insight, product management expertise.
You are driven by a passion for education and a desire to make a significant impact in order to help AQA fulfil its charitable purpose.