Job Description

The Regulation Team is part of the Business Improvement and Regulation Directorate, within the Quality, Regulation and Governance business unit. We are responsible for ensuring that Pearson is aware of and is supported to meet its regulatory obligations. We act as a primary point of contact on regulatory matters for the business, qualifications regulators and other key stakeholders in education and qualifications, both in the UK and internationally.

Job Function

The Advanced Specialist will work within the Regulation Team and will primarily be responsible for working with the English Language Learning business to ensure the regulatory correspondence, including event notifications, is managed in an effective and timely manner. The primary focus of the role will be to work closely with ELL colleagues to support them in their compliance with regulatory requirements at all stages of product design, development and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements

• Work with the business to support understanding of the escalation/event notification process and ensure effective event notifications are submitted in a timely manner.
• Work with the business to support understanding of the root cause analysis (RCA) methodology required to underpin effective improvement plans.
• Support the business to deliver improvement action plans to completion.
• Provide advice and guidance to the business to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements at all times (throughout the design and delivery/assessment of qualifications).
• Keep up to date with developments in the qualifications landscape and ensure that these are communicated in a timely way to the relevant business areas.
• Accurately log and track regulatory requirements to ensure business owners are aware and deadlines for responding are met.
• Coordinate the development of responses to regulatory correspondence, ensuring timely, complete and accurate responses are provided.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of regulatory correspondence.
• Co-ordinate regulatory audit activities and responses to any actions/improvements identified.
• Review and update policy and process documents to ensure clarity and eliminate unnecessary burden.
• Support the appeals process in relation to ELL qualifications.
• Contribute as required to the annual Statement of Compliance and self-assessment reports to regulators.

Supporting the business in understanding regulatory requirements and risks

• Deliver training to the business on regulatory matters, new regulations and guidance.
• Ensure that communications from regulators and other key agencies are shared with the correct people in the ELL team in a timely way.
• Provide analysis of and seek feedback to ensure that all relevant business stakeholders are aware of requirements.
• Respond to queries from colleagues and customers in relation to the interpretation of regulatory requirements.
• Identify regulatory risks and ensure that they are logged, communicated appropriately, and managed.
• Contribute to bids and business development initiatives to ensure that new opportunities do not expose Pearson to regulatory risk.
• Regularly update Pearson’s Responsible Officer, Team Manager and Senior Management, providing relevant reports, data, advice and guidance.

Stakeholder management, liaison and influence

• Develop and maintain relationships and communications with regulators, government agencies, and other stakeholder bodies in relation to the delivery of our qualifications and assessments.
• Represent Pearson at meetings and share outcomes and discussions promptly across the team and the business, as appropriate.
• Influence regulators and external stakeholders, including other JCQ and FAB member Awarding Organisations, to ensure Pearson’s position is effectively articulated and reflected in policy and guidance.
• Coordinate the formulation of Pearson’s responses to external consultations in relation to regulation, ensuring relevant colleagues are advised and are able to contribute.

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential

• Education to degree level, or above, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the education and qualification regulatory and policy landscape for both vocational and general qualifications.
• Knowledge and deep understanding of qualification regulations such as the Ofqual General Conditions of Recognition.
• An understanding of assessment methodology and validity, ideally gained within an English Language assessment environment.
• IT literate; competent in Word, Excel, Powerpoint.
• Experience in a role requiring influencing at a senior level.

Desirable

• Experience of working with a regulated awarding organisation, qualifications regulator or other regulated organisation.
• Experience/qualification in programme or project management.