Development Manager in London, United Kingdom

About Pearson

We are the world’s learning company with more than 20,000 employees where we serve people in the community (nearly 200 countries). We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalised learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From shaping lessons of the future, to taking assessment of learning online, we are always re-examining the way people teach, tutor and learn best. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology—and each other to surpass these boundaries—we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small. 

At Pearson, we believe in the power of difference. Harnessing the unique skills, perspectives, and backgrounds of every employee helps us foster innovation and create the most effective solutions for learners around the world. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring that diversity and inclusion are embedded into everything we do. We foster a work environment that’s inclusive and diverse and where our people can be themselves so we can reflect the customers and learners we serve.

Pearson is regularly featured on the Forbes list of Best Employers and we are recognised in the Best Employers for Diversity 2019 awards. Pearson is listed on both the London and New York stock exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO)

Pearson is delighted to be committed to the Race Charter, and to be confirmed by Stonewall in the Top 100 Employers LGBTQ+ in the UK. We are a Disability Confident committed employer and were recognised in the Best Employers for Diversity 2019 awards. We are featured on The Forbes list of Best D&I Employers and are a Working Mums Top Employer and Age Positive employer. Pearson is listed on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO). We are proud to offer an exceptional and supportive environment to develop your professional career.

You can learn more about our diverse and inclusive culture here: https://pearson.jobs/pearson-life/#diversity

Job Purpose:

This role is based within Pearson Enterprise Learning and Skills vertical – in the Vocational Qualifications. Pearson delivers career and skill-based qualifications and services in more than 50 countries, but we believe we are just scratching the surface in terms of meeting demand.

Our customer always comes first – be that the students who wants to develop their future success through education – Governments who are seeking to effectively skill their population – and employers and providers.

The role is responsible for leading the design and development of vocational teaching and learning products and services to our international markets that include qualifications, sample assessments, digital or printed teaching and learning content, that meet the needs of learners, customers/clients and stakeholders, and are compliant with the requirements of governments and regulators. This involves collecting a strong evidence base and being strategic and creative in finding design solutions that are attractive to learners and customers and are fit for purpose and support progression.

This role:

• generates strong evidence bases for the design and development of qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products that are aligned with our business and sector strategies

• designs and develops qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products that are attractive to learners and customers, meet stakeholder needs and are compliant with the requirements of governments, regulators, clients and Pearson quality policies and procedures

• designs and develops qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products to time, budget and quality; recruiting, briefing, training and performance managing best-in-class writing teams

• works collaboratively across Pearson to ensure smooth implementation of new qualifications including ensuring the clarity, consistency and technical accuracy of product support through the lifecycle for the portfolio of qualifications allocated

• works collaboratively across Pearson to bring together the technical, customer and sector/industry expertise to inform the design and development of qualifications and assessments, and to contribute to the continual improvement of how we do things as a department and as a wider business

Main responsibilities:

1. Insight and market shaping

• generate a strong evidence base for the design and development of qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products (via learner, customer, and competitor research)

• collaborate with colleagues to establish a good understanding of customer and learner needs and behaviours (for work on developments, amendments and support materials)

• develop and maintain insight into best practice (teaching and learning, assessment and the link between them)

• represent Pearson in meetings with stakeholders as part of the development process, e.g. employers, sector stakeholders, governments, regulators

2. Product strategy and financial management

• develop strategies for designing and developing qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products that are both attractive to learners and customers and compliant with the requirements of governments and regulators.

• contribute to sector strategy development

• manage OPEX and CAPEX budgets

3. Product design and development

• design and develop winning qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning products that meet learner, customer and stakeholder needs, and are compliant with regulatory, government and client requirements and Pearson quality policies and procedures

• translate suite-or portfolio-level principles into winning proposals and qualification and assessment designs and client solutions

• lead the product development and/or tender process (design, development, internal approval, accreditation and government approval) to time, budget and quality provide regular management information detailing risks and issues with appropriate mitigations that ensure delivery to time, budget and quality

• recruit, brief, train and performance manage writers in a strategic way to deliver winning qualifications and assessments to time, budget and quality

• manage the updating and maintenance of specifications and sample assessment materials through the lifecycle for the portfolio of qualifications allocated

4. Implementation, customer experience and campaigns

Collaborate with colleagues to:

• ensure effective set up and implementation of new qualifications

• maintain the accuracy and validity of products and services through their lifecycle

• ensure a positive customer and learner experience in delivery through the lifecycle

• ensure the clarity, consistency and technical accuracy of product support through the lifecycle for the portfolio of qualifications allocated

• identify opportunities to improve our product support and the customer and learner experience

5. Leadership and management

• work effectively in virtual teams across Pearson to ensure a positive working culture in support of Pearson strategy, e.g. development, bid and virtual sector teams

• champion a ‘learner and customer first’ culture across Pearson, ensuring there is good understanding of what is important to learners and customers and that all decisions are made with reference to their needs

• lead on departmental initiatives to deliver better service to our customers and learners, drive growth, develop commercial partnerships with stakeholders and other third parties, and influence major stakeholders

• mentor and manage staff as required

Qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent

• Experience and understanding of the UK and/or international education and qualifications market and environment

• Experience of working on the design, development and/or operation of qualifications and/or educational resources

• Experience of balancing a commercial focus with regulatory/legal requirements and assessment validity to create solutions for customers that are practical and have competitive advantage

• Experience and knowledge of assessment techniques and principles

• Experience of leading and/or working effectively in virtual teams

• Project management experience

• Recent teaching experience in the education sector

Desirable

• Experience and understanding of allocated sector / sectors

• Experience of developing customised qualification and assessment solutions for tenders

• Design and development of teaching and learning resources

• Experience of managing budgets

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Organisationally agile

• Influences without authority

• Ability to motivate, lead and empower others

• Prioritises and makes effective decisions

• Commercial acumen

• Customer empathy

• Creative and lateral thinker

• Strategic thinker

• Strong communicator with good interpersonal skills

• Collaboration skills

• Outcomes-oriented

• Digitally able and focused

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world’s lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.

Job: PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

Organization: Enterprise Learning & Skills

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Req ID: 18963