Current job vacancy:
- Head of Communications
About JCQ
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) is a community interest company which represents eight leading awarding organisations in the UK: AQA, CCEA, City & Guilds, NCFE, OCR, Pearson, SQA and WJEC/Eduqas. JCQ exists to establish and communicate common arrangements for taking exams and assessments, 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.
About the role
JCQ’s Head of Communications role is an essential senior role within JCQ. The appointee will interface with JCQ Board members and key external stakeholders, including regulators and government departments across the UK. The appointee will proactively lead, develop and implement JCQ’s communications strategy and annual plan of communication activity, together with supporting JCQ members in delivering annual programmes of work. The role includes: oversight of JCQ’s website; monthly newsletters to circa 7,000 schools and colleges across the UK; targeted campaigns on key exam administration topics; managing JCQ’s national media profile including the publication of JCQ qualification results and leading on relationships with press and communications colleagues in all of the organisations JCQ works with on a regular basis.
The Head of Communications will be responsible for inspiring, leading and developing JCQ’s approach to communication with stakeholders, media and the public. They will be an inspirational ambassador for JCQ and represent JCQ at external conferences and different media channels.
About you
The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be resilient and able to secure support on new initiatives with an outcomes based and creative approach to drive forward JCQ’s communications services. As a leader at JCQ you will champion and model JCQ’s values-based competencies. Ideally the candidate will have experience of working in an awarding body, the education sector, or government department type role.
What we offer
- Salary: £65,000 – £85,000 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: 3 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.
For any queries please contact recruitment@jcq.org.uk
The closing date for applications which must include a covering letter and a CV is 4 July 2025 4pm.
Shortlisting will take place the week commencing 7 July 2025.
Interviews will be held circa week commencing 21 July 2025 via MS Teams.
Unfortunately, interviews cannot be arranged for alternative dates.
