About the role

Join Pearson's Higher Education team as a Director of Channel Partner Strategy. This position is more than a job; it's a chance to significantly impact Pearson's success and your career growth.

Reporting to the VP of Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education, we are seeking an innovative individual contributor to drive channel partner strategy, with a strong focus on revenue growth and long-term partnerships.

In this critical role, you will lead the strategic development and management of partnerships with bookstores and digital fulfillment providers, integrating partner functionalities with Pearson content, supporting contract negotiations, and tracking key performance metrics. Your work will be essential in achieving strategic goals and advancing growth through these crucial channels.

As the Director of Channel Partnership Strategy, you’ll play a pivotal role in the company's evolution, collaborating across sales, services, operations, and finance teams to champion commercial excellence and drive meaningful change in the Higher Education sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Alignment and Performance Management:

• Lead and align strategies with bookstores and digital fulfillment providers to maximize growth and enhance partnership effectiveness.

• Business Plan Development and Monitoring:

• Develop and implement comprehensive business plans for channel partnerships, adjusting strategies to achieve commercial growth and operational success.

• Performance Reporting and Risk Management:

• Monitor and report on the commercial health and key performance indicators of channel partners. Manage risks and opportunities, providing insights to the Executive Leadership team.

• Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with various internal departments to define and achieve goals related to channel partner engagement, performance metrics, and operational objectives.

• Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis:

• Gather and analyze market trends and competitive intelligence relevant to channel partners, using insights to inform strategic decisions.

• Partner and Channel Support Representation:

• Represent Pearson in channel partner-related activities, including conferences, ensuring strong partner relationships and operational alignment.

• Team Communications and Relationship Building:

• Facilitate effective communication regarding account health, drive renewal strategies for high-risk accounts, and build productive relationships with partner teams. Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

• Administrative and Operational Efficiency:

• Maintain accurate tracking mechanisms and analysis for management insights.

• Document, plan, and execute programs using quarterly review templates.

Qualifications:

• Sales and Marketing Experience: Minimum of 5+ years in account management or customer-facing roles.

• Commercial Experience: Proven track record in managing channel partnerships and driving growth.

• Process Improvement: Ability to modernize and optimize processes within complex organizations.

• Influential Leadership: Skills in influencing and driving change without direct authority.

• Vendor and Account Management: Experience managing vendor relationships and overseeing account profiles.

• Contract Management Skills: Demonstrated experience in managing commercial agreements, ensuring compliance, and overseeing the execution and renewal of contracts. Strong ability to hold parties accountable and effectively manage contract lifecycles to mitigate risks and optimize outcomes.

• Stakeholder Communication: Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Specialized Knowledge: Experience in EdTech and digital subscription products (B2B, B2C, B2C2B).

• Educational Sector Collaboration: Familiarity with higher education and learning institutions.

• Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business, sales management, or a related field.

Essential Attributes:

• Executive presence with strong consultative sales and value articulation skills.

• Achievement-driven with determination to achieve results and spot opportunities.

• Creative problem-solving with strong analytical and strategic thinking.

• Exceptional communication skills—written, oral, and presentational.

• High emotional intelligence, building and maintaining trusting relationships with empathy.

• Collaborative leadership, able to work effectively in teams and adapt quickly to change.

• Initiative-taking and resilient, with the ability to prioritize, learn quickly, and handle stressful situations.

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, New York State, New York City, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

The minimum full-time salary range is between $140,000 - $150,000.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: SALES

Organization: Higher Education

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Remote

Req ID: 17521

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