Dr Victoria Armstrong
Summary
Dynamic and accomplished researcher with nearly 20 years of leadership and management experience across academic and third-sector organisations, recognised for building high-performing teams and driving success within complex matrix structures. With a proven track record in project management, I have consistently cultivated collaborative environments that deliver rigorous, high-quality research aligned with organisational goals. A skilled communicator and strategic problem-solver, I excel at engaging diverse stakeholders and translating complex findings into actionable insights that inform decision-making and business growth. Alongside extensive expertise in designing and overseeing educational research programmes, I bring many years of teaching and lecturing experience, inspiring and equipping diverse student groups across multiple settings and sectors.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work history
Research and Evaluation Manager
AQA
Guildford, Surrey
09.2020 - 11.2025
- Senior management team member with responsibility for hiring and managing a team of 9 researchers, spanning early career to senior-level roles.
- Drives strategy initiatives, successfully supporting the Head of Research in setting organisational goals and driving improvements in processes and practices. Key initiatives included redesigning induction, authoring the R&E researcher manual, and streamlining research protocols to enhance efficiency and quality.
- EDI advocate and representative for R&E, actively contributing to equality, diversity, and inclusion committees and working groups. Shared research insights, developed evidence-based recommendations, and influenced policy discussions with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to drive meaningful organisational change.
- Talent developer, proactively creating opportunities for researchers to expand skills, build networks, and assume greater responsibility. Championed professional growth through shadowing, coaching, online learning, and workshops, while modelling commitment to development by completing coaching training, an ‘Influencing’ course, and leadership modules.
- Project leader, successfully managing over 20 research projects employing diverse methodologies, collaborating across business areas, and partnering with external organisations (including HEIs).
- Programme lead for two major multi-method projects on digital delivery of high-stakes exams, directing a cross-business team of 18 colleagues to deliver impactful outcomes.
- Relationship builder, skilled at fostering strong partnerships with colleagues and external stakeholders, including school leaders and teachers.
- Quality assurance expert, providing oversight to ensure projects were methodologically rigorous, ethically sound, and produced outputs of high quality, tailored to customer needs.
Senior Lecturer
International Study Centre, University of Surrey
Guildford, Surrey
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Taught and designed new Sociology course for pre-university international students aged 17-19
- Developed materials to improve students' ability to engage with academic texts
Senior Lecturer and Programme Director
St. Mary's University
Twickenham, Richmond upon Thames
03.2007 - 07.2018
- Course Leadership: Led the BA Education and Social Science programme, driving course re-design and launching the MA Education, Culture & Society.
- Strategic Initiatives: Improved recruitment, reduced attrition, and sustained NSS satisfaction above 92% throughout tenure.
- Teaching Excellence: Delivered 8 modules annually, including Research Methodology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- Supervision: Guided 180 undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and theses to successful completion.
- Research Expertise: Applied advanced qualitative methodologies (interviews, focus groups, observations, narrative enquiry, digital and visual ethnography) to course and module development.
- Committee Leadership: Chaired the Faculty Research Ethics Committee (4 years) and Teaching, Learning & Quality Committee (3 years).
- Independent Research: Published regularly and presented at conferences, seminars, and invited keynotes.
Research Fellow (0.5)
UCL, Dept of Science and Technology Studies
London
10.2005 - 03.2007
- Research Project: The Experiences of Women Volunteers in the Development of Optical-imaging Diagnostics for Breast Cancer (ESRC, with Dr Brian Balmer & Dr Norma Morris).
- Project Design: Contributed to the design of a collaborative study involving social scientists, medical physicists, and oncologists, and developed research tools.
- Data Collection & Analysis: Gathered and analysed observation and interview data from breast cancer patients.
- Publications & Presentations: Authored articles for peer-reviewed journals and presented findings at international conferences and seminars.
Research Fellow (0.4)
University of Surrey
Guildford
01.2006 - 02.2007
- Research Project: A Qualitative Study of Public Attitudes towards the Governance of Biomedical Research (Wellcome Trust funded, with Dr Jo Moran-Ellis, Dr Julie Barnett & Prof. Richard Sheppard).
- Innovative Design: Collaborated with a design company to create videos supporting focus groups with participants with specific medical conditions.
- Research Delivery: Developed research tools, collected and analysed qualitative data.
- Reporting & Dissemination: Co-authored the final report and shared findings with the funder and external organisations.
Research Associate (0.5)
EFPS, University of London
London
09.2004 - 01.2006
- Stakeholder Collaboration & Data Analysis: contributed to a multi‑method research project (Pedagogy, Practice and Interactive Whiteboard Technology, DfES funded with Dr Carey Jewitt and Dr Gemma Moss), building strong relationships with 9 schools, conducting video observations, focus groups, and interviews, and delivering rigorous multi‑modal analysis presented in a final report.
Research Associate (0.4)
Grad School of Education, University of Bristol
Bristol
05.2003 - 05.2005
- Collaborative Research & Dissemination: Co‑led Distilling the Complexities of Teaching and Learning using Digital Video (ESRC funded, with Prof Rosalind Sutherland and Dr Sally Barnes), developing innovative methodologies with secondary and primary teachers, analysing data, publishing in peer‑reviewed journals, presenting at national conferences, and teaching research methods on the MSc in Education, Technology and Society.
Freelance Classical Musician
Freelance
London
01.1992 - 05.2003
- Worked as a freelance musician. This involved a range of activities including performing, teaching, community music projects and working with Pimlico Opera on their 'Opera in Prisons' initiative.
Education
PhD - Education
Institute of Education University of London
London 04.2001 -
Master of Arts - Music Education
Institute of Education, University of London
London 04.2001 -
AGSM - Music
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
London 04.2001 -
Skills
- Project Management
- Qualitative research including use of NVivo and ATLAS-ti
- Research design
- Article and report writing
- Leadership
- Staff development
- Staff management
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
External examiner and expert panels
- Sep 2020-2023: External Examiner, University of Wolverhampton (MA Education and MA Professional Practice and Lifelong Education)
- Sep 2019-2023: External Examiner, Kingston University (MRes Education)
- Sept 2016-Sept 2019: External Examiner, Cumbria University (BA Teaching and Learning).
- ·March 2019: External Reader, Validation Panel, University of Northampton (BA Social Justice).
- November 2016 External Examiner PhD Thesis ‘Women music educators in institutions: pathways into, through and beyond Colleges of Advanced Education (CAEs) in Adelaide 1973-1990, University of South Australia.
- March 2016 External Reader, St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth (BA Primary Education)
- 2015-2018: External Examiner, UCL Institute of Education (BA Education Studies; Summer School programme)
- 2014: External Reader, OCN Access to Higher Education Teacher Training Diploma, London.
- 2013: External PhD Examiner: Institute of Education University of London. Thesis ‘The gendering of secondary music education: curriculum, pedagogy and the classroom experience’
- 2012-2015 External Examiner, Goldsmiths University of London (BA Education, Culture and Society)
- 2007-2009 External Examiner University of Westminster (Cert HE Music Leader Training)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Research and Evaluation Manager
AQA
09.2020 - 11.2025
Senior Lecturer
International Study Centre, University of Surrey
09.2019 - 09.2020
Senior Lecturer and Programme Director
St. Mary's University
03.2007 - 07.2018
Research Fellow (0.4)
University of Surrey
01.2006 - 02.2007
Research Fellow (0.5)
UCL, Dept of Science and Technology Studies
10.2005 - 03.2007
Research Associate (0.5)
EFPS, University of London
09.2004 - 01.2006
Research Associate (0.4)
Grad School of Education, University of Bristol
05.2003 - 05.2005
PhD - Education
Institute of Education University of London
04.2001 -
Master of Arts - Music Education
Institute of Education, University of London
04.2001 -
AGSM - Music
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
04.2001 -
Freelance Classical Musician
Freelance
01.1992 - 05.2003