Associate Director – Strategic Change

About JCQ 

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is a community interest company which represents leading awarding organisations in the UK: AQA; Cambridge OCR; CCEA; City & Guilds; NCFE; Pearson; and WJEC/Eduqas. JCQ exists to establish and communicate common arrangements for most of the exams and assessments offered by the organisations we represent. Every year we issue guidance to schools and colleges to support exam administration with an associated inspection service, to help protect the integrity of exams and assessments. 

JCQ and its members lead a number of shared data services to support the administration of examinations. JCQ interacts with government departments, UK regulators and organisations such as UCAS to help improve data systems across the UK that contribute to analysis of trends and support national projects such as use of the unique learner number.  

JCQ also publishes exam and assessment data for over 1 million learners and circa 6 million qualification results cumulatively across the UK, covering general, vocational and technical qualifications including GCSEs, AS, A levels and T Levels in August and January. Our results data is widely covered across national media channels, and the data is used to help stimulate debate across the education sector and inform national policy developments.  

You can find out more about JCQ in our strategic plan here – JCQ-Strategic-Plan-2025-2030.pdf. 

About the role  

The Associate Director – Strategic Change is a senior leadership role at JCQ, operating in a complex environment and working across the UK education system with awarding organisations, regulators, government departments, and sector partners.  

Areas of work include major qualification‑sector issues such as cyber security, malpractice, AI, VTQ reform, technology developments, and supporting JCQ’s committees to respond to emerging risks. You will also support the CEO, Deputy CEO and Board by monitoring and reporting on delivery of JCQ’s strategic plan. 

The role involves: 

• Leading the development and implementation of JCQ-wide strategic change programmes. 
• Influencing at senior level and representing JCQ in national forums. 
• Supporting designated committee chairs as well as working across all 20+ JCQ committees. 
• Working closely with members who hold specialist expertise across the qualification system. 
• Providing senior oversight of risk management, consultation activity, and system-wide engagement. 
• Deputising for the Chief Executive and Deputy CEO when required. 

About you 

You will bring strong leadership, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to operate confidently in complex policy and regulatory environments.

You will be resilient, proactive in navigating unfamiliar subject areas, and skilled at translating complex issues into practical next steps. 

Ideally you will have experience in national qualification policy, programme management, assessment delivery, or work within awarding organisations, education or government. The Associate Director – Strategic Change is a senior leadership role at JCQ, operating in a complex environment and working across the UK education system with awarding organisations, regulators, government departments, and sector partners.  

What we offer 

• Salary: £65,000 – £87,000 dependent on experience and current package. 
• Annual Leave: 25 days rising by 1 day per full year of service to a maximum of 30 days. 
• Pension: Enrolment in the JCQ pension scheme upon joining the organisation, with an employer contribution of 10%. 
• Home Based:  with occasional travel to stakeholder and company meetings, standard travel costs reimbursed. 
• Life Cover: 4 x annual salary.  
• Family Friendly Policies: Enhanced leave and pay available.  
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health: 24/7 wellbeing support, counselling, mobile app promoting physical and mental wellbeing. 
• Private Healthcare: Private healthcare and cash plan offered to all JCQ staff from first day of employment with no prior health checks or exclusions.