Senior Quality Assurance Manager

Ascentis group; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational charity group based in Lancaster is seeking a Senior Quality Assurance Manager to lead their Quality Assurance team. This role involves ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and continuous improvement in a collaborative environment. Ideal candidates should have significant experience in quality assurance and strong leadership abilities. The position offers a starting salary of £41,666 per annum, flexible working options, and a range of generous benefits including annual leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays

Competitive pension benefits

Flexible working options

Access to informal flexibility

Tailored learning and development opportunities

Discounted gym membership

Employee wellbeing focus

Qualifications

• Significant experience in quality assurance.
• Proven experience managing quality assurance systems and leading teams.
• Ability to work flexibly and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Quality Assurance team to optimize operational effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and drive continuous improvement.
• Build relationships with centres for guidance on quality issues.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Experience in change management

Ability to develop high performing teams

Education

Degree or equivalent professional qualification

Job description

Starting Salary: £41,666 per annum

Job Type:Permanent, full-time

Working pattern:35 hours per week across Monday to Friday. Minimum 2 days in office are required (Mondays and Tuesdays), and Fridays are company-wide wfh days. Flexible working options will be considered.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Quality Assurance Manager to lead and develop our Quality Assurance team. Reporting to the Head of Awarding and Quality Assurance, you will manage all aspects of quality assurance, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and driving continuous improvement.

We are seeking an enthusiastic dedicated professional to join a passionate and collaborative team that values quality, innovation, and customer service. As Senior Quality Assurance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining the standards that underpin our qualifications. If you thrive on leading teams, solving complex problems, and working in a fast‑paced environment where no two days are the same, this role is for you.

You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation and external partners to ensure our processes are robust, compliant, and continuously improving. Your expertise will help us deliver an exceptional experience for our centres and learners, while meeting the highest regulatory standards.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and manage Quality Assurance Managers and External Quality Assurance colleagues to optimise operational effectiveness.
• Oversee quality assurance systems and processes, ensuring they remain fit for purpose and compliant with Ofqual, CCEA, Qualifications Wales, and QAA requirements.
• Build strong relationships with centres, providing guidance and support on quality issues.
• Monitor and manage resources to deliver the operational plan for regulated and customised provision.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure compliance and support product development.
• Investigate and resolve compliance queries, including malpractice and appeals.
• Represent Ascentis at local, regional, and national events, including those held by regulators.

The full Job Description can be found by clicking here.

So, what are you waiting for?

If you like the sound of the role and the organisation, and you think the below attributes describe you well, then we would love to hear from you.

• A degree or equivalent professional qualification, or significant experience in quality assurance.
• Proven experience managing quality assurance systems and leading teams.
• Proven ability to lead change management and optimise productivity.
• Experience of developing and maintaining high performing teams
• Strong analytical skills and ability to compile and interpret data.
• Excellent communication skills and a commitment to outstanding customer service.
• Ability to work flexibly, travel within the UK (and occasionally overseas), and manage competing priorities.

Further information

Closing date: 30 January at 12 noon

Interview date: 9 February

Interviews will be held in-person at our head office in Lancaster.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Jo Percival, Head of Awarding and Quality Assurance, at [e-mail].

We reserve the right to close the job vacancy early if we find an appointable candidate or receive a high volume of applicants.

This job may meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for visa sponsorship.

About us

We are proud to be one of the UK’s leading educational charity groups, encompassing an awarding organisation, a provider of dyslexia intervention software and an online training organisation. Our enthusiastic people bring genuine passion and natural energy to everything that they do and through their infectious energy they transform the lives of thousands of people each year through the power of education. It has never been a more exciting time to join The Ascentis Group as we continue our journey of growth across the UK and overseas.

We are market leading in the education sector and the specialist areas we operate within, maintaining the #1 provision for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in the UK as well as being a leading Access Validating Agency. We are based in Lancaster but we have a national reach, with a significant customer base in London. We have recently secured two major achievements, winning the Innovation of the Year and Awarding Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Federation of Awarding Bodies awards.

The Ascentis Group is made up of brilliant people, unique in terms of background, personality, characteristics, experience and skill. We value our people for the differences they bring to the table and believe this is powerful. We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

To find out what our employees have to say about working at Ascentis watch the video found here.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays, birthday day off, closure days gifted during the Christmas period, increased annual leave with long service and an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (up to a maximum of 43 days)
• Competitive pension benefits, including a salary sacrifice scheme
• Access to Informal Flexibility, allowing you to flex your working times and location where viable
• Incremental service benefits as a family-friendly employer, including enhanced Maternity, Neonatal, Paternity, Shared Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay, Sick Pay, Life Insurance, and Paid Compassionate Leave
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art office and break facilities, such as bean‑to‑cup coffee machine, vending machine, pool table, Xbox, outdoor seating, dressing room (with access to hair dryers, straighteners, airers, shower facilities), Harry Potter reading room, employee library and more
• Free parking, locked bike storage shed
• Access to car electric charging points (charges payable by employee)
• Tailored learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Home and Tech Scheme
• Discounted gym membership at 3-1-5 Health Club
• 24‑hour employee helpline and a proactive focus on wellbeing
• Aviva DigiCare+ health app with access to virtual GP appointments, annual health check and more
• Reward and recognition scheme, regular team building and communication activities

Do you like the sound of Ascentis, but think your skills might suit another role?

We also have other vacancies available. Take a look at our website for more! www.ascentis.co.uk/jobs