Development Manager

Working set up: Hybrid

Office: 80 Strand, London

Your Opportunity

This role is based within Pearson Workforce 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

1. Qualified to degree level or equivalent

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

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

4. 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

5. Experience and knowledge of assessment techniques and principles

6. Experience of leading and/or working effectively in virtual teams

7. Project management experience

Desirable

• Teaching experience

• 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

Working Set-up

• This is a hybrid working with an expectation to report in our 80 Strand London office at least twice a week.

Your Benefits & Reward

We know you’ll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business! Along with learning, development and mentoring opportunities, our range of benefits can support the different needs of our diverse colleagues, and their families too. You can look forward to exploring our impressive benefits, such as:

• Working from home

• A starting holiday of 25 days plus UK public holidays.

• Shares and stock purchase options.

• Healthcare and dental plans, and an employee wellbeing assistance programme for you and your family to help balance work, family, and personal life.

• Cycle to work program, gym membership concessions in selected office locations, along with retail and leisure discounts.

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All 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 strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

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.

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

Organization: Workforce Skills

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Req ID: 15392

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