Advanced Specialist, Product Management

About Pearson

Pearson is a global leader dedicated to creating innovative and accessible assessment products and services that empower personal and professional growth for learners everywhere.

Role Overview

As an Advanced Specialist in Product Management, you will manage and drive the strategic direction for specific product segments within Pearson Professional Assessments. Your focus areas include exam authoring, item banking, test assembly, and publishing functionalities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement product strategies by integrating customer, stakeholder, market, regulation, and business requirements into a clear vision and actionable roadmaps for agile teams.
• Lead product discovery efforts across author, reviewer, approver, psychometrician, and exam-builder workflows, balancing diverse factors such as customer value, operational needs, technical feasibility, compliance, and product viability.
• Identify and cultivate innovative opportunities by responsibly incorporating generative AI and emerging technologies to enhance authoring efficiency, support new assessment methods, and streamline workflows while ensuring governance, security, and assessment integrity.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of business constraints from marketing, sales, support, finance, legal, and privacy perspectives and incorporate these considerations into product decisions.
• Continuously monitor industry trends and competitive landscapes relevant to your product.
• Collaborate and influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders through data-driven communication and clear translation of complex concepts.

Desired Attributes

The ideal candidate is an inquisitive and evidence-driven product manager passionate about user-centric problem identification and solution design. You have experience using AI tools within product workflows and demonstrate strong technical credibility and partnership with engineering. Analytical thinking, commitment to user improvement, fast learning, and team collaboration are key strengths.

Major Focus Areas

• Formulating clear value propositions and outcome-based goals aligned with users' needs.
• Establishing measurement plans including leading and lagging performance indicators.
• Performing user research via interviews, usability sessions, and workflow observations to obtain direct insights.
• Applying generative and evaluative discovery techniques appropriately.
• Collaborating closely with engineering and design teams to shape solutions and ensure high-quality delivery.
• Producing precise product documentation such as vision statements, PRDs, specifications, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Leveraging AI tools (e.g., generative AI, prompt engineering) for product enhancement.
• Maintaining awareness of technological advancements beyond AI affecting user experience.
• Building strong relationships with key stakeholders and transparently communicating progress and risks.
• Presenting compelling product narratives explaining the problem, target user, significance, and success criteria.

Measures of Success

• Within 6 months: Direct user understanding, strong interdisciplinary relationships, well-defined problem framing, and initial delivery of meaningful outcomes.
• Within 18 months: Proven record of impactful problem solving, measurable user outcome improvements, and increased scope and ownership.

Qualifications

• Proven individual contributor experience managing complex, technical product initiatives from concept through release with measurable success.
• Advanced discovery skills including conducting user interviews and usability testing to validate problems prior to solution development.
• Hands-on experience with AI-driven workflows and emerging technologies in controlled, quality-focused environments emphasizing governance and defensible outcomes.
• Strong collaboration with engineering and design teams in iterative, outcome-focused delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to align cross-functional teams, remove blockers, and achieve coherent impactful results.
• Competence in navigating ambiguity, managing trade-offs, and elevating critical risks appropriately.
• Analytical expertise in defining metrics, planning measurement strategies, and interpreting performance data to guide product prioritization.
• Track record of solving complex problems with multiple constraints and producing clear, data-grounded documentation and narratives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to simplify complex technical topics for diverse audiences.
• History of delivering features aligned with original requirements with minimal post-launch issues.

Preferred Experience

• Background in computer-based testing, certification, licensure, or high-stakes regulated environments focusing on content lifecycle workflows.
• Experience in education technology, media, or other content-rich sectors.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and internationalization for global, diverse user groups.
• Familiarity with content structuring concepts such as content atomization and modular architectures.

Additional Information

This full-time role offers remote work flexibility. The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $140,000 annually, depending on skill set, experience level, and location. Eligible candidates may participate in an annual incentive program. Applications are accepted until August 7th, with possible extensions based on business needs.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Pearson is committed to equal employment opportunities and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected categories. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be requested during the hiring process.