Introduction: 

Our objective is that in five years, Pearson will be one of the major players in the workforce development market reaching tens of millions of enterprises and individual learners globally, generating more than £1bn in revenue and growing rapidly with the potential to reach many multiples of that revenue in the years to come. The Workforce Skills (WfS) business division will be the driving force in realizing this ambition. 

One of the cornerstones of Workforce Skills is our Vocational Qualifications (VQ) business. Every year, we deliver nearly 1 million qualification outcomes to BTEC students and Apprentices, spanning all sectors, ages and education settings. We are proud of the impact that we have and maintain a robust, complex qualifications delivery operation at scale and in line with Ofqual regulatory requirements.  

Role overview: 

We are now seeking a highly skilled and experienced Transformation Lead with proven experience in delivering successful complex, large scale transformational programmes to help us on the next stage of our journey. Key responsibilities will include: 

Support in the execution of all approved strategic transformation projects of the Vocational Qualifications business line  Support an integrated program of change initiatives across all lines of service and functional areas which are aligned to business strategy  Creating and implementing change management strategies and plans that drive employee and customer adoption and minimize resistance  Explore innovation strategies that leverage AI technologies to solve business challenges, improve operational efficiency, or enhance customer experience. 

What we are looking for: 

Strategic Leadership: 

Lead and drive large-scale transformation initiatives across the Vocational Qualifications business   Develop and implement transformation strategies that align with the company’s objectives and goals with customer centric thinking 

Program & Portfolio Management: 

Outcome focused, experienced in developing business cases and benefits realisation tracking  Proven ability in Programme planning, dependency, risk & issue management  Ability to utilise a range of portfolio and project management methodologies to manage and track progress  Oversee multiple projects and initiatives, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and within budget 

Stakeholder Management: 

Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior executives, department heads, and external partners.  Effectively communicate transformation goals, progress, and outcomes to all stakeholders with and ability to translate the complex into the simple  Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with ability to apply appropriate tactics to take stakeholders on a journey of change 

Change Management: 

Develop and execute change management plans to ensure smooth transitions and adoption of new processes and systems  Identify potential risks to adoption of change and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impact 

Agile Methodologies: 

Experience in Scaled Agile Framework and ways of working   Proficiency in of methodologies, principles and practices to drive continuous improvement and ensure project success.  Facilitate Agile ceremonies such as programme increment planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives. 

Team Leadership: 

Inspire and motivate teams to think creatively, encouraging a mindset of continuous improvement and disruptive thinking  Excellent proven leadership and line management skills  Mentor and guide team members to enhance their skills and achieve business outcomes.  Foster a collaborative and high-performance team environment. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

5-7 years of proven track record of managing and leading large-scale transformation programmes  Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and build strong relationships across all levels  Experience working in a fast paced, complex environment   Degree in project management, Business Administration, Management, or a related field   Agile qualification (e.g., Certified Scrum Master, Agile Certified Practitioner, SAFE)  Change Management qualification (e.g., APMG, PROSCI) 

Key Competencies: 

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills  Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities  Ability to manage and lead cross-functional teams  High level of adaptability and flexibility in a rapidly changing environment  Strong organizational skills and attention to detail  Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities 

This job specification outlines the general nature and level of work expected of the Transformation Lead. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.