Background

At Pearson, we help people realise the life they imagine through learning. With the emergence of generative AI, we are at an exciting crossroads in the company, harnessing the immense power of the technology with extreme care for what matters to us most – the trust and safety of our learners. As we shift from scattered experiments to everyday use of AI across our products and operations, we need to ensure our investments are focused, coordinated, and delivered responsibly. That’s why we created the AI Centre for Enablement (C4E): a company‑wide hub that brings together shared strategy, reusable components, and applied research, so teams don’t solve the same problems in isolation. 

Within the C4E, the Strategy & Governance function provides the clarity and direction that keeps our efforts aligned. We are responsible for curating an integrated narrative for our enterprise AI strategy, guide prioritization of common use cases through the AI Strategy Council and track the value and impact of our investments. This work ensures that every AI initiative we support is purposeful, avoids duplication, and contributes to Pearson’s long‑term ability to scale AI safely, ethically, and effectively.

Role Summary

Drive Pearson’s enterprise-wide AI strategy by leading high-impact initiatives, aligning cross-functional teams, and shaping the company’s AI vision. This role is all about turning strategic insights into action—embedding AI into product and technology rhythms, ensuring executive visibility, and championing ethical, value-driven AI investments. You’ll be a trusted expert, collaborating across the business to deliver practical solutions that move Pearson forward.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the AI demand management process for technology-enabled use cases across Product, Engineering, and Operations.
• Coordinate and drive foundational AI capability development and standardization with R&D, product, and business teams.
• Maintain a unified AI product portfolio—tracking use cases, assessing impact, and managing risk in partnership with Product Excellence.
• Analyze and triage new and existing AI initiatives, ensuring alignment and prioritization with business goals.
• Define and implement criteria for scaling, pausing, or stopping AI investments, supporting clear decision-making across business units.
• Partner with Group Strategy to evaluate and recommend AI partnerships and inorganic investment opportunities.
• Report on AI-driven innovation, investment effectiveness, and value realization to senior leadership.
• Design and pilot tools for portfolio insights, such as use-case status and maturity tracking.
• Facilitate the AI Strategy Council, driving agenda, actions, and continuous improvement.
• Support the creation of the annual enterprise AI strategy and decision framework, ensuring clarity and practical impact.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and market analysis to inform business direction.
• Advanced data analysis, data visualization, and storytelling to translate insights into action.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to influence and align diverse teams.
• Experience with AI technologies, governance, and ethical considerations.
• Demonstrated commitment to Pearson’s essential behaviors: Customer Centricity, Exceptional Collaboration for Value, Raising the Performance Bar, and Our Leaders Inspire.

Qualifications (Education & Experience):

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Strategy, Business, Technology).
• Significant experience in strategic planning, AI initiatives, and cross-functional leadership.
• Proven ability to deliver results in a dynamic, collaborative environment.