Lead Specialist, Program Manager
Pearson · 42 days ago
Role Purpose:
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This role is accountable for the successful delivery of complex programmes & multiple interdependent projects aligned to global business priorities.
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The role operates with defined objectives & governance, exercising professional judgement, structured problem solving & proactive risk management to deliver outcomes in a fast‑paced, global environment.
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The Program Manager works as part of a global, multi‑location team, engaging a wide range of stakeholders to coordinate delivery, manage dependencies & maintain transparency on progress, risks, outcomes.
Key Accountabilities:
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Deliver one or more medium‑to‑large scale programs, consisting of multiple projects or workstreams.
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Manage program plans, milestones, dependencies, risks & issues using Smartsheet.
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Balance & prioritize multiple concurrent initiatives, meeting deadlines in a pressured & changing environment.
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Apply structured problem‑solving to resolve delivery issues, proposing practical options & recommendations.
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Operate within established governance frameworks while exercising judgement on delivery decisions.
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Coordinate stakeholders across functions & geographies, contributing to a global delivery model.
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Provide clear, accurate & decision‑focused status reporting & insights to senior stakeholders.
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Identify delivery risks early & actively manage mitigation actions & escalation paths.
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Support program governance forums with high‑quality materials & analysis.
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Adhere to global program management standards & contribute to continuous improvement.
Skills & Capabilities:
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Proven program & project management expertise.
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Strong problem‑solving, analytical & critical‑thinking skills.
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Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity & competing priorities.
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Demonstrated capability to deliver under pressure & tight timelines.
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Confident stakeholder engagement across cultures & time zones.
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High attention to detail with strong focus on outcomes & value.
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Hands‑on experience using Smartsheet or other project planning tools for planning, tracking & reporting.
Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications:
Essential:
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Minimum 5 years’ experience in program or senior project management.
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Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
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Practical experience working in global or distributed teams.
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Hands‑on experience using Smartsheet in a delivery environment.
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Experience in large, matrixed or transformation‑led organizations.
Desirable:
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Program or Project management certifications (e.g. MSP, PRINCE2, PMP, PgMP, Agile).
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Hands‑on experience using Smartsheet in a delivery.
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Experience using Jira and/or similar agile delivery tools for tracking work.
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