We are currently recruiting an Assessment Delivery Manager for a Permanent contract.
This role is hybrid, both working from home and in our Oxford hub. We expect you to be in the hub weekly, with daily attendance at the hub during exam season for about 2-3 weeks in April and September.
We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly between home and the hub to suit their needs and preferences, in line with our hybrid working policy.
Colleagues are able to work their hours flexibly, in line with core business hours and requirements. We also offer formalised flexible working agreements.
The starting salary is £52,630.
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to HRsupport@actuaries.org.uk by the closing date of 29 January.
Interviews will take place I the week commencing 10 February.
Reporting into the Head of Assessment Delivery, the Assessment Delivery Manager plays a key role in both delivering the current assessment processes and identifying new assessment techniques and risks and implementing change as appropriate. The post holder will ensure the learners of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) experience a fair, consistent, and modern assessment service whilst maintaining the integrity of the qualifications offered.
Working with the examiners and IFoA colleagues the post holder will lead the delivery of several assessments within the remit of the team. This includes the preparation of the assessment, and supporting materials through to checking, reporting and analysis of the assessment results to support the Board meetings and subsequent release of these to the IFoA learners and ensuring they are accurately reflected in the IFoA database.
The post holder will support the Head of Assessment Delivery in researching and developing assessment processes and technologies to enable the IFoA to deliver growth in candidate numbers, manage potential risks and continue to enhance the learner experience.
There are over 15,000 learners who are registered to sit the assessments relating to the IFoA qualifications. There are 26 assessments which run twice a year plus a further 3 assessments which can be sat throughout the year relating to the IFoA qualifications. All these assessments must be added accurately onto the exam platforms in sufficient time for the assessment to take place on the agreed date.
The role will have responsibility for the accuracy of the assessment data of the learners entered onto the internal and external platforms working with external suppliers and IFoA colleagues to deliver all key assessment processes within the agreed dates. There are over 400 external examiners and markers that support this work whom the post holder will be engaging with.
To support this work the Assessment Delivery Manager has four direct reports and will be monitoring a budget of £10M.
To support the Head of Assessment Delivery in the management and planning of the assessment provision and represent them at meetings as required.
To manage the authoring of the exam questions onto the exam platform, ensuring that the process is carried out within the required timeframes and to the set standards. Liaise with colleagues involved in this process and ensure they understand the deadlines they must work to.
To manage the delivery of the assessments, ensuring that the process is carried out within the required timeframes and to the set standards. Liaise with any external providers or personnel involved in this process and ensure they understand what their responsibilities are and the deadlines they must work to.
To provide guidance as required to Senior Assessment Executives delivering 2nd line support to candidates, external suppliers and invigilators during live examinations. Providing guidance on, but not limited to, complex student queries, issues concerning academic aspects of the assessment, regulations, marking schemes and criteria, syllabus, and results.
To manage the collation of exam marking to ensure that examiners can produce the results information within set deadlines. To review the various examiner reports received for accuracy and suitability to the intended audience revising with the author, as necessary. To analyse the results received and use this to provide key reports to several decision-making groups highlighting trends, issues and any actions required.
To manage the delivery of the processes that ensure that candidates receive results, transcripts, and other information within the agreed timescales. Ensure that the team are aware of the risks of handling sensitive information before it is released to safeguard the reputation of the IFoA.
To analyse the performance of Assessment systems, processes, and procedures, proposing improvement recommendations and managing implantation of changes.
To lead the system development, and associated testing protocols, to ensure operational readiness of all platforms that support exam delivery.
To support the Head of Assessment Delivery in driving assessment technology and practices by researching and analysing sector and statutory developments
Line manages the team members and ensure they have the correct skills to deliver a high-quality service and to ensure they receive effective performance and development reviews which provide an overall context and framework. This includes goal setting, feedback, and performance development planning.
Internal:
External:
As a key team within the Engagement and Learning group, Assessment Delivery provides assurances that those acquiring the IFoA Associate or Fellowship qualification have completed the required assessments whilst maintaining the integrity of the exams. The Assessment Delivery Manager plays a key role in this area managing a wide-ranging portfolio including management of complex examination systems, handling complex student queries, analysis and reporting on candidate trends and outcomes. Through their professional administration of the services provided, they will identify and put in place measures to mitigate risks, prepare communications, interrogate the database, and network with external personnel. They will be ensuring the IFoA delivers a modern and progressive assessment service by awareness of developments in assessment technology and good practice in the HE and professional body sectors. Any errors relating to the assessment area are very high profile and tend to attract attention from high level committees and volunteers and potentially external stakeholders such as the FRC (Financial Reporting Council) and employers.
The post holder is expected to work independently with little input from their line manager and will need to ensure that standards are met within the required timescales.
The post holder can affect change, propose, and implement agreed processes or procedures to enhance the experience of interaction with the IFoA in academic assessment.
The post holder must be able to analyse and interpret complex data, deciding on what is relevant to guide the delivery of key outcomes.
The post holder has to be able to appropriately apply regulations, policies and procedures in a busy and fast-moving environment and judge when to diversify from those without putting the reputation of the IFoA at risk.
The post holder needs to be able to engage and gain the respect and cooperation of both staff and external personnel at all levels.
Essential:
Desirable:
Travel to main location approximately once a week. Travel to other locations events will be required (approx. twice a year with occasional overnight stays). The role does require some out of hours working during the sessions and the following weeks to support the delivery of the assessment and results (approx. 6 weeks in total twice a year).
The role holder must be an ambassador for and demonstrate the IFoA Values in all aspects of their work.
Please email the HR Team if you require:
Any information shared will be used only to enable us to make reasonable adjustments to support candidates to participate in the recruitment process. It will not inform selection decisions.
You can reach us at HRsupport@actuaries.org.uk.
The IFoA encourages applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experience and welcomes diversity with regard not only to protected characteristics but also diversity of thought. Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than just words for us. That’s why we are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels included and respected, and where no one is unfairly discriminated against. Consequently, we promote diversity, equity and inclusion in all our policies, practices and procedures, and actively encourage applications from a diverse range of potential candidates. All applications for our roles are considered on merit alone, and if you don’t meet all the criteria but believe you have something to offer, we want to hear from you. For more information on our commitments, please see our DEI strategy page.
If you have any questions for the HR Team, please email us.
We aim to respond to all initial enquiries within 3 working days.