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.
Resource Lead
Permanent
Manchester: £56,500 - £66,000
Guildford:£60,000 - £68,000
Hybrid working (min 2 days in office each week)
Make confident delivery possible
When the right people are in place at the right time, delivery works. Whenthey’renot, everything slows down.
As our Resource Lead,you’llhelp leaders make confident decisions by giving them a clear view of capacity,capabilityand trade‑offs across a complex transformation programme.
You’llturn data into meaningful insight,really exploring the “so what” element tohelp answer the key question: what can we deliver, when, and with the people we have?
If you enjoy influencing decisions, working across teams, and shaping how large programmes are delivered, this is a role where you can have real impact.
You’llsit at the centre of a large multi-directorate programme, working closely with teams across operations, assessment design, product,HRand finance.
Your focus will be to ensure the right resource is in place at the right time to support delivery across theGeneral QualificationsReform portfolio.
Whatyou’llbe doing
Build andmaintaina clear view of resource demand and capacity across the portfolio
Turn complex data into clear, decision-ready insight for senior leaders-we use Planner Premium and Power BI
Model different resourcing scenarios to support prioritisation and planning
Provide constructive challenge where plans do not align to available capacity
Work with HR and Finance to shape resourcing approaches and solutions
Identifyand communicate resource risks and their impact on delivery
Improve how we forecast,trackand use resource data
Support planning and governance forums with forward-looking insight
What’sin it for you
You’llhave the opportunity to shape how a major programme is planned and deliveredin acollaborative, values-led environment where your insight will influence decisions
You will have25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closureand a35 hourworking week with flexible working
We offer an excellent pension scheme (6%–11.5%), plus PMI, life assurance and health cash planand will have access to development opportunities whenever you need them
There is also theopportunityto be part of inclusive employee networks across AQA(including LGBTQ+, Empowering Women,InterFaith, Parents and Carers, Neurodiversity, Ethnic Diversity and more)
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.
Whatyou’llbring
Forecasting and modelling resource demand and capacity in complex environments
Turning data into clear, practical insight to support decision making
Influencing and building alignment without direct authority
Communicating clearly with senior and non-technical stakeholders
Working confidently where thereisuncertainty or competing priorities
Strong analytical thinking combined with sound judgement
Experience in large transformation programmes, portfolios or regulated environments would be helpful, butisn’tessential.
How to Apply
Ready to help shape how we plan and deliver at scale?
Upload your most recent CV with a cover letter
Applicationswillclose at 23:59 onSunday 7 June 2026.
Interviews will be over2 stageswith shortlisting between, in the week beginning 22 June 2026- 1ststage via Teams 2 ndstage face to face in either the Manchester or Guildford office, whichever is nearest to you
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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.
The Resource Lead ensures that the GQ Reform portfolio has the right skills and capacity available at the right time to deliver agreed outcomes with confidence. The role provides a single, integrated, cross-organisational view of resource demand, capacity, capability constraints and delivery options, enabling informed prioritisation, sequencing and investment decisions across Reform delivery.
Operating at portfolio level, the role is accountable for providing decision ready insight on what can be delivered, when, and at what cost or trade-off. By strengthening forward looking resource planning and scenario modelling, the Resource Lead improves delivery confidence and supports senior leaders to make timely, evidence-based decisions in a complex and evolving Reform environment.The role sits within the Reform Delivery function and works closely across Product, Qualification Development & Accreditation, Assessment & Operations, Finance and HR.
It is a specialist, non-people lead role that operates at portfolio level, bringing authoritative insight into business planning, prioritisation and governance forums. The Resource Lead acts as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing constructive challenge and clear advice on resourcing feasibility, trade-offs, risks and delivery implications across the Reform portfolio.
Activities:
Develop and maintain a single, integrated, portfolio‑level view of Reform resource demand across projects, programmes, products and enabling activities.
Analyse capacity, capability, critical skill dependencies and constraints, translating complexity into clear, decision‑ready insight for senior stakeholders.
Model alternative resource and delivery scenarios to inform prioritisation, sequencing, affordability and investment decisions.
Provide evidence‑based recommendations and constructive challenge where demand is unaligned, unrealistic or unaffordable within current constraints.
Work closely with HR and Finance partners to shape and secure resourcing options across permanent, contingent and prioritised deployment models.
Establish and embed consistent standards and approaches for capturing, maintaining and forecasting resource requirements across the Reform portfolio.
Support business planning, prioritisation and portfolio governance cycles by preparing forward‑looking resourcing insight for formal planning, assurance and decision forums.
Identify, monitor and escalate resourcing and capability risks, clearly articulating impacts on delivery timelines, quality, outcomes and confidence.
Drive continuous improvement in forward‑looking resource data quality, forecasting accuracy, tooling adoption and management information, ensuring insight supports decision‑making rather than status reporting.
Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Reform Delivery by embedding sustainable, consistent approaches to portfolio‑level resource planning.
Support and strengthen existing PMO resource management processes and approaches, while enhancing forward‑looking portfolio‑level insight.
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
Essential Criteria
Proven ability to model and forecast resource demand and capacity across complex delivery environments or portfolios.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into clear insights, options and recommendations for senior and executive stakeholders.
Experience influencing, challenging and collaborating across multiple teams and disciplines without direct authority.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to senior, non-technical and mixed audiences.
Sound judgement and confidence operating in environments with ambiguity, competing priorities and evolving information.
Alignment with AQA values and behaviours.
Desirable Criteria
Experience working within large, multi‑year portfolios, transformation or Reform programmes.
Experience in education, assessment, or other regulated or complex delivery environments.
Familiarity with portfolio, resource or workforce planning approaches and tools (e.g. capacity modelling, scenario planning, PPM or financial planning systems).
Understanding of AQA’s operating model and delivery landscape.
At AQA, we’re proud to be the leading provider of accessible qualifications and support services for teachers and students. We set and mark around half of all GCSEs and A-levels taken in the UK every year; we ask the questions that matter, so that every learner can achieve the results they deserve.
Teachers and learners are at the heart of everything we do. As an independent education charity, any money we make is reinvested back into research so that every learner receives fair and inclusive assessment. We’re always here for our teachers and support them through free training, expert guidance and unbeatable resources. As the most chosen awarding body, we have the biggest teaching community too – teachers are in good company with AQA.
The AQA Group also includes Exampro, TQUK, Project Q, AlphaPlus, Grademaker.
For more information about how AQA handles your personal data please visit https://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/privacy-notice
