Job Description

Project Manager

International Higher Education

The International Higher Education business is a core growth engine for Pearson, supporting institutions, educators, and learners across more than 100 countries. Our work sits at the intersection of product, sales, marketing, technology, and operations, requiring strong coordination, pace, and clarity to deliver impact at scale.

This role brings together cross functional teams to improve how we operate, launch programs, support markets, and deliver value to customers. This work spans commercial initiatives, operating model evolution, technology enablement, and ways of working, with a strong focus on execution in complex global environments.

This is a highly visible, leadership sponsored opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders, contribute to meaningful change, and build broad exposure across the International Higher Education business.

As a Project Manager within International Higher Education, you will support the delivery of priority transformation and business initiatives across global markets. Reporting to a Senior Programme or Portfolio Lead, you will operate in a matrix environment, working with leaders and teams across Product, Sales, Marketing, Technology, Finance, and Operations.

You will be responsible for coordinating activities, managing timelines, and supporting effective communication to ensure initiatives move forward with pace, clarity, and alignment. This role is well suited to someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys working across cultures and time zones, and is motivated by enabling others to deliver results.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of assigned projects and initiatives aligned to International Higher Education strategic priorities.
• Work within a matrix environment to coordinate inputs across multiple functions, regions, and stakeholders.
• Track milestones, risks, dependencies, and decisions, providing clear and timely updates to programme and business leaders.
• Maintain project documentation, plans, and reporting to support transparency and informed decision making.
• Identify risks and issues early, escalating where appropriate and supporting mitigation planning.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across project teams, ensuring clarity of roles, timelines, and outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of project delivery practices, templates, and ways of working within the program management team.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Working knowledge of project management methodologies and tools, with experience supporting projects in matrixed, cross functional environments.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Clear, confident communication skills, with the ability to build trust and relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Comfort working in fast paced, evolving environments with changing priorities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, supporting alignment and progress without direct authority.
• Data literacy and attention to detail, supporting accurate reporting and decision making.
• Demonstrated commitment to Pearson’s Essential Behaviours including Customer Centricity, Exceptional Collaboration for Value, Raising the Performance Bar, and Our Leaders Inspire.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Typically requires 5 or more years of experience supporting project delivery in complex, matrixed environments, ideally within global or commercial organisations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Project management or change related certifications such as PMP, CAPM, Agile