Research Administrator

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.

Job title: Research Administrator
Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Manchester: £24,600 – £26,000

Guildford: £25,600 – £27,000

Hybrid Working (min 2 days in office each week)

Are you ready to support digital assessment trials and work directly with schools to bring new assessment approaches to life?

You will support the delivery of new assessment products by working closely with schools, colleges and internal teams to deliver research trials. Your focus will be on ensuring trials run smoothly, centres are effectively engaged, and digital systems are set up to support high quality outcomes for learners.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Managing customer engagement and assessment trials, ensuring centres are effectively onboarded and supported throughout participation
• Setting up and administering on-screen assessment systems, working with internal teams and partners to deliver trials and results
• Organising research documentation such as consent forms and surveys, while identifying opportunities to improve processes and quality of outcomes
• Supporting recruitment and retention of trialling centres, managing their onboarding, engagement, and participation in assessment trials

What we are looking for

• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels
• Experience working with customers and managing engagement both remotely and face to face
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Familiarity with digital tools such as Teams or Zoom and confidence working with online systems
• Awareness of project or trial-based work and a flexible approach to changing priorities

You will thrive in this role if you are organised, adaptable and confident working with people and digital systems.

What’s in it for you

This is an opportunity to do meaningful work while developing your skills in a supportive environment:

• Work directly with schools and colleges to deliver innovative assessment products
• Develop skills in trial coordination, stakeholder engagement and digital systems
• Gain exposure to digital assessment and product development
• Benefit from flexible working and work-life balance
• Be part of an inclusive and collaborative culture

Diversity and inclusion statement

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.

Application process

To apply, please submit your CV along with a short supporting statement outlining how your skills and experience align with the role.
Application deadline: Wednesday 10 June at 11:59pm.
Interviews will take place in the week commencing 29 June 2026 and will be held in either the Manchester or Guildford office, depending on your location.

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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

Purpose: To provide administration support to a range of research projects as new digital assessment products are developed and trialled with schools and colleges.Landscape: AQA is a leading exam board and education charity. The work of our business area (Assessment Research & Evaluation) plays a major role in the development, delivery and evaluation of high quality assessment. This role specifically supports our work in the delivery of non-GQ products, which in turn supports AQA’s mission to become the UK’s  pre-eminent  educational assessment organisation and to grow to be ‘more than an exam board’.

Activities:
Manage the customer engagement, support and research activities for the trialling of new assessment products.
Assist with the recruitment and retention of trialling centres, ensuring the customer onboarding journey is effective and robust.
Organise and distribute appropriate research documentation such as consent forms and research surveys
Operate and administer on-screen assessment and learning systems
Work with teams across AQA and partner organisations to set up and configure digital systems to deliver trials to students and assist in the delivery of their results to schools and AQA
Make suggestions for improvement in processes and/or in quality of outcomes.
To comply with AQA policies, and other legislative requirements,
Where business needs change, to undertake responsibilities, which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this job description.
To maintain digital skills to meet business need.

To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
Broad understanding of the educational and business context within which AQA works. Prior experience in a research administration post preferred. 
Strong communication skills – both verbal and written – and the confidence to use these to manage relationships with stakeholders at all levels within AQA and customer organisations.  
Confident in dealing with customers face to face and remotely.  
Persuasion and engagement skills to encourage teachers to becoming research trial participants and advocates for AQA. 
Awareness of project management processes and tools. 
Excellent attention to detail. 
Familiarity with digital communication tools such as Teams/Zoom for product demonstrations and customer meetings. 
Well-developed team working and collaboration skills. 
Open minded flexible and responsive to changing demands with the ability and willingness to challenge the thinking of others and to champion new ways of working.