At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive strategic alignment and operational excellence in a global tech environment.
- Company: Join Pearson, the world's leading learning company, shaping technology for education.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with senior leaders and influence strategic decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building a new business office in a critical tech function.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in tech roles with strong governance and stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
- Description
- Job Title - Principal, Program Management
- Description
Drive strategic alignment, portfolio governance, executive reporting and operational excellence across Pearson's Platform Engineering organisation, acting as the operational engine behind one of Pearson's largest technology functions.
Known in the market as: Chief of Staff, Technology Chief of Staff, Portfolio Management Lead, PMO Lead, Delivery Management Lead, Portfolio Office Manager, Business Operations Lead, Programme Portfolio Manager or Technology Strategy & Operations Lead.
This role combines business operations, portfolio leadership, governance, strategy and executive engagement to bring structure, visibility and execution discipline to a complex global technology environment.
About The Role
Pearson, the world's leading learning company, is seeking a Principal, Program Management professional to drive strategic, operational and business alignment across the Platform Engineering organisation within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO).
Platform Engineering is the technical backbone of Pearson, providing cloud services, infrastructure, enterprise tooling, digital workplace technology, networking, database services and operational governance capabilities that support Pearson's products, colleagues and learners globally.
Platform Engineering partners closely with development teams and business technology leaders across Pearson to deliver secure, reliable and scalable services.
This newly created role will establish and lead the Platform Engineering Business Office, helping to drive organisational alignment, portfolio governance, executive reporting, strategic planning, communications, business operations and continuous improvement across a large global technology function.
Success in this position will come from bringing structure, visibility and operational rigour to a fast-moving environment while building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across OCTO and the wider business.
What You'll Do
- Cross-Functional Alignment & Business Operations
- Partner with leaders across Cloud, SRE, Networks, Digital Workplace Services and Enterprise Operations to drive organisational alignment.
- Coordinate strategic planning, operational reviews and cross-functional initiatives.
- Establish business office operating mechanisms, governance processes and delivery frameworks.
- Drive follow-through on leadership priorities, actions and commitments.
- Support finance, compliance, people and operational planning activities across the organisation.
- Enterprise Portfolio & Demand Management
- Own and govern the portfolio demand intake process across Platform Engineering.
- Build and maintain a consolidated portfolio view aligned to business priorities.
- Facilitate governance forums, portfolio reviews and leadership reporting activities.
- Monitor programme health, risks, dependencies and delivery outcomes.
- Support prioritisation decisions using business value, capacity and strategic objectives.
- Performance Metrics & Executive Reporting
- Design and maintain KPI, OKR and performance measurement frameworks.
- Create dashboards and reporting mechanisms that provide a single source of truth for leadership.
- Translate technical and operational data into clear executive-level insights.
- Identify trends, risks and opportunities that support data-driven decision making.
- Coordinate organisational reporting for senior leadership audiences.
- Communications & Organisational Engagement
- Own executive presentations, leadership updates and strategic communications.
- Maintain service catalogues, knowledge repositories and business office content.
- Support preparation of leadership reviews, board updates and executive meetings.
- Coordinate and standardise outward-facing communications across the function.
- Ensure Platform Engineering's priorities, achievements and value are effectively communicated across Pearson.
- Strategic Partnership
- Act as a trusted partner across Platform Engineering leadership.
- Help drive transformation initiatives and organisational improvements.
- Coordinate activities across multiple programmes, stakeholders and workstreams.
- Bring structure, governance and operational rigour to a fast-moving environment.
- Influence senior stakeholders and help remove barriers to execution.
- What You'll Bring
- 8+ years' experience within technology organisations.
- 4+ years within PMO, Portfolio Management, Business Operations, Chief of Staff, Delivery Management or Business Office leadership roles.
- Experience managing portfolios containing multiple programmes, projects and workstreams simultaneously.
- Strong governance, planning and stakeholder management expertise.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders within complex matrix organisations.
- Experience producing executive-level reporting, dashboards and performance insights.
- Exceptional communication, facilitation and presentation skills.
- Experience with Jira, Jira Product Discovery, Confluence, Service Now and related enterprise platforms.
- A highly organised, structured and pragmatic approach to problem solving.
- Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with competing priorities and changing demands.
Desirable
- Experience supporting infrastructure, platform engineering, cloud or technology operations functions.
- PMO, Portfolio Office, Governance or Consultancy background.
- Prince2, MSP, Agile or related programme management certifications.
- Experience establishing business office or strategic operations functions within large enterprises.
- Location & Working Pattern
- Hybrid - London (The Strand)
This role is expected to spend approximately 2-3 days per week in Pearson's London office, working closely with senior technology leaders and stakeholders across Platform Engineering and OCTO.
Why Pearson?
This is more than a programme management role. It is an opportunity to build and shape a brand-new business office within one of Pearson's most critical technology organisations.
You will influence strategic decisions, establish new operating models, drive operational excellence and help define how Platform Engineering demonstrates business value across Pearson.
As platform capabilities, cloud services and AI-driven technologies continue to evolve, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact at enterprise scale.
#LI-DM2 #LI-Hybrid
Principal, Program Management employer: Pearson
Pearson Edexcel is an excellent employer that values the expertise of its staff, offering a flexible ad-hoc role that allows for a balanced work-life dynamic. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees have access to resources and training that enhance their skills while contributing to the educational success of students in the North East. The supportive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, making it a rewarding environment for those passionate about education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal, Program Management
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Principal, Program Management at Pearson!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Pearson or be willing to refer you for that Principal, Program Management position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Pearson who’s on the lookout for their next Principal, Program Management star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Principal, Program Management role at Pearson!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal, Program Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Pearson. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pearson
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Pearson. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
