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.

Regional Sales Manager - Central Region

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Home-based within the Midlands, East Anglia & M4 Corridor Region

Salary Central: £72,600 to £82,600
Working arrangements: Home-based with regular travel across the region to schools, colleges, customer locations and AQA offices.

 

Midlands, East Anglia & M4 Corridor Region
Including Birmingham, the West and East Midlands, East Anglia, Essex and key centres along the M4 Corridor.

Due to the size of the territory and travel requirements of the role, candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and be able to travel extensively throughout the region.

 

You will lead AQA's Central Region sales team, supporting schools and colleges across one of our most strategically important territories.

 

About the role

This is a significant leadership role with responsibility for leading and developing a team of Account Managers to deliver excellent customer outcomes and regional sales performance.

 

You'll work closely with schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts across the region, helping customers make informed decisions about AQA's qualifications, training and support services.

 

You'll play a key role in shaping a newly formed regional structure, helping establish its culture, approach and performance from the outset. As a member of the Commercial Leadership Team, you'll help shape regional and commercial strategy while strengthening AQA's relationships with schools, colleges and trusts during a period of significant change across education.

 

Purpose of the role

To lead and develop a high-performing regional sales team that delivers outstanding customer relationships, sustainable sales growth and increased market insight across the Central Region.

You'll create a positive performance culture, build strong customer relationships and use insight and data to identify opportunities that support both customer success and business growth.

 

What's in it for you?

Our qualifications support learners across the UK, and the work you'll do will directly influence the experience of schools, colleges and educators during a period of significant change across education.

 

In this role, you'll receive:

• A 35-hour working week and 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service, plus bank holidays and additional closure days around Christmas
• An excellent contributory pension scheme, with combined contributions of up to 18.5%
• Private medical insurance and access to AQA's Health Care Cash Reward Plan
• The option to join the Electric Vehicle Leasing Scheme
• Up to 5 paid volunteering days each year
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• The opportunity to shape a newly formed regional structure and influence its future direction
• Membership of the Commercial Leadership Team, contributing to wider commercial strategy
• The opportunity to support schools and colleges through a period of significant curriculum and qualification change

 

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a regional team of Account Managers
• Create a high-performing culture aligned to AQA's values and expectations
• Drive regional sales performance and customer retention
• Support performance management, capability development and succession planning across the team
• Build and maintain relationships with schools, colleges, trusts and other education stakeholders
• Use sales, market and customer insight to inform decision-making and improve performance
• Work closely with Key Account Management colleagues to support strategic customer relationships
• Act as a customer escalation point where required
• Contribute to commercial leadership initiatives, projects and campaigns

 

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience leading, coaching and developing sales or customer-facing teams
• A consultative approach to customer engagement and relationship management
• Experience using insight, data and performance measures to drive results
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams
• The ability to balance customer needs with commercial objectives

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Experience supporting schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts or wider education stakeholders
• Experience leading geographically dispersed or field-based teams
• Experience managing performance and developing team capability through coaching
• Experience operating within a customer-focused commercial environment

 

What next? Application process

Please upload your CV and Cover letter with your motivations and transferable skills outline, along with completing the short application questions as part of your application.

Closing date: 23:59 Sunday 11th October 2026

The selection process is expected to include:

• A pre-screening call with a recruiter
• A first-stage Teams interview
• A final-stage face-to-face assessment, including a presentation exercise

Outcomes are expected to be delivered by the end of October , early November 2026.

We're committed to providing a positive candidate experience and all applicants will receive a written outcome following their application.

 

Please note, this post is exempt from the ROA 1974 and enhanced DBS checks will be required for the successful candidate.

If you are currently working in a school or college, we will honour contractual notice periods.

If you are currently an AQA Associate, you would be required to relinquish your Associate role upon successful appointment.

Our commitment to inclusion

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 people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

#STEC

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

The Regional Sales Manager is a business critical role responsible for the growth of AQA’s customer base within their region, including sales and gross profit performance and operational expenses budget. They manage and lead a multidisciplinary sales team with responsibility for the coaching, development and performance of the team collectively and as individual contributors.

Whilst the primary purpose of the role is the leadership of the regional sales team, the regional sales manager acts as an ambassador for the business in facilitating the existence of strong partnerships between key regional customers and the wider organisation.

Collaboration across the business functions is pivotal to the success of the organisation as a whole and the RSM is expected to develop strong internal relationships and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders across the organisation to enhance overall sales performance.Activities:

The role holder will be expected to be responsible for the following:

Creating a culture within the region which is aligned to AQA’s culture and values, ensuring the highest morale and ethical standards of conducting business are maintained 
Acting as a role model for AQA’s culture and values
Achievement of regional sales and gross profit (GP) targets
Adept at problem solving and coaching others through problems, supported by analytical abilities, to make fact based decisions.
Ability to anticipate, lead and encourage innovation and strong change management capabilities.
Management of operational expenses budget and achievement of regional profit target
Optimal deployment of sales resources and roles across the region to achieve the regional sales and GP targets most efficiently and within the regional operational expenses and headcount budgets
Identify opportunities and creating business cases for regional sales and GP acceleration initiatives and enhancement of the customer experience
Providing the regional sales team with inspiration and clear direction and support regarding the implementation of key strategic initiatives and the sales strategy
Recruitment, on-boarding, coaching, development, and performance management of all regional sales team to deliver on their key performance indicators and achieve sales and GP targets
Allocation of regional targets within Company guidelines and assisting with forecasting
Using sales data, activity data and available business tools, alongside qualitative information to coach and support regional TMs to enhance sales effectiveness
Conducting meetings such as Clear Review Business Check-In’s; Clear Review Personal Check-In’s and Development Plan meetings, documenting outcomes in Clear Review
Allocation of time to optimise time spent in the field with sales team and customers to enhance the implementation of the sales strategy
Ensuring strong relationships exist with key customers within the region
Demonstrating a high degree of business acumen and consultative, collaborative and customer-centric selling skills in order to role model and develop the sales strategy and enhance the customer experience
Ensuring that the sales team deliver the highest level of customer experience
Contribute to the evolution of the sales strategy through active participation in sales leadership team meetings, initiatives and projects
Attend all relevant exhibitions and seminars as and when required
Participate in all appropriate training initiatives and sales meetings as required
Provide timely and accurate reporting as determined by the needs of the business
Maintain strong, professional relationships with key internal and external vendor partners
Participates in special projects and performs other duties as required.
Demonstrates a high level of integrity with the ability to deal with confidential information in an appropriate and sensitive way.


Skills and experience:

To succeed in this role:

B 2 B Sales Leadership experience highly desirable
Relevant market knowledge highly desirable
Coaching and Leadership capabilities highly desirable 


Person Specification:

We believe the type of person best suited to this role will:

High ethical standards
Ability to lead, provide clarity to and inspire a high performing team
Demonstrates a passion and track record in coaching and talent development
Enjoy a variety of activities and have multiple projects occurring simultaneously
Have a sense of urgency for goal achievement in a fast-paced environment, agile and resilient, deciding and delivering at pace
Be people relationships focused, enjoy team building, inspire, motivate others, and engage their commitment
Involve others in decision-making processes by being cooperative.
Have collaborative decision-making ability
Must assume responsibility for risk and outcomes
Be approachable, enthusiastic, empathetic with good analytical skills
Be a stimulating communicator with a persuasive “selling” style and collaborative approach
Have a strong commitment to achieve results
Delegate authority readily, taking responsibility for outcomes

To be successful in this role:
Sector Experience is desirable but not essential
Driving licence essential
Regular travel will be required