Advanced Specialist, Project Management

Context:

Reporting to the Manager, IHE Custom and working as part of the International Higher Ed, this role will help scope, produce and deliver learning solution products and services (ranging from low to high complexity in nature) to customers in the UK and Ireland, Europe, MENAT and South Africa, Australia and South-East Asia regions. You will project manage adapted and tailored Pearson-content to create user-friendly solutions that improve learning outcomes and meet customer expectations. 

Purpose: 

• To be responsible for managing the production and delivery of a number of bespoke print, eBook and digital courseware products, with competing priorities, producing high quality products on time and to budget.
• You will work closely with the other members of the IHE custom team, internal stakeholders and third parties on projects assigned to ensure products are delivered to the highest standard within time and budget constraints.
• You will work to tight timeframes, managing a high volume of projects of varying complexity.

Key Accountabilities:

• Help support, scope and advise the sales and customer experience group on the options available in the creation and delivery of custom products, ensuring that solutions meet customer requirements and are feasible in the timeframe and budget.
• Interpret project handovers to the IHE Custom team, advising if the solution is possible and advising on secure access options for digital product.
• Given the need to accelerate time to market, manage each assigned project whilst continuously assessing and prioritising your list of projects to maintain high standards that result in the delivery of an accurate and professional final product, on time and to budget.
• Report regularly on production status of projects assigned to line manager and other key stakeholders.
• Resolve all project-specific issues as they arise, ensuring that key stakeholders are aware of any delays or milestones which may affect their projects.
• Responsible for the production and management of your own projects including QA and risk mitigation.
• Monitor work carried out by third parties, stakeholders and internal teams on projects assigned to ensure that any tasks are completed within the timeframe.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that budgets are met and advise line manager and dependent teams if costs are likely to exceed budget for projects worked.
• Ensure best practice and process is followed and maintained, such as QA testing practices and user centered design in the creation of digital solutions.
• Be proactive in suggesting improvements to processes and maintain awareness of general process updates as they arise.
• Maintain and update process documents accordingly.
• Keep abreast of and monitor Pearson’s products, platforms and technology developments, understanding any implications for local markets.
• Ensure updates are collated and fed back to the wider Sales teams in the UK/regions as part of ongoing training and support.
• Track, monitor & feedback on work carried out by external vendors, other teams within Pearson to ensure that efficient production activities are carried out.
• Feedback regularly on capabilities and issues to line manager.
• Responsibility for briefing vendors on projects assigned.
• In conjunction with line manager, decide when and where you would not outsource to a vendor based on the project requirements.
• Work closely with colleagues in the Rights and Permissions team to ensure assigned projects comply with R&P requirements for re-clearance or replacement of assets before publication of products.
• Closely monitor budget to ensure financial hurdles remain met.

Key Challenges: 

• Effective and simultaneous project management of a high volume of projects with competing priorities.
• Work closely with external and internal stakeholders to ensure delivery of projects on time and to budget.
• Become knowledgeable and competent in a variety of bespoke Pearson platforms and authoring solutions used to produce online content.
• Seek innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
• Work closely with a range of stakeholders in all regions.
• Able to clearly articulate technical information to less knowledgeable/experienced colleagues to promote understanding and learning.
• Being able to source information through Pearson channels to assist with problem solving and approach.

Key competencies:

• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal). Able to adapt style to work with colleagues from within the UK and from regions with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Excellent organizational, time management, prioritization and planning skills.  Ability to prioritize workload and manage multiple projects to tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A demonstrated ability to work independently, managing own time and prioritising effectively.
• An interest and understanding of publishing, e-learning, accessibility and how content is produced digitally.
• The ability to research solutions to problems and to look at different methods of achieving desired results.
• An interest in online education.

Education, qualification and training:

• Graduate caliber.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Formal training in computing/delivery of digital content.
• Formal project management training.
• Minimum of 4 years job experience.
• Project management experience, particularly managing production and delivery of digital content.
• Experience of managing multiple digital projects to tight timeframes.
• Experience of working within educational publishing and/or with educational software, including editorial content experience.
• Experience of managing project budgets.
• Experience in managing vendors-creating briefs and purchase orders.
• Behaves ethically and with integrity, supports Pearson’s core values, beliefs and codes of conduct.
• Quick learner; acquires needed knowledge.
• Strives to become a top performer in their field.
• Clearly and consistently sets own challenging goals along with goals of projects.
• Energetic, enthusiastic and passionate about educational learning.
• A commitment to producing a quality product.
• Flexible, proactive problem-solver and adaptable.
• Clear thinking and calm under pressure.
• Professional approach at all times.
• Disciplined, yet flexible enough to adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

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