Head of Science

Job Description

About PearsonWe are the worlds learning company with more than 20,000 employees where we serve people in the community (nearly 200 countries). We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teachingand personalised learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. At Pearson, were committed to a world thats always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From shaping lessons of the future, to taking assessmentof learning online, we are always re-examining the way people teach, tutor and learn best. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. Bypushing the boundaries of technologyand each other to surpass these boundarieswe create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the worlds innovations, personal and global, large and small.At Pearson, we believe in the power of difference. Harnessing the unique skills, perspectives, and backgrounds of every employee helps us foster innovation and create the most effective solutions for learners around the world. Thats why were committedto ensuring that diversity and inclusion are embedded into everything we do. We foster a work environment thats inclusive and diverse and where our people can be themselves so we can reflect the customers and learners we serve.Pearson is regularly featured on the Forbes list of Best Employers and we are recognised in the Best Employers for Diversity 2019 awards. Pearson is listed on both the London and New York stock exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO)Pearson is delighted to be committed to the Race Charter, and to be confirmed by Stonewall in the Top 100 Employers LGBTQ+ in the UK. We are a Disability Confident committed employer and were recognised in the Best Employers for Diversity 2019 awards. Weare featured on The Forbes list of Best D&I Employers and are a Working Mums Top Employer and Age Positive employer. Pearson is listed on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO). We are proud to offer an exceptional and supportive environment to develop your professional career!You can learn more about our diverse and inclusive culture here: https://pearson-life/#diversityJob PurposeAs Head of Qualification Development for General Qualifications (GQ), you will be responsible for leading our qualification development strategy and processes to ensure that we work effectively and in line with customer and regulatory needs in order to createhigh-quality qualifications. You will own and lead our technical qualification development specialism, and work closely to embed and develop this within our subject and broader Product teams. You will foster strong relationships with internal and externalstakeholders, including Ofqual and the Department for Education.The main aspects of the role are:

• Own technical qualification development specialism and process, and embed and develop skills and experience within the Product teams.
• Work with related teams across the business to innovate and continuously improve those processes to maximise efficiency and quality of qualifications produced.
• Maintain and build strong understanding of regulatory and customer needs and priorities; support subject teams to interpret these effectively and reflect appropriately in our qualifications.
• Support best practice qualification and assessment design and development.
• Lead and shape learning and development for Product subject teams in their qualification design and developmentsto ensure these meet customer experience/quality, time, cost and operational objectives. Lead and support strategy for recruiting, inductingand developing internal and external team members.
• Leadership across Product team, including on cross-GQ development and cross-Schools strategic initiatives, relationship building with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Recruit, develop and support a high performing team, with potential to progress further within the organisation and the ability to collaborate effectively across the business.
• Planning and operational leadershipincluding ownership of process audits and alignment with Pearson policies; support on planning, tracking and reporting qualification initiatives and resource planning; budget and financial planning.
• Embed and support a culture and practice of innovation and commercial success within the team and department.
• Embed a culture of collaboration within the Product team and with other key stakeholders across the business.
• To play 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.
• Work in matrix structurework effectively across teams and functions effectively.

ACCOUNTABILITIES1. Own technical qualification development specialism and process, and embed and develop skills and experience within the Product teams:

• Own and maintain our technical development processes and embed processes and expertise across the Product subject and related teams.
• Articulate ways of working and accountabilities for qualification development across the GQ team. Support implementation and ongoing improvement.
• Work with related teams across the business to innovate and continuously improve those processes to maximise efficiency and quality of qualifications produced.
• Lead process definition for development including design of guidance, templates for qualifications/suites, tracking and tools.
• 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.
• Work closely with teams including Assessment Design and Product Management in the research and design phase of new qualification suites, scoping suite requirements, interpreting regulatory requirements and creating design principles at suite level.
• Establish appropriate ways of engaging and responding to internal and external feedback during the development work to ensure final outcomes meet customer/stakeholder needs - at suite level.

2. Maintain and build strong understanding of regulatory needs and priorities and customer needs and priorities; support subject