Principal

​ Job Description ​ ​ Permanent Full-time Location: Hybrid/Remote, Sale, Manchester UK Reports to: Awarding Manager/Subject Chair Salary: £32,000 - £36,000 (based on experience and qualifications) Line management responsibilities: No ​ ​ Overview ​ Training Qualifications UK is the fastest-growing Awarding Organisation in the UK, and a market leading End-Point Assessment Organisation. We work with over 500 schools, colleges, universities, and training providers across the world to provide qualification certificates, endorsements, and apprenticeships to over 150,000 learners. ​ What’s the secret to our success? Simply put, we do things differently here! ​ ​ About the role As Principal Examiner you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the validity, reliability, and fairness of TQUK's Functional Skills English assessments. This includes developing centre support materials, leading standardisation processes, and maintaining consistent marking standards across all levels from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. If you have a keen eye for detail, a passion for the English language and you thrive on ensuring fairness and accuracy, then this is your opportunity to shape the future of assessment quality and support thousands of learners on their educational journey. This is a rewarding role for someone who has experience in teaching and assessing Functional Skills English qualifications, who is not only inspired by education but also keen to grow alongside a company deeply committed to developing you. ​ ​ ​ ​ Key Responsibilities ​ ​ ​ Assessment Development and Review ​ • Develop and refine question papers and corresponding mark schemes, ensuring alignment with the qualification specifications and assessment objectives. • Collaborate with the Subject Chair and assessment teams to ensure content validity and appropriate level of demand across all assessment materials. • Participate in Question Paper Evaluation Committee (QPEC) meetings to review and finalise assessment materials. ​ Standardisation and Quality Assurance ​ • Lead standardisation meetings to establish and maintain consistent marking standards among examiners. • Monitor the marking process by sampling scripts, providing feedback, and implementing corrective actions as necessary to uphold marking reliability. • Utilise quality assurance techniques to ensure ongoing examiner compliance with established standards. ​ ​ Marking and Examiner Support ​ • Undertake script marking as required including sampling of candidate scripts to exemplify the application of the mark scheme. • Provide guidance and support to assistant examiners, addressing queries and clarifying marking criteria. • Assist in the training and mentoring of new examiners to ensure a thorough understanding of assessment standards and procedures. ​ ​ Awarding and Reporting ​ • Contribute to the awarding process by recommending grade boundaries based on statistical data and examiner feedback. • Prepare comprehensive reports on assessment performance, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. • Participate in post-results services, including reviews of marking and appeals, providing expert analysis and recommendations. ​ ​ Regulatory Compliance and Continuous Improvement ​ • Ensure all assessment activities comply with Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition and other relevant regulatory requirements. • Engage in continuous professional development to stay abreast of changes in assessment practices and regulatory standards. • Provide insights and recommendations for the ongoing development and enhancement of TQUK's Functional Skills English qualifications. ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Key Requirements ​ Essential ​ • A degree in English or a related discipline, or relevant experience. • Experience in teaching and assessing Functional Skills English qualifications. • Experience of standardisation processes. • Understanding of assessment principles, including validity, reliability, and fairness. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead and motivate a team of examiners. • Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for assessment development and marking. ​ ​ Desirable ​ • Experience working with awarding organisations and familiarity with regulatory frameworks governing qualifications. • Knowledge of recent developments and reforms in Functional Skills qualifications. • Experience in statistical analysis related to assessment outcomes ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Key Benefits ​ • Training, Qualifications & Apprenticeships. It’s what we do! • Company sick pay upon completion of probation. • 25 days annual leave plus 8 days Bank Holiday (33 in total). • Additional annual leave day each year, after 2 years of continuous service (up to 28 days). • An extra day off to celebrate your birthday. • Annual Loyalty Bonus. • Annual salary review. • Bupa healthcare benefits. • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) • NEST pension. • Cycle-to-work scheme. • A positive and supportive working environment. • Comprehensive onboarding. • A workplace that supports a healthy work/life balance. * We are an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Should you require any additional support during the recruitment process due to a disability, please contact us so we can assist you. ​