SVP Academic Leaders & Funders Solutions

About The Team

Elsevier, part of the RELX Group, is a global leader in information and analytics for science and healthcare. Our mission is to partner with the research and healthcare communities we serve to advance knowledge and drive human progress. Within Elsevier, the Academic Leaders & Funders (AL&F) solutions group supports university leaders and research funders worldwide in achieving their goals. We do this by providing data‑driven insights and tools that strengthen benchmarking, strategy development and monitoring, reputation building, collaboration, and the efficiency of core academic workflows.

About The Role

The SVP Academic Leaders & Funders will lead the AL&F Solutions group to help university management and research funders accelerate their mission by improving the individual solutions (like SciVal, Pure, Interfolio, Digital Commons) and evolving towards a more innovative integrated modular proposition that delivers improved outcomes for customers. The suitable candidate will be a commercially‑savvy senior leader who can build a clear strategy, drive cross‑functional execution of this strategy to improve customer outcomes, take the portfolio to market, and develop talent in the organisation. The suitable candidate will have proven experience in running, scaling and innovating SaaS workflow & data analytics businesses that have grown organically and through acquisitions.

Key Deliverables & Success Metrics

• Portfolio strategy & execution: defined and delivered a differentiated solutions portfolio, with improved customer outcomes through continuous improvement and innovation. Unlocked adjacent markets and new revenue streams via a more integrated and innovative set of solutions.
• Go‑to‑market: accelerated commercial goals by leading go‑to‑market across core and adjacent segments.
• Team health & talent development: developed a high performing, highly aligned and highly engaged team and relentlessly nurtured talent.

Responsibilities

• Strategy: defines the portfolio strategy to drive improved outcomes for AL&F users and customers. Develops and implements an end‑to‑end roadmap to enable AL&F wide profitable growth and customer satisfaction.
• Customer focus: leads the overarching design of the end‑to‑end customer experience for AL&F customer and users. Brings together teams to strengthen Elsevier\’s understanding of and connection with users and customers. Drives user experience through meeting customer needs and building trusted partnerships. Recognised as a thought leader in the ALF segment.
• Products & portfolio: instils relentless focus on creating customer value through evidence‑based decision making and a culture of data‑driven product development. Solves for both improving the individual solutions and evolving towards a more integrated offering that improves customer outcomes. Encourages the development of Elsevier wide shared capabilities to drive extreme reuse, speeds up time to market and ensures a secure and trusted environment for our customers.
• Innovation: leads high‑impact innovation and differentiation across new and existing customer solutions to meet future needs. Scans the market for emerging technology to ensure AL&F remains at the cutting edge of development.
• Growth and profitability: evaluates \”build, buy or partner\” routes to address market needs, with time to market considerations. Relentlessly reviews existing solutions to ensure they remain differentiated and high quality for customers.
• Go‑to‑market: leads go‑to‑market for the core segment and adjacent segments to reach commercial goals.
• People and capabilities: strengthens leadership, talent and capabilities of the AL&F Solutions team. Fosters a growth and enterprise mindset where diverse talent feel included. Clear and compelling communicator who inspires the team and wider organisation.
• Collaboration and agility: fosters a highly collaborative way of working with other parts of Elsevier to respond to opportunities and challenges in an agile, cross‑functional way, with close collaboration across leadership teams (e.g. broader Academic & Government team, sales, marketing customer success, research networks, technology, operations, corporate & health segment teams).
• Policy environment: engages with key stakeholder groups, policy‑makers and funders to help foster a positive Research policy environment.

Requirements

• Customer focus: exceptional customer focus with track record of innovation, evidence‑based decision making and data‑driven product experimentation.
• SaaS workflow & data analytics portfolio: innovating, scaling and integrating a global SaaS workflow and data analytics portfolio, with disciplined prioritization across innovation, re‑platforming, and legacy tech‑debt remediation. Consistently delivering high‑impact projects on time and within budget through structured execution and governance.
• Experience in leading and working with post‑ and pre‑sales implementation and support teams to deliver a best‑in‑class customer experience.
• Cross‑functional leadership, driving change & talent development: ability to influence senior stakeholders, lead cross‑functionally, drive change and execute at scale in a matrixed organisation. Ability to develop a coherent team and cultivate product management talent.
• External credibility and authority: able to inspire, empathise and establish credibility with senior levels of academic leaders. Desirable: understanding of the academic ecosystem, needs and challenges of higher education and research institutions.
• M&A experience: experience in building partnerships, as well as identifying and integrating acquisitions.
• GTM: taking a SaaS workflow and data analytics solutions portfolio to market.
• Education: bachelor\’s degree required; advanced degree preferred; 15+ years relevant experience.

Work In a Way That Works For You

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long‑term goals.

Working For You

• Generous holiday allowance with the option to buy additional days.
• Health screening, eye care vouchers and private medical benefits.
• Wellbeing programs.
• Life assurance.
• Save As You Earn share option scheme.
• Access to a competitive contributory pension scheme.
• Travel season ticket loan.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme.
• Optional Dental Insurance.
• Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to emergency care for both the elderly and children.
• RECARES days, giving you time to support the charities and causes that matter to you.
• Access to employee resource groups with dedicated time to volunteer.
• Access to extensive learning and development resources.
• Access to employee discounts scheme via Perks at Work.

About The Business

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. What you do every day will help advance science and healthcare to advance human progress.

We know your well‑being and happiness are key to a long and successful career.

We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click here to access benefits specific to your location.