Team Manager, Program Management

The Pearson Qualifications Transformation Programme is a multi-year initiative to reshape how we operate, innovate, and deliver value. More than a systems upgrade, it’s about building a future-ready organisation driven by agility, collaboration, and technology. Spanning all disciplines, the programme offers opportunities to influence strategy, lead impactful projects, and deliver meaningful change for customers and colleagues.

This high-profile, executive-sponsored programme brings together diverse talent to tackle complex challenges and set new standards of excellence. Whether your expertise is in technology, operations, finance, or change management, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future. The programme is organised across portfolios including Customer, Learner, Associate, Assessment Services, and Operations, and offers exceptional career development opportunities through exposure to senior leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and innovative projects.

Job Summary:

As Lead Program Manager, you’ll steer the delivery of a complex, multi-phase programme that shapes the future of Pearson’s qualifications portfolio. You’ll translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, orchestrate cross-functional teams, and ensure seamless execution across integrated projects. Your leadership will drive governance, delivery assurance, and transparent reporting, enabling the transformation to deliver lasting impact for learners, educators, and Pearson’s business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the integrated Pearson Qualifications Transformation delivery plan, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timely achievement of programme milestones.
• Govern the programme by establishing and maintaining robust frameworks for risk management, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Report programme status, progress, and risks to the Steering Committee, providing clear, actionable insights that inform decision-making.
• Drive programme communications, ensuring stakeholders are engaged, informed, and aligned throughout the transformation journey.
• Manage and develop Portfolio Leads and Project Support team members, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting professional growth.
• Optimize resource strategies and proactively remove blockers to accelerate delivery across the programme portfolio.
• Champion continuous improvement by refining delivery processes and embedding best practices.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Advanced proficiency in programme and project management, with a strong track record of delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Effective governance and risk management skills, ensuring compliance and delivery assurance.
• Strong analytical and business acumen, able to generate insights and drive operational decisions.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, building consensus and motivating diverse stakeholders.
• Change leadership, inspiring teams through transformation and navigating ambiguity with confidence.
• Adaptability and resilience, thriving in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Stakeholder engagement and management, aligning cross-functional contributors to shared goals.
• Data literacy, leveraging information to inform strategy and reporting.
• Commitment to Pearson’s Essential Behaviors: Customer Centricity, Exceptional Collaboration for Value, Raising the Performance Bar, and Our Leaders Inspire.

Power Skills (Level of Expertise: Experienced – Level 5/6):

• Adaptability (Advanced)
• Analytical Skills (Experienced)
• Business Acumen (Experienced)
• Change Leadership (Experienced)
• Communication Skills (Experienced)
• Influencing Skills (Experienced)
• Learning to Learn (Advanced)
• Project Management Leadership (Experienced)
• Stakeholder Engagement & Management (Experienced)
• Governance (Experienced)

Behavioral Expectations:

• Demonstrate Customer Centricity by connecting programme outcomes to long-term stakeholder value.
• Raise the Performance Bar by setting a compelling vision, empowering teams, and embedding a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Drive Exceptional Collaboration for Value by fostering alignment across diverse teams and senior stakeholders.
• Inspire as a Leader by motivating, developing, and supporting your team’s growth and performance.

Qualifications (Education & Experience):

• Typically requires 7+ years of progressive experience in programme or project management, including experience leading cross-functional teams and managing direct reports.
• Proven experience operating through matrix management and influencing at multiple organizational levels.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, Agile) preferred.