Application Support 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 Support 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 a proactive application support function for AQA’s growing technology portfolio.

This is a new senior leadership role with the freedom to shape how AQA supports and manages its enterprise applications. You’ll move the function towards proactive service excellence, ensuring reliable, resilient and well-governed live services that give users the support they need.

The portfolio includes Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Workday and enterprise AI, with scope continuing to grow. You’ll join the Enterprise Applications leadership team and lead the application support function.

You’ll bring together internal teams, service owners and suppliers, put governance and customer experience at the centre of live service and ensure new and changed applications can move smoothly into support.

• leading the application support function and developing its people, with clear expectations and a focus on continuous improvement
• defining and improving end-to-end support and application management processes across the portfolio
• keeping governance, audit, risk, resilience and continuity at the centre of live service
• providing proactive support and clear communications for system users and citizen developers
• planning demand, priorities, capacity and the right blend of internal and third-party resources
• holding suppliers to account for quality, value, pace, risk and agreed outcomes
• designing support models for new applications and ensuring effective transition from change delivery into live service

You’ll combine service leadership with a proactive customer mindset, using evidence to make decisions and helping others navigate competing priorities.

• demonstrable experience leading an enterprise application support or IT service management function, including internal teams and third-party partners
• expert applied knowledge of application management and governance, including audit, risk, resilience and continuity
• a practical understanding of ITIL and service management principles. ITIL certification is welcome but equivalent practical knowledge will also be considered
• knowledge of supporting cloud-based SaaS products, ideally including Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Workday or enterprise AI, or comparable platforms
• the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and improve supplier and service performance

• the opportunity to build a modern support function, influence a growing technology portfolio and make a meaningful contribution to education while developing 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 shape support for a growing SaaS portfolio, including emerging AI capabilities and citizen development
• 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…