Advanced Specialist, Sales

Advanced Specialist, Sales – UK Higher Education

About the role

Retain and drive growth. Build relationships. Shape the future.

As a Higher

Education

• Curriculum Development Manager, you will grow Pearson's qualification and services business in higher education by supporting universities and HE providers with Higher National License, Higher Technical Qualifications, apprenticeship services, Level 3 progression routes and wider vocational solutions.

• Working with customers and internal teams, you will identify opportunities, strengthen existing partnerships and position Pearson as a trusted partner across the HE and FE interface. You will use customer insight, market awareness and strong commercial discipline to support retention, growth and market share.

• Key accountabilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of higher education customers, aligning Pearson's solutions to institutional priorities, learner demand and workforce skills needs.

• Drive revenue growth across Higher National License, HTQ/LLE/HN Flex, L3 BTEC, apprenticeship assessment and wider vocational products and services.

• Build a clear pipeline of new and existing customer opportunities through targeted prospecting, customer reviews, presentations and follow-up.

• Develop strategic relationships with university stakeholders and bring in the right Pearson colleagues where specialist expertise is needed.

• Identify opportunities across HE, FE provider and partnership networks, including linked delivery, progression routes and collaborative models.

• Use market, customer and performance insight to shape account plans, protect revenue and identify and drive growth opportunities.

• Work collaboratively across VQ Sales and our HE line of business, bringing together the right colleagues from Product, Operations, RevOps and other key internal teams to ensure activity exceeds customer expectation.

• Maintain accurate CRM records, forecasts, account plans and next steps in line with sales governance.

• Support wider team objectives and strategic growth initiatives where required.

• About you

• You are a commercially focused, relationship-led professional who enjoys building long-term partnerships with universities, colleges, and internal stakeholders. You combine education sector knowledge with curiosity, confidence and a practical approach to growth.

• You are comfortable using insight and data to shape conversations, spot opportunities and help customers make informed curriculum and commercial decisions.

Requirements

• Proven track record in sales, account management, curriculum development or a related commercial role within education or training.

• Thorough understanding of the technical vocational qualification landscape at Level 3 and above in England

• Ability to build trusted relationships with university, college, and internal stakeholders.

• Commercial mindset, with confidence developing pipeline, managing opportunities and supporting revenue growth.

• Able to use customer, market and performance data to inform planning and prioritisation.

• Collaborative working style, with the ability to work across teams and manage shared customer opportunities.

• Confident using CRM, sales tools and Microsoft Office.

• Valid driver's license and access to a car as travel will be required. Willingness to travel within the UK as required.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Opportunities for professional development and career progression

• Dynamic and inclusive work environment

• Attractive pension scheme

• Travel / Car allowance

• If you are commercially minded, customer-focused and interested in helping Pearson grow its higher education partnerships, we would be pleased to hear from you.

• 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.