Job Purpose 

You will be responsible for establishing evidence-led qualification design principles and assessment methodologies and taking these forward into practice, and for skilling and equipping our broader Product team to design and develop subject qualifications that deliver on these principles.  

You will work closely with colleagues across the business, including Product, Assessment, Assessment Design, Regulatory, Sales, Marketing and Technology to establish innovative qualification and assessment principles, methodologies and concepts in harmony with curriculum/content and subject innovations that meet customer needs in fresh ways – including through use of digital and technology. You will be deeply focused on understanding the needs of teachers and learners, building relationships with key stakeholders, and translating insight into market-leading models.  

You will support the learning and development of the Product team (who are responsible for the development of qualifications and surrounding materials) to ensure all have a clear understanding of qualification and design principles, and are well equipped to execute on these within their subject teams and areas. 

This role sits with the Product team and as a member of the Product leadership team, you will contribute to success and development of the overall UK business.  

About the role 

Key accountabilities are to: 

Establish evidence-led qualification design principles and assessment methodologies and taking these forward into practice. This includes research and development around innovations in qualification and assessment design to take forward how our products and services deliver an outstanding and effective experience for learners and teachers, based on deep understanding of what works practically in schools and colleges and of what is valid from a standards / validity perspective.  Lead our vision and concepts for the use of digital within high stakes assessment – with focus on shaping, articulating and testing what great assessments look like in a digitally enabled world.     Lead our central qualification development management function. This is responsible for ensuring the broader Qualification Product team of Qualification Product Managers and Qualification Product Developers (who are responsible for the development of qualifications and surrounding materials) have a clear understanding of qualification and design principles, the processes involved in development and continuous improvement of qualifications, and the regulatory context and requirements, and are well equipped to execute on all of these within their subject teams and areas.  Be the accountable owner within Product for risk management, business continuity process and training, regulatory requirements and quality assurance and audit.  Lead a small team of Qualification Development Managers to deliver on the above, and nurture a high-performing team culture.  

Related accountabilities include:  

Ensuring deep understanding of customer needs to inform all areas of work. Working closely with other projects to ensure that curriculum, qualifications and assessment innovation is harmonious and adds up to a winning, profitable, deliverable complete proposition.  Specifically, working closely with counterpart Head of Subject within the Product and Assessment teams to ensure cohesion of central and subject specific propositions.   Leading our next generation assessment work – including accountability for our onscreen vision and coordinating our answer to the question ‘what does a great assessment look like in a digitally enabled world’.   Articulating and running tangible experiments to test, validate and progress qualification design principles and assessment methodologies.  Driving execution of tested principles, methodologies and concepts.   Recruiting, developing and supporting a high performing team, with potential to progress further within the organisation and the ability to collaborate effectively across the business.  Embedding and supporting a culture and practice of innovation and commercial success within the team and department.  Embedding a culture of collaboration within the Product team and with other key stakeholders and departments in UK schools and beyond, including Sales, Marketing, Assessment and Technology, and Vocational.   Working alongside colleagues in Assessment, Standards, Research and Assessment design to ensure a culture of evidence-based research, development and innovation.  Leading strategically on major cross-Sector / cross-Schools Product initiatives that contribute to the growth of the business.  Playing a key role in the leadership team for Schools Product portfolio, including contributing to the continual improvement of how we do things, both as a department, and as a wider business. 

 The candidate profile is as follows.  

Personal style and behaviour: 

Demonstrates drive, enthusiasm, and a proactive approach to work. Demonstrate a dynamic, professional approach to developing and implementing strategy  Be positive and have a proactive outlook to improvement, opportunities and problem solving.  Ability to influence effectively without direct authority.  Be motivated by customer centric product and service improvement.  Have a drive to learn new skills and adapt to change.  Show a willingness to take on responsibility and grow within the organisation.  Be a leader, with the ability to work as part of a team, and within matrix-working.   Comfort working both independently and as part of a team.   Have good organisational and planning skills, in order to manage and prioritise workload, whilst maintaining flexibility and achieving tight deadlines. 

Knowledge and experience 

Essential: 

Knowledge and experience of the UK school's environment, ideally across curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning contexts Knowledge of assessment theories / methodologies  Knowledge and experience of designing and developing qualifications  Digital and onscreen knowledge and experience  Networking and influencing a wide stakeholder group, internally and externally, navigating complexity in order to get things done  Knowledge, experience and understanding of regulatory requirements and processes and of working with / influencing regulators and government stakeholders (such as Department for Education, Ofqual etc)  Experience in leading and motivating teams  Experience in strategy development and practical execution  Experience designing and delivering creative and successful education solutions  Experience of working with and leading cross-functional teams to achieve objectives Experience in leading and managing projects to achieve business goals Experience in working in a complex matrix structure  Managing budget, revenue model and P&L; experience of forecasting accurately  Influencing stakeholders and managing partners 

Desirable: 

Management of online services  Teaching or classroom experience 

Skills 

Essential: 

Strong people management skills.   Excellent strategic thinker and leadership skills.  Creative thinking.  Customer empathy.  Strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.  Commercial acumen and financial planning  Entrepreneurial outlook.  Creative thinking and ability to think laterally.   Can-do attitude.  Ability to motivate, lead, influence and empower others.  Excellent collaboration skills.  Collaborative decision-making  Ability to deliver.  Attention to detail.  

Your rewards & benefits   

We know you’ll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business. We know one size doesn’t fit all, so our workplace programs meet the different needs of our diverse teams, and their families, too. 

Please see our attractive UK benefits here: Pearson Jobs – Benefits