Application Delivery Manager

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.

Application Delivery Manager

Permanent

Manchester

Salary: £77,100 - £87,200

Working arrangements: Hybrid, with two days a week in the office including Thursday as the team anchor day

Shape how enterprise applications change is delivered across AQA.

This is a new senior leadership role with the scope to shape AQA’s Enterprise Applications delivery approach. You’ll bring internal teams, specialist partners and matrix-managed resources together to deliver high-quality, impactful change across a growing software portfolio that includes Dynamics 365, Power Platform and enterprise AI. Your decisions will help AQA maximise our growing technology investment and support the services colleagues and customers rely on to deliver fair assessment for learners.

You’ll join the Enterprise Applications leadership team and lead the functional technology change delivery teams. This is an IT leadership role focused on building Product development delivery capability and achieving business outcomes. You’ll own the view of delivery demand, capacity and capability, make evidence-led choices about priorities and sourcing to optimise the blended operating model that can grow with AQA’s needs.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• leading multidisciplinary internal Functional teams, supplier partners and matrix-managed business analysis and testing resources as one coordinated delivery function
• agreeing priorities and allocating capacity across strategic projects, product enhancements and releases
• resolving resource pressures, challenging unrealistic demand and escalating material risks with clear options
• holding internal teams and delivery partners to account for quality, pace, value, risk and agreed outcomes
• strengthening Agile delivery, governance, quality assurance, testing, release management and documentation
• building a forward view of demand, skills, capacity and sourcing needs as the application portfolio grows
• coaching your direct reports, developing capability and creating clear ownership for successful transition into live service

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

You’ll be comfortable making decisions across a complex portfolio while bringing people with you and keeping the focus on achievable outcomes.

• demonstrable experience leading enterprise SaaS application delivery teams, including internal specialists and third-party partners
• knowledge of cloud SaaS change delivery, ideally across Dynamics 365, Power Platform or enterprise AI, or closely transferable platforms
• knowledge of optimal uses of AI within enterprise solutions and to enhance software delivery processes
• expert applied knowledge of change delivery methods, including Agile, and tools such as Azure DevOps
• evidence of prioritising competing demand, allocating constrained resources and turning strategy into realistic delivery plans
• the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and lead people through change

What’s in it for you?

The opportunity to shape an evolving function, influence important technology decisions and make a meaningful contribution to education while growing your leadership impact.

• a 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days
• a benefits package including up to 11.5% pension contribution, Bupa healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities
• the chance to lead change across a growing enterprise SaaS portfolio and help embed AI-enabled improvement
• an inclusive, values-led culture with employee networks including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What’s Next?

Apply with your CV and a cover letter.

Application deadline: 26th October

Interviews: Two stages are anticipated. The first is expected to be an online competency and technical interview w/c 2/11. The final stage will be face to face in our Manchester office w/c 9/11.

#STEC

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 leadership and accountability for the Enterprise Applications change delivery team, ensuring internal teams, supplier partners and matrix-managed functions, operate as an integrated delivery function, aligned to AQA’s strategic priorities.
To apply best practice change approaches to define, drive, evolve and embed the change delivery model to maximize delivery efficiency, effectiveness and output excellence, ensuring strategic projects, continuous Improvement enhancements and functionality releases are delivered efficiently, safely and in support of business priorities.Landscape:
The Enterprise Applications portfolio is experiencing increasing demand for application enhancements, strategic project change, platform evolution and AI-enabled capability. The volume, complexity and pace of change are increasing as the application landscape and functionality expands, and organisational priorities evolve.
Reporting into the Head of Enterprise Applications and part of the Enterprise Apps Leadership team, this role manages and drives the team change delivery engine. Using both internal and 3rd party resource, this includes direct line management of internal Senior Functional Consultants and matrix management of Analyst & Test functions. The role works closely with the Product and Support areas of the team to ensure products in the Enterprise Apps portfolio deliver maximum value and benefit for our customers and stakeholders across the organisation and, where applicable, the Group. Wider stakeholders include colleagues in Enterprise and Assessment Technology, Change Programme/ Portfolio Managers and business teams. Core products in the current stack include Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Enterprise AI. The product stack coverage within the remit may expand and evolve over time
The change delivery approaches must support AQA’s ongoing alignment with legal/ regulatory requirements and standards such as UK GDPR, ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. Active risk management and robust continuity planning are key to this provision of reliable and secure applications

Activities:
· Lead Product Functional Delivery Teams, external delivery partners and matrix managed support teams as a streamlined, co-ordinated function to ensure maximum velocity, high quality outcomes.
· Define, implement, drive and evolve the change delivery approach in line with best practice, and continually improve ways of working to ensure delivery efficiency, pace and output excellence.
· Provide clear delivery leadership by making evidence-based prioritisation decisions, challenging unrealistic demand, resolving resource contention and escalating material risks and delivery challenges with recommended options.
· Develop and maintain a forward view of delivery demand, capability, capacity and sourcing needs, ensuring the change delivery model remains fit for strategic priorities and future portfolio growth.
· Ensure ongoing delivery of maximised product value aligned with strategic objectives. Manage resource contentions accordingly.
· Own supplier delivery performance for assigned change activity, ensuring partners are held to account for quality, pace, value, risk management and agreed outcomes.
· Proactively anticipate, identify and address capability and resource development needs/ gaps
· Design, cost and implement appropriate change delivery models for new applications as they arise
· Work with inputs from Senior Functionals and Product Management to translate business demands, priorities and functional opportunities into deliverable change.
· Collaborate with Programme and Portfolio leads to align strategic delivery outcomes.
· Drive delivery governance, quality assurance (incl. documentation) and continual improvement, supporting AQA’s ongoing alignment with legal/ regulatory requirements and standards.
· Where business needs change, undertake other responsibilities of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile

Key Accountabilities:
· Ensure coordinated performance of direct reports, supplier resources and matrix-managed delivery teams, ensuring clear ownership, effective prioritisation and reliable delivery outcomes.
· Successful delivery of ongoing pipeline of projects, enhancements and releases in line with strategic and business objectives - high quality outcomes at pace.
· Achieve appropriate balance of strategic, project and Continuous Improvement level change
· Visible, accountable leadership of multidisciplinary teams, setting clear expectations, developing capability, coaching performance and creating a culture of ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement.
· Accountable for developing team capability, performance standards and succession strength.
· Optimal utilisation of internal capability and delivery partners to leverage skillsets & capacity.
· Excellent stakeholder engagement and management – need to communicate, negotiate, influence and challenge effectively
· Delivery quality, governance, testing and release management. Proactive risk and continuity management
· Accountable for translating strategic priorities and data driven decision making into realistic delivery plans and measurable outcomes.
· Drive the continuous improvement of delivery capability, approaches and standards, proactively implement innovations e.g. use of AI.
· Successful transition of changes into live service.

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:
Essential Criteria
· Experience leading successful enterprise SaaS application delivery teams, including managing multidisciplinary internal teams and partners (3rd parties)
· Strong commercial, governance and risk management judgement.
· Ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively where priorities, scope or resources are misaligned.
· Expert level product knowledge of SaaS products including Dynamics 365, Power Platform, AI tools (copilot studio, foundry). Microsoft certification preferred.
· Expert knowledge of best practice change delivery methodologies (incl. Agile), standards and tools (incl. Azure DevOps).
· Experience holding suppliers and delivery partners to account for outcome-based performance.
· Programme/ project management skillset – cross portfolio planning & delivery experience.
· Exceptional interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement, influence and negotiation.
· Agile/ Project Management certifications
· ITIL certified

About Us

AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year. Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential. As part of AQA, you’ll very quickly appreciate the determination and unwavering passion to deliver this goal in everything we do. To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.

Reasonable Adjustments

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the role, please contact the recruiter named in the vacancy advert or your interview correspondence. They will work with you to ensure the appropriate support is in place and that the process is as accessible and equitable as possible.

If you're unsure who your recruiter is, or can't reach them, contact Faye Harrison (she/her) at fharrison@aqa.org.uk or 07813 724161, and she'll direct you to the right person.

Please note that Faye cannot assist with temporary vacancy enquiries or non-recruitment matters. For temporary vacancies, contact temprecruit@aqa.org.uk.

Smart Working

We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.

Diversity and inclusion

AQA is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Conflict of Interest

Please note that due to the confidential nature of our work, we are unable to employ people for our temporary roles who are currently a candidate for Key Stage 4 and 5 public examinations.

Safeguarding

AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. We’re dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly.

For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website here.

Contact

Temporary roles: temprecruit@aqa.org.uk
Permanent and Fixed Term roles: opportunities@aqa.org.uk

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