Lead Specialist - Program Manager

Lead Specialist, Program Manager

About Pearson

Pearson is the world’s lifelong learning company. Our purpose is to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We create meaningful and impactful learning experiences that support individuals at every stage of their personal and professional journey, from school and higher education to workforce skills and lifelong learning. 

With trusted educational content, assessments, and digital learning solutions, Pearson helps learners, educators, and organizations build and verify the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Serving millions of learners globally, we combine deep expertise in learning science with innovative technology to deliver flexible, inclusive, and future‑ready learning at scale. 

At Pearson, learning isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging, innovation, and continuous growth, where our people are empowered to make a real difference through the power of learning

About the job 

Leads critical workforce programs, driving strategy, capability, and engagement for a department of 160 permanent employees and over 250 contingent workers located in the UK and India. Uses deep expertise to deliver high-impact initiatives, resolve challenges, and influence senior leaders. Mentor peers and set standards for excellence in workforce processes and engagement.

This is a Leadership Team position reporting to the Executive Partner for Pearson Qualifications Technology , with dotted lines to UK and India HR Business Partners. Key stakeholders include Talent Managers, Finance Business Partner, Leadership and Management team members and India Hub Leads. 

The role is a blend of hands-on analysis & delivery, process administration and strategic leadership, and has no direct line reports.

Key Responsibilities, Skills & Experience 

Relating to permanent employees 

• Workforce Compensation Planning & Forecasting
• Performance Management & Recognition
• Workforce Engagement & Recognition
• Workforce Communications, including monthly ‘All Hands’ team meeting updates on People News
• Training & Upskilling
• HR Process navigation & administration, including recruitment
• Oversight of HR processes via co-ordination with line managers

 

Relating to both permanent & contingent workforce:

• Workforce Planning & Strategy, including vacancy management, ensuring we have the “Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time”, and Skills & Capability Assessment
• Workforce Planning & Strategy alignment with OCTO (Pearson’s Global Technology function)
• Ad hoc workforce project delivery
• Analysis of workforce data

 

Additional Skills & Experience

• Analytical Thinking
• Data manipulation & analysis, especially using spreadsheets eg vlookups
• Management & analysis of PII / Confidential data
• BI & Data presentation, quality & accuracy, analysis & visualisation
• Planning & Project Management
• Stakeholder management; presentation at Leadership forums & influencing senior stakeholders
• Organisational Design & Capability Development
• Recruitment Processes (UK and India)
• Training provision, including managing 3rd party delivery partners
• Proactive, autonomous approach 
• Pragmatic approach focussed on balancing achievement of outcomes with adherence to process
• Mentoring & guidance for colleagues
• Problem solving
• Governance
• Interpersonal Skills
• Business Acumen
• Change Leadership

Desirable Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Project Management accreditation
• UK and India HR policies & employment laws
• Accounting principles & concepts

 

Experience Level

Senior Level