The purpose of the Qualification Development Manager role is to lead key aspects of our qualification development strategy, and to support the development of outstanding customer-focused General Qualifications that inspire teachers, engage learners and enable progression, as well as driving the growth of our qualifications. This role operates in a matrix structure, with two essential elements: - It sits functionally within a central Qualification Development team - The role has an important cross-divisional element, with responsibility for shaping and driving key elements of our qualification development strategy across the Division - including activity related to accreditation of qualifications. The role works closely with counterpart roles in other internal teams, and this team of Qualification Development Managers has responsibility for owning technical qualification development expertise as a specialism and embedding this across the business, working collaboratively with experts in Product Management, Assessment Delivery, Assessment Design, Standards and Technical teams. Knowledge and Experience - We are looking for people who have: - A strong understanding of the UK qualifications environment, including teacher and learner needs, contexts and priorities. - A strong knowledge of the academic qualifications market, including GCSE and A Level qualifications - An understanding of education practice and policy, including academic assessment principles - A strong understanding of existing and potential innovations in educational assessment, including the growing role of technology - Experience of designing and developing qualifications, products or curricula that delight teachers and learners, are used effectively in the classroom and attract increasing numbers of schools. - A strong understanding regulator priorities and needs - Experience of managing accreditation processes and interpreting Ofqual requirements - Experience of influencing stakeholders (DfE, Ofqual, subject stakeholders and internal stakeholders). - Experience of working effectively within and across teams - Experience of presenting to and/or training teachers or colleagues - Strong project management experience with demonstrable track record of planning, managing and delivering large scale projects with quality at the heart. Skills and behaviours To excel in this role, you should bring: - Exceptional communication skills : The ability to clearly convey complex ideas in writing and presentations. - Collaboration skills : Comfort working independently and within and across teams to manage projects effectively. - Stakeholder management expertise : Experience working across diverse teams, influencing without direct authority. - Problem solving skills : The ability to think creatively and share your expertise to solve problems. - Adaptability : A self-starter who thrives in dynamic environments and can learn quickly. - Strategic thinking skills: Curiosity about the big-picture in Schools Qualifications - and the ability to understand how our team can have the most impact within it. - Exceptional attention to detail : The ability to ensure the highest level of quality and accuracy in your (and colleagues') work. Key accountabilities Qualification and product development - Provide expertise, leadership and a critical eye to Product teams, as they manage the design, development, accreditation and ongoing improvement of market-winning academic qualifications and associated teaching and learning materials in select subject areas. This includes: - Maintain visibility and clarity of the Qualification Development Pipeline across UK qualification suites, liaising with internal teams to ensure visibility of upcoming development and amendment activity. - Work in partnership with Heads of Product and Product teams to ensure an excellent understanding of the development and qualification amendment process, tailoring to each situation as is appropriate. - Support Product Developers and Product teams to establish timelines, document process and deliver development activity in line with internal and regulatory requirements, whilst ensuring support of the commercial and strategic goals of Subject teams and the broader business - Design and deliver the ongoing training and development of the Product Division, equipping teams to continuously improve in their approach, technical knowledge and assessment expertise, in order to develop market-winning qualifications Accreditation/approval of qualifications - Facilitate Ofqual and DfE consultations, working with the subject and portfolio teams. - Lead on the development of the General Assessment Strategy during qualification development and reform. - Work with subject and portfolio teams on approaches to ensure design and development of market-winning qualifications that meet both customer and regulator/stakeholder requirements. - Support the teams to ensure the appropriate quality assurance checks are carried out to ensure qualifications are submission-ready with sign-off by key stakeholders and compliant with processes. Audit the application of quality processes within development projects and work with subject teams to implement changes to processes and procedures in order to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and audit readiness. - Support on the wider aspects of developments when scaling-up for full developments as required Maintain and build strong understanding of regulatory needs and priorities and customer needs and priorities; support subject teams to interpret these effectively and ensure that both are reflected appropriately in our qualifications, both at the point of development and through the ongoing qualifications lifecycle - With Heads of Product, lead channels and approaches to ensure a strong understanding of and relationship with the regulator. - With Heads of Product, represent Pearson in meetings with regulators and other external stakeholders on matters relating to the portfolio as required. - Take a leading role in leading the Business' regulatory policy knowledge - including tracking overarching reform outlook and processes. - Support / lead on articulation and consistent application of best practice approaches and learning on how to address both regulatory and customer needs. - Ensure Divisional compliance with regulatory processes and ensure that these processes are fit-for-purpose. - Manage the visibility of qualification amendments across the Business. - Collaborate with Heads of Product to track the progress of developments and accreditation. Qualification development strategy and implementation - Identify opportunities to innovate how we work, our processes and accountabilities to develop winning qualifications and associated support materials that delight the customer (teachers and learners) and meet regulatory requirements. - Lead and/or facilitate key aspects of our qualification development strategy, including Qualification design principles and key considerations for scaling-up for full development including identification and cultivation of key talent, recruiting, inducting and training of internal (Product Developers) and external team (writers, reviewers) - Develop and manage our relationship with Ofqual; developing and tracking our pipeline; defining pilots and customer engagement approach - Innovate our tools and processes, and take ownership of training and development across the team to embed these - Lead Consultation responses elements - Refine and continuously improve end-to-end design processes and approach to ensure alignment of accredited Sample Assessment Materials and live papers throughout the qualification lifecycle - Support relationships between internal teams to ensure appropriate and timely involvement in the development, review and approval of qualifications and assessments. - Actively communicate and engage with all internal stakeholders from across the company who contribute to qualification and assessment development and accreditation to ensure the final products meet all requirements. 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 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 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. 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 TalentExperienceGlobalTeamgrp.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: Assessment & Qualifications Schedule: FULL_TIME Workplace Type: Hybrid Req ID: 18832