Contract: Permanent 

Location: Hybrid (Head office: Quorum Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne)

This is a hybrid working role, so you’ll need to be able to work from our Head Office once a month

Hours per week: 37

Salary: Up to £34,680 depending on experience 

About the role

We’re excited to be looking for an Assessment Design Lead to join our Assessment Design and Improvement team to lead on the design and review of valid, reliable and compliant assessments for new and existing qualifications ensuring they meet strategic intent and regulatory expectations.

The Assessment Design and Improvement team is responsible for the development of innovative, high-quality assessment strategies and assessments that uphold regulatory standards and elevate learner outcomes across our product portfolio. The team ensures assessment design contributes directly to high quality, competitive and compliant products and assessments and strengthens our position as a trusted leader in education.

This is a key role in the organisation which will give you the opportunity to work at the forefront of qualification reform and influence high quality assessment design to promote the best outcomes for learners.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Lead on the design and review of valid, reliable and compliant assessments for new and existing qualifications ensuring they meet strategic intent and regulatory expectations.
• Design and develop assessment strategies and specifications for new and revised qualifications, ensuring compliance with NCFE standards and the delivery of credible, high-quality assessments.
• Develop and commission sample assessment with Subject Matter Experts to ensure high quality exemplar materials that demonstrate the intended assessment approach.
• Work closely with Product Development, Assessment Production and Governance teams to support qualification development, ensure compliant assessment delivery, and drive continuous improvement.
• Represent NCFE in engagement with regulators and key stakeholders to support qualification approval, maintain constructive relationships and uphold NCFE’s reputation for high quality assessment design

We’d love to hear from you if you offer the following:

• A degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience), with a relevant professional qualification in assessment, quality assurance or education desirable.
• Experience working in assessment, education or a related professional field, such as qualifications and assessment, higher education, or teaching.
• Proven experience designing, delivering or governing assessments within an educational or awarding organisation environment
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines.
• Excellent relationship-building and networking skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Significant experience working with internal and/or external assessment processes, ensuring quality, compliance and effective delivery

Feeling inspired? Read the full Job Description 

What will we offer you in return? 

Below are just some of the fantastic benefits we’ll offer you to support you both professionally and personally. You can also visit our Life at NCFE page which covers financial, physical and mental health support, time off and your development.  

• Annual leave starting at 25 days and increasing up to 30 days with length of service 
• 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 days off during the Christmas closure 
• YOU celebration day to celebrate your birthday or another life event  
• YOU hour allowing you one hour per month to spend time on something that promotes your wellbeing 
• Learning and Wellbeing fund of up to £200 per year 
• £400 towards any NCFE accredited qualifications per year  
• Up to 20 Volunteering hours per year 
• Flexible working culture with a hybrid working approach  
• Early finish on a Friday at 4:30pm to start your weekend early  
• Health cash plan through Westfield to claim towards health costs such as dental and optical  
• Tech and Home scheme with savings at Currys and IKEA  
• Employee Assistance Programme with a confidential helpline and access to face to face and telephone counselling  
• Pension of up to 9% employer contribution when you contribute 3%   
• Death in service payment worth 4 x your salary 

In addition to our benefits package, Our Colleague Experience Charter sets out the unique experience you can expect when working at NCFE, to enable a thriving, engaged culture. You can find out more about our Colleague Experience Charter and working life at NCFE. 

Shape real change with an NCFE career 

Imagine a career where your contributions affect not only what people learn, but the way that learning is developed and delivered.

With over 170 years of education experience our core purpose remains at the heart of the organisation – to promote and advance learning to create a fairer, more inclusive society, making sure no learner is left behind.   

Want to know more? Take a look at our website https://www.ncfe.org.uk/  

How to apply  

Before applying, please note that we require all candidates to be able to demonstrate proof of Right to Work in the UK.

Ready to join us and shape real change? Apply with your CV if you have the commitment to excel in this position.

Closing Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026 

Interview Date: w/c 27 July 2026 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) statement  

We're committed to building rich diversity into our workforce at all levels, to ensure that we understand and are representative of the communities and customers we serve. 

We do not discriminate against anyone due to their gender, sexuality, race, age, religion, beliefs, identity, social background, visible or hidden disability, or neurodiversity. Instead, we pride ourselves on our collaborative, vibrant and high-performance culture which embraces everyone, celebrates uniqueness, and enables everyone's voice to be heard.