Director, Business Transformation and Program Management, Early Careers

The Director of Business Transformation and Program Management - Early Careers, is a critical leadership role within the Early Careers team, that will combine leadership of the Early Careers business transformation with a strategic coordination and operational role supporting the General Manager of the Early Careers business.

In your strategic and operational co-ordination capacity, you will act as a strategic partner to the GM, ensuring focus on the highest priorities, driving operational excellence, and improving organizational effectiveness. You will help orchestrate leadership routines, prepare key communications, drive alignment across the leadership team, and proactively manage follow-through on decisions and strategic initiatives. You will be responsible for guiding the Early Careers transformation program team through complex project lifecycles from concept to release, focusing on quality, efficiency, innovation, and customer experience; while ensuring all transformation programs are delivered on time, within scope, and with outcomes that meet business needs. You will partner with the GM and both internal and external stakeholders on portfolio planning and prioritization to ensure portfolio health, governance, and capacity management while providing a single source of truth across all Early Careers workstreams.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Operational Support Responsibilities:

• Operate as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the GM, ensuring their time, focus, and priorities align with the most critical business needs.
• Drive leadership team routines, including agenda-setting, meeting facilitation, action tracking, and follow-up.
• Coordinate cross-functional alignment of strategic priorities, operating rhythms, and key business processes.
• Lead the preparation of executive communications, presentations, reports, and operational reviews for senior leadership, including quarterly business reviews and transformation updates.
• Manage the leadership team’s operating cadence, fostering accountability and transparency across the organization.
• Anticipate risks, challenges, and bottlenecks in both operational and strategic initiatives, and proactively resolve or escalate them.
• Support change management activities, ensuring messaging, buy-in, and execution is consistent across the Early Careers team.

Transformation Program Leadership:

• Define the overall vision and strategy for transformation program management, ensuring initiatives align with business goals and drive long-term value.
• Oversee the overall Early Careers transformation program ensuring it is delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Maintain visibility into program health (RAG status, risks, dependencies, milestones) and proactively manage escalations.
• Continuously improve program management processes, tools, and reporting to drive efficiency, predictability, and delivery excellence.
• Manage budgets and P & Ls, conduct business financial modeling, resource allocation, and capacity planning, ensuring sustainable utilization of people and financial resources.

Experience, Skills and Knowledge:

• Master’s degree in business administration; PMP certification or advanced degree preferred.
• 10 years of experience in business transformation, program management, business operations, or Chief of Staff roles, ideally within digital product, content development or delivery environments.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a thought partner to senior executives and lead through influence.
• Proven experience managing and scaling program management functions in complex, matrixed organizations including planning, execution, tracking, and monitoring to ensure timely and successful completion.
• Exceptional organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to present findings, influence stakeholders and distill complex information for executive audiences.
• Proven experience in leading and managing organizational transformation initiatives. This includes the ability to develop and implement change management strategies, engage stakeholders, and ensure smooth transitions during periods of change.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous and rapidly changing environments. This involves being adaptable, making decisions with limited information, and maintaining focus on strategic objectives despite uncertainty.
• Familiarity with financial business modeling
• Strong ability to work independently with limited oversight and the ability to anticipate needs and act without being prompted. The ideal candidate looks for opportunities to improve processes and outcomes and is comfortable making decisions and driving projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience at the use and integration of AI in business processes, products, or services.
• Proven ability to engage and collaborate cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders and clients at all levels of the organization. This includes effectively communicating strategic objectives, gathering feedback, and fostering strong relationships to ensure alignment and successful execution of strategic initiatives.
• In-depth understanding of the industry and competitive landscape with strong ability to analyze data, market trends, and financial reports, including familiarity with business financial modeling, to make informed strategic decisions.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and mitigation strategies to ensure the successful execution of strategic plans.

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

The minimum full-time salary range is between $184,000 - $220,000.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, Sept 12, 2025. This window may be extended depending on business needs.

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: Higher Education

Schedule: FULL\_TIME

Workplace Type:

Req ID: 20722

\#location