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.

Lead Administrator

Permanent

Guildford: £25,000 – £27,900

Hybrid Working

Are you looking for a role which varies throughout the year, one where you are continually learning?

This Lead Administrator role sits within the Centre Inspection Service. You will be one of the team who liaise with, and support, schools and colleges who deliver exams, to ensure they are compliant with examination regulations as laid out by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).

If you have strong customer service experience, this could be the job for you. Attention to detail is necessary at all times and there are lots of factors to consider when making recommendations and creating reports. You will be great at multi tasking – responding to emails, data administration, creating reports and keeping to deadlines. You will like variety, following the end to end process, dealing with different things at different times of the year. You need to be able to keep a level head, the workload can be varied and fast paced.

Please note that peak times for this team are the main examination seasons (typically mid April to the end of June and November each year)

What’s in it for me?

• A small, dedicated team of 8 core colleagues who all work together to ensure consistency of approach
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are ensuring students are treated fairly in the course of their examinations
• A hybrid working arrangement with an average of 2 days a week in the office
• The ability to pay up to 18.5% into your pension including employer contributions
• 25 days annual leave (rising with service) with Christmas and bank holidays on top
• Private Medical Insurance and a Health Care Cash Plan Reward

What will I need to succeed?

• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 including SharePoint, Outlook and Teams
• To be highly organised with a real eye for details
• Have customer service and communicating with stakeholders high on your list of skills
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with a range of individuals and external stakeholders
• Confidence to lead and mentor the administrators, identifying process improvements
• To be confident in handling objections in a professional and tactful manner.

How to apply:

Upload your CV and a cover letter explaining why you would be the best person for this job.

All applications will be responded to. Applications will close at 23:59 on Monday 3 February

Interviews will be face to face in the Guildford Office (GU2 7SX) in the week beginning 10th February 2025

#CRE23

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

Working with the management and administrative teams supporting the JCQ CIS to deliver the service required by JCQ.

The JCQ CIS work is undertaken by AQA on behalf of the JCQ Awarding Bodies as a contract which runs until August 2020.Section 1 – Accountabilities

Key result areas:

Customer (external or internal)

Being trusted and reliable in assessment design and delivery

Together with the Team Manager, to act as the identified point of contact for other Awarding Bodies.

To assist the Team Manager with the arrangements for the appointment of Inspectors and the despatch of material required by Inspectors in order to undertake visits to centres.

To assist the Team Manager to plan, control and monitor the work of the department efficiently within the constraints of the budget.

Within the overall management of the JCQ CIS work, to take responsibility for the arrangements for and reporting of Access Arrangements visits, inspections of vocational exams and any potential future developments as required.

To take responsibility on behalf of AQA for the planning, allocation and reporting on inspections for centres overseas with all its associated tasks.

Cash (finances)

Ensuring sound financial management and a robust asset base

Planning and coordination for the most efficient use of resources whilst maintaining a background awareness of the need for timeliness, and JCQ-contractual compliance, under the direction of a line manager.

Product and internal processes

Contribute to the Project Library, ensuring that all project related documentation is carefully filed and easily retrievable.

Delivering quality products and outcomes – as recognised by the customer

To contribute to the control, direction and monitoring of the complete cycle of work that is the responsibility of the JCQ Inspection Service team assisting the Team Manager.

To contribute to the maintenance of issues and risk logs associated with the project and to provide timely information to the Project Manager.

People and culture

Ensuring we have great people achieving their potential

To contribute to the training and development of staff within the team.

Technology

Delivering demonstrably secure, reliable, agile and cost-effective systems

To make an appropriate input into the development of IT systems for the JCQ Centre Inspection Service.

Government and external

Providing timely, valued insight and evidence that inform policy

To follow-up communications with centres subsequent to inspections and to support the production of summary reports of Inspections for other Awarding Bodies.

To deal with feedback and contact queries about Inspections, liaising with the Team Manager to ensure a prompt and high quality service including telephone cover for the JCQ Centre Inspection Service.

Working with the management team to provide support and liaison between the work of Centre Registration in AQA, NCNR and the work of JCQ CIS.

Section 2 – Key relationships and performance

Key internal relationships:

Team members, malpractice investigators and case analysts, other departments within AQA.

Key external relationships:

Heads of centre, Chairs of Governors, Exams Officers, other awarding bodies’ malpractice teams, JCQ secretariat.

Key performance indicators:

As determined in consultation with line manager.

Section 3 – Person profile

Knowledge

Understanding of a range of manual and electronic administrative systems – A/T/I

Sound knowledge of office procedures and practices – A/I

Good literacy and numeracy – A/T

Qualifications

General academic or vocational qualification or demonstrable experience for the required role – A

Skills

Supervises the work of a group of staff, including planning, allocating, scheduling and monitoring work – A/P

Plans of an area of work and/or project – A/I

Ability to work with limited supervision – A/P

Promotes good customer care within the section to deliver efficient and excellent customer service to JCQ colleagues as specified in the SLA – A/I/T/P

Trains and encourages staff, contributing to their development – A/P

Identifies and implements change and improvement to systems and procedures relevant to the area of work – A/P

Communicates effectively both orally and in writing – A/I/T

Contributes to the activities required to meet budget constraints – P

Contributes to the speedy resolution of problems – A/I/P

Behaviours

Treating everyone well and with empathy – I/P

Working together – I/P

Openness and honesty – I/P

Abiding by commitments – I/P

Continuous learning and improvement – I/P

Acting in best interests of AQA – I/P

Optimism and determination – I/P

Valuing everyone’s expertise – I/P

Experience

Experience of supervising groups of staff and/or an area of work – A

Experience of managing data on an IT system – A

Planning and revising the scheduling and programmes of work – A

Working in a busy office environment, managing work to deadlines – A

Assessment key (criteria to be assessed at the selection stage)

A – application (it is essential to provide evidence on application for shortlisting purposes)

I – interview

T – test (or work sample)

P – probation

Additional

As post holders will or may be visiting customers and centres, there is a requirement for them to complete a Child Safeguarding Declaration in line with the AQA Child Protection Policy.

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