Team Manager, Product Management

Team Manager, Product Management

The T Level Product Owner is accountable for the strategic leadership, development, delivery and lifecycle management of Pearson’s T level qualifications. Working across a complex matrix of assessment, operations, technology, commercial and customer teams, the postholder will define the T Level product strategy, oversee qualification development and change, manage government and regulatory relationships, and lead on the successful delivery against agreed contractual commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the overall T Level strategy, vision and roadmap.

• Provide end-to-end accountability for T Level performance, growth and operational readiness.

• Lead governance, reporting and executive stakeholder communications.

• Ensure alignment across product, assessment, delivery, operations and technology workstreams.

• Oversee commercial, contractual and regulatory obligations relating to T Levels.

• Prioritise strategic investments, change initiatives and continuous improvement activity.

• Manage key risks, dependencies and escalation routes across the T Level portfolio.

• Represent T Levels within Pearson governance forums and with external stakeholders including DfE, awarding organisations and providers.

• Drive transition from contract-led delivery to a scalable, product-led operating model.

• Define and own the strategic vision, roadmap and product lifecycle strategy for the T levels portfolio.

• Translate government policy and market intelligence into product strategies and investment plans.

• Lead T Level portfolio planning, prioritisation and decision-making to ensure products remain relevant, compliant and commercially sustainable.

• Ensure alignment between qualification strategy, organisational objectives and contractual obligations.

• Key Accountabilities

• Product Strategy and Portfolio Leadership

• Ensure delivery of all contractual commitments, milestones, reporting requirements and service obligations.

• Work closely with DfE and contracting authorities to maintain confidence in delivery.

• Support contract mobilisation, extension and transition activities.

• Product Performance and Commercial Accountability

• Own product performance measures including customer satisfaction, quality indicators, contract KPIs and financial performance.

• Develop business cases and investment proposals for T Level portfolio development.

• Monitor performance trends and implement improvement plans where required.

• Ensure T Level products deliver value for customers while maintaining commercial sustainability.

• Continuous Improvement and Innovation

• Champion evidence-based improvement across qualification development and delivery.

• Use customer insight, performance data and market intelligence to inform decision making.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, digital delivery and customer experience.

• Leadership Expectations

• Sets strategic direction and creates clarity of purpose.

• Builds trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and government partners and internal teams.

• Lead governance forums as appropriate.

• Balance strategic priorities with operational considerations and delivery constraints.

• Drive collaboration across functions to deliver consistent customer and learner experiences.

• Demonstrates accountability for outcomes and contractual performance.

• Uses data and evidence to drive decision-making.

• Develops high-performing teams and promotes continuous improvement.

• Operates with integrity, transparency and strong regulatory awareness.

• Skills and Competencies

• Adaptability (Effective): Responds productively to change, adjusts priorities, and sustains momentum in dynamic situations.

• Artificial Intelligence (Effective): Applies AI tools to streamline work and inform decisions.

• Learning to Learn (Effective): Uses strategies to acquire new skills quickly and deeply.

• Stakeholder Engagement (Effective): Collaborates across teams to ensure alignment and buy-in.

• Business Acumen (Experienced): Understands commercial drivers and makes sound business decisions.

• Customer Discovery (Experienced): Gathers insights to shape product direction.

• Data Analysis (Effective): Translates data into actionable insights for product improvement.

• Design Thinking (Effective): Applies creative problem-solving to product development.

• Product Strategy (Effective): Uses customer and market intelligence to inform long-term direction.

• Strategic Thinking (Effective): Anticipates trends and shapes competitive advantage.

Proficiency Level Descriptors :

• Effective: Consistently applies this skill to complex tasks, works independently, and adapts approaches to achieve results.

• Experienced: Demonstrates deep expertise, mentors others, and leads initiatives using this skill.

• Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified to degree level (or equivalent).

• Substantial knowledge of the UK education market and environment including schools, colleges, private training providers, HEIs and employer environment

• Experience of working in different regulated and/or government-policy driven environments and substantial knowledge of the regulatory environment concerning vocational qualifications

• Substantial experience in funded vocational qualification product management

• Experience of developing winning and customer-focused strategies

• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex products.

• Experience managing government, regulatory, or contractual relationships is highly desirable.

• 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.