Reports to: Qualifications Director
Location: Warrington (Home based with occasional office days)
Contract type: Permanent / Full-time
Purpose of the role:
The Quality Manager will lead the day-to-day quality assurance processes across the development, delivery and assessment of qualifications in line with regulatory requirements. The role ensures that high standards are maintained for assessment validity, reliability, consistency and compliance within NQual.
The Quality Manager will uphold NQual values: Innovation, Maximisation, Passion, Accountability, Collaboration and Trustworthiness.
Key responsibilities:
1. Quality assurance and compliance:
- Develop, implement and maintain quality assurance frameworks and policies
- Ensure compliance with the requirements of regulatory bodies (Ofqual, Department for Education, Skills England)
- Monitor the effectiveness of quality systems and lead continuous improvement initiatives
- Conduct and oversee internal audits and external regulatory audits
- Handling appeals fairly and efficiently, and using feedback to improve the assessment process
2. Assessment and qualification oversight:
- Ensure the integrity, validity and reliability of assessments and qualifications
- Oversee the development and review of assessment materials and marking schemes
- Monitor standardisation, moderation and verification processes
- Support the design and evaluation of assessment strategies, ensuring they meet learning outcomes and regulatory criteria
- Supporting senior management by identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to enhance quality
3. Regulatory engagement:
- Act as a key point of contact for regulators and respond to regulatory consultations and audits
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant regulations and guidance documents
- Ensure timely submission of required reports, notifications and self-assessments to regulators
4. Stakeholder engagement:
- Provide guidance and training to internal staff, assessment writers, and centres on quality assurance processes
- Work collaboratively with product development, operations and compliance teams
- Manage relationships with centres, assessors and quality assurance team
5. Risk Management:
- Identify, evaluate, and manage risks to the quality and integrity of qualifications and assessments
- Maintain accurate records of quality assurance activity and risk logs
6. Leadership and Management:
- Set quality standards, defining assessment processes and ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and best practices
- Monitor consistency, accuracy and adherence to processes and procedures. This often involves observations, sampling and delivering constructive feedback which is meaningful
- Allocate resources effectively to support quality assurance activities
- Provide regular reports to senior management on key metrics, trends and areas of improvement
- Promoting a culture of quality and encouraging staff to identify and implement improvements
- Leading training and development opportunities including leading standardisation and addressing any concerns
Any other duties required by the organisation and deemed appropriate by NQual.
Essential Criteria:
Education and Qualifications:
- Excellent knowledge of key sector regulators and their processes; Ofqual, Department for Education, Skills England.
- External Quality Assurance Qualification
Experience:
- 3+ years’ proven experience of working within the awarding sector within a quality role
- Experience of involvement of the design, delivery and award of qualifications
- Experience of managing or auditing assessments and qualifications
- Demonstratable knowledge of regulatory requirements (Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition)
- EQA experience of 2+ years
Skills and competencies:
- Strong understanding of assessment methodologies, including validity, reliability and standardisation
- Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills
- Strong project and risk management skills
- Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements and guidance
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficient in data analysis and quality monitoring tools
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work with stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data handling tools (Excel, PowerBI)
Regulatory and Quality Knowledge:
- In-depth understanding of regulatory bodies requirements (Ofqual)
- Experience of conducting quality audits and/or reviews
- Familiarity with quality assurance frameworks and continuous improvement models
Desirable criteria:
- Experience with e-assessment systems or digital learning platforms
- Familiarity with apprenticeship standards and End-Point Assessments (EPA)
- Understanding of international educational frameworks
- Confident presentation skills
References will be contacted after the interview stage.
Start date: January 2026
Application process:
Stage 1: Submit CV and Cover Letter (31.07.2025)
Stage 2: Application Review (week commencing 4th August 2025)
Stage 3: Two-stage Interview (week commencing 18th August 2025)
Stage 4: Decision review (week commencing 8th September)
Stage 5: Reference check (2 references to be supplied)
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £40,000.00-£47,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Work from home
Schedule:
Experience:
- EQA: 2 years (preferred)
- awarding sector: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Warrington WA2 8LT
Application deadline: 31/07/2025