Job Details

Overview

Director of Strategic Initiatives & Business Transformation – Early Careers is a pivotal leadership role within Pearson's Early Careers team. This role combines strategic execution, business transformation, and organizational leadership to drive priorities, shape strategy, and deliver outcomes that advance both the business and its social impact in education. The ideal candidate operates as a trusted partner to the General Manager and demonstrates senior leadership presence in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Partnering with the GM
  • Operate as a senior thought partner to the GM, helping shape priorities, strategy, and execution across the Early Careers business.
  • Anticipate challenges, risks, and opportunities, providing clear recommendations and driving resolution with speed and agility.
  • Lead preparation of executive-level presentations, communications, and narratives that influence senior leadership, clients, and external partners.
  • Represent the GM and the Early Careers business with senior internal stakeholders and select external partners, ensuring alignment and reinforcing Pearson's mission and brand.
• Transformation & Program Leadership
  • Lead the Early Careers transformation program portfolio from concept to delivery, ensuring all initiatives deliver measurable impact, on time and within scope.
  • Drive innovation in program management practices, including the use of AI to enhance efficiency, insight, and decision-making.
  • Oversee portfolio health, governance, financial modeling, and capacity management, ensuring transparent reporting and a single source of truth across all workstreams.
  • Guide change management efforts, securing buy-in across teams and embedding new ways of working to accelerate transformation.
• Organizational Effectiveness & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Orchestrate leadership team routines and decision-making processes that enable focus and accountability.
  • Ensure operating rhythms across the team are efficient, aligned, and transparent, minimizing friction and maximizing execution.
  • Engage senior stakeholders and clients with clarity, confidence, and professionalism, fostering trust and long-term partnerships.
  • Act as an internal connector, ensuring cross-functional collaboration and alignment across Pearson.
• Experience, Skills & Knowledge
  • 10+ years of experience in business transformation, program management, strategy, or senior operational leadership roles.
  • Proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor to senior executives, leading through influence in complex, matrixed environments.
  • Exceptional communication skills—verbal, written, and in presentations—with the ability to distill complexity into clear, compelling narratives for senior leaders and external partners.
  • Strong experience in stakeholder and client management; experience in consulting or advisory roles a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments while maintaining strategic clarity and execution discipline.
  • Track record of independently initiating, driving, and delivering complex projects end-to-end.
  • Experience with AI tools and approaches to drive business efficiency, insights, or innovation.
  • Master's degree in business administration or related field preferred; PMP certification or equivalent a plus.
  • Passion for social impact and education, with a commitment to shaping meaningful change in how learners access and succeed in their careers.

Why Join Pearson Early Careers?

At Pearson, we believe learning opens up a world of possibilities. The Early Careers team is building a future where every learner has the skills and opportunities to shape the life they imagine. By joining this team, you'll step into a mission-driven transformation—helping to reimagine how education connects to employability at scale.

This is an opportunity to bring big ideas to life in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment inside a global company. You'll work alongside leaders who share your drive, embrace agility and innovation (including AI), and care deeply about creating lasting social impact. If you thrive on turning strategy into action and want to help reshape the future of learning and work, we'd love to hear from you.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including skill set, level of experience, and location. The pay range for this position is California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC compliant. The minimum full-time salary range is between $184,000 - $220,000. This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. Information on benefits offered is here.

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

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

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 our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ...@grp.pearson.com.

Job: Program Management

Job Family: ENTERPRISE

Organization: Higher Education

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Location: Global

Req ID: 20722