Lead Specialist, Program Manager

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and detail-oriented Program Manager to lead cross-functional programs that deliver impactful outcomes across the organization. This role requires a strong background in program delivery, team coordination, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment to organizational goals. The ideal candidate will manage multiple complex initiatives, ensuring timely execution, high quality, and measurable results.

What You'll Own

• Program Leadership & Execution:
  • Lead end-to-end planning and execution of strategic programs spanning multiple teams or departments.
  • Define and manage scope, goals, deliverables, dependencies, and milestones across projects within a program.
  • Ensure alignment with business goals and drive programs forward through ambiguity and complexity.
• Cross-functional Coordination:
  • Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Go-to-Market, Content, and Customer Success teams to align priorities and resources.
  • Act as a central point of contact and communication between project teams, executives, and stakeholders.
• Risk & Issue Management:
  • Identify program-level risks, develop mitigation strategies, and escalate issues when necessary.
  • Track and resolve program impediments and interdependencies that impact timelines or deliverables.
• Process & Governance:
  • Implement and maintain effective program governance structures, including reporting frameworks, dashboards, and communication plans.
  • Drive continuous improvement by identifying gaps in processes and working with teams to implement best practices.
• Performance & Reporting:
  • Monitor key performance indicators and provide regular reporting on progress, roadblocks, and outcomes to senior leadership.
  • Support organizational planning cycles by providing input on timelines, resource needs, and cross-team dependencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (MBA or PMP certification preferred).
• 7+ years of program management experience in a technology or product-driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale programs with multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of project and program management tools (e.g., Jira, Jira Product Discovery, Confluence, Smartsheet, MS Project).
• Experience with all project methodologies.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to solving complex problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with distributed teams and/or global delivery models.
• Familiarity with budgeting, resource forecasting, and vendor management.
• Background in software development or product lifecycle management is a strong plus.
• Ability to drive cultural change, influence without authority, and navigate matrixed organizations.

Requirements

• Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location.
• The minimum full-time salary range is between $120,000 - 160,000.
• This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program.
• Applications will be accepted through 27th April. This window may be extended depending on business needs.