Your role 

Part of the Test Operation Services’ Marking Workstream Team, the Subject Advisor is accountable, in collaboration with the Subject Manager, for the on time and accurate delivery of all aspects of Marking (for either English Reading, English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling or Maths), ensuring all key milestones are met during all Marking Phases. The Subject Advisor is responsible for representing the Assessment Division and the Test Operation Service across Pearson School Qualifications and the wider Pearson business. 

The Subject Advisor will be required to deputise for the Subject Manager, as appropriate, and work directly with other teams, Project Managers and Matrix Managers within the Test Operation Services  and wider Assessment Division to deliver key accountabilities and be part of divisional initiatives. 

Person Specification 

The ideal candidate for this position would have a varied background in Assessment roles, including experience as a primary teacher (highly desirable), a departmental lead in a school, or any other role within the education sector. 

In addition to this, it would be highly beneficial for the candidate to have previous experience in a customer-facing role. A subject specialism and/or familiarity with Assessment materials and processes within a regulated or contractual framework would also be crucial. 

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who can prioritise and manage their own workload effectively, ensuring that critical tasks are handled within tight, non-negotiable deadlines. The ability to problem-solve effectively and respond positively to change is essential, particularly when conflicts arise. Moreover, strong communication skills are vital, as the role requires the ability to influence others and work collaboratively with key stakeholders. 

Purpose 

In collaboration with the Subject Manager, you will provide technical assessment material development and marking expertise for your given subject area, while ensuring timely, cost effective and accurate end-to-end delivery of the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Assessment. Reporting to the Subject Manager and working as part of a wider team within the Test Operations Service Marking Workstream Team, you will play a key role in delivering a professional and customer-focused service. 

The purpose of the Assessment Subject Advisor role is to: 

Deliver the training material development and marking for Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Assessments for which they are responsible for, to time, quality and budget. 

Be recognised as a technical assessment material development and marking expert within the Test Operation Service, as well as across the Assessment Division and Pearson School Qualifications, as appropriate. 

Be accountable for the integrity for which National Curriculum Assessment material development and marking processes are followed, reviewed and amended. 

Be financially conscious of the importance of the delivery budget, particularly in relation to materials development and marking. Maintain a strong focus on and provide visibility into budget planning, management, and tracking processes. 

Work with the Subject Manager to build an Assessment Associate population for the future by developing strong working relationships with education experts, ensuring succession planning within the Marking Hierarchy. 

Key Accountabilities 

Delivering training material development and marking to the highest quality for your area of responsibility. 

Being accountable for the delivery of training material development and marking to time, quality, budget and security. 

Ensuring you adhere to all requirements as per the Statement of Requirements, Product Breakdown Structure and Product Descriptions. 

Focusing on providing best-in-class customer experience, support and engagement. 

Providing (as appropriate) customer-friendly support to help customers understand the assessment process. 

Actively ensuring the quality of markers and their marking of assessments through Quality Assurance monitoring and checks. 

Actively flagging and manage risks and issues with the Subject Manager, ensuring mitigations, solutions or contingency plans are swiftly identified and put in place. 

Motivating, leading, training and managing a team of senior markers. 

Managing your own training and seeking advice and support from the Subject Manager, when required. 

Ensuring all deadlines for the Marking Workstream are adhered to. 

Training and Support 

Being a positive advocate for Test Operation Service and Assessment within the division, as well as across Pearson School Qualifications, modelling Pearson behaviours and leading by example. 

Actively contributing to, and delivering, the Pearson School Qualifications strategic priorities, as well as driving people initiatives within Assessment, as appropriate. 

Sharing knowledge and expertise with those around you. 

Technical Assessment expertise 

Being the Marking expert for your area of responsibility and continually developing expertise in light of a changing primary education landscape. 

Representing the Test Operation Service and Assessment Division as a technical assessment expert for your area of responsibility, advising on approaches during both training material development and marking. 

Owning personal development in relation to building technical assessment expertise and project management, including identifying training and development needs and opportunities, and being responsible for continuous professional development of self and the wider team.  

Quality assurance and improvements 

Being accountable for the integrity by which Marking processes are followed, reviewed and amended, including driving improvements in the methodology for assuring quality of our processes in line with the Statement of Requirements. 

Being accountable for the quality assurance for your area of responsibility, including monitoring, managing and taking appropriate action to improve the quality of training materials, Marker training and marking. 

Being able to articulate the quality assurance and improvement programme, including owning and delivering lessons learned, for your area of responsibility ensuring learning is taken forward into the next test cycle. 

Cost management 

Ensuring the Marking Workstream financials are accurate for your area of responsibility, within the wider Test Operation Service. 

In collaboration with the Subject Manager, seeking to drive cost efficiencies for your area of responsibility and across the Test Operation Service, as appropriate, by scrutinising ways of working and providing appropriate challenge, ensuring that we are in line with expected spend. 

Strategic relationships 

Building a Marker population for the future by utilising the appropriate expertise in the National Curriculum Assessment to ensure a clear succession plan within the senior marking hierarchy. 

Evaluating the success of the Marker population for your area of responsibility and being accountable for the structure, roles and make-up of the teams, as well as identifying and nurturing talent, to ensure the delivery of all Marking phases to time, quality and budget. 

Data 

Making use of Management Information (MI) and reporting, providing visibility and building confidence and trust between ourselves and STA. 

Partnering with your peers within Operations, Systems and Data, and Customer Service Workstreams to ensure we are aligned with our reporting to STA. 

Being accountable for reporting accurate and timely data and information to the STA and wider business, escalating issues (with proposed solutions), as appropriate. 

Managing the Online Marking System (OMS), ensuring set-up and MI output is as stated in Statement of Requirements. 

Experience  

Core competencies: 

Providing a customer focused service. 

Communicating with influence. 

Working with others to achieve goals. 

Ability to build trusting relationships with internal and external teams. 

Delivering goals in a changing environment. 

Taking creative and innovative approach to work. 

Maximising potential in self and others. 

Education, qualification and training: 

Degree or equivalent qualification 

Other 

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

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

Role location: This is a hybrid role and will allow home working as well as from our office at least 2 days per week. Occasional travel to our other office locations may be required.