Lead Specialist, Project Manager Full Time NEW

Our Team

In the English Language Learning business unit, we aspire to become the world’s leading destination to learn and prove English language skills. Our main focus is on committed learners from around the world, who are motivated by outcomes because they want to reach their full potential through learning English. You’ll join the team responsible for one of our key established products -– Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, known globally in Higher Education and as a recognised test for immigration and visa purposes – as well as innovative new tests, such as PTE Express.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and versatile Project Manager whose main focus will be to support the development of existing testing and assessment products , as well as bringing further new products to market. The role will also involve supporting the management of our relationships with government agencies, e.g. UK Home Office, Department of Home Affairs (Australia) and the IRCC (Canada).

Working with senior stakeholders, product owners, technical specialists, other project managers, as well as client-facing teams, the role-holder will also assume responsibility for additional projects that develop or maintain our licences to operate/compete and ensure our regulatory and legal compliance.

You will be:

• an effective and assured Project Manager with excellent project management skills and strong leadership qualities
• comfortable working in a complex, global, matrix stakeholder environment, working across time-zones and different organisational units
• an expert, qualified Project Manager (e.g. PMI/PMP/PRINCE2 Practitioner, PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner (or equivalent)) qualified, with significant, proven experience of successful project delivery and embedding change with customers and internal teams
• knowledgeable (or qualified) in the management of Agile, lean, rapid product prototyping, etc. techniques, as well as comfortable in governance-led project management activities in regulated environments

The role-holder will additionally:

• have a strong governance mindset, able to run meetings and effectively communicate with a wide variety of project stakeholders
• exhibit flexibility, with strong prioritisation and negotiation skills
• be able to respond quickly to manage emerging risks and issues and be comfortable managing ambiguity in evolving delivery contexts
• be used to managing project budgets and developing business cases

Demonstrable experience of working with government agencies in the UK or in Australia, Canada, New Zealand is highly desirable, but equivalent experience will be considered. Experience of working in a testing/assessment/education environment would also be strongly advantageous.

The role-holder will report to the Lead (Program Management) role-holder and will also be expected to work seamlessly with the 5-6 member team of Project Managers/specialists that also work within the Quality & Projects team within the Assessments unit on other projects and special assignments.

Working with Us

• Department: English Language Learning – Product (Assessment)
• Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, with flexibility to support global collaboration
• Location: UK (London preferred / Hybrid); occasional international travel may be required

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: Program Management

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

Organization: English Language Learning

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type:

Req ID: 23417