New Business Development Executive Director at Pearson

Job description

Overview

Pearson SouthAfrica currently generates revenue of R1.5b and employs 1400 people nationally.This comprises our owned and operated (known as “Direct Delivery”) business(two Universities, CTI and the Pearson Institute) and Learning Services(Content, Digital Solutions and Services business). This business is known forthe sub-brands Maskew Miller Longman and Heinemann. Pearson South Africa ispart of the Pearson Growth Markets (Brazil, Spanish speaking Latin America,India, China, Middle East, South Africa) and reports into the MD of PearsonSouth Africa.

JobScope

To assist Pearson SA acquire new customers and selladditional and or new solutions to existing customers. Identify newopportunities across products, services and also leverage our global businessand technology to open up new business initiatives that support our overallstrategic goals in the long and short term. The strategic implementation ofthese initiatives is a key accountability of this role and with it oversight ofall business projects and working in collaboration with the Executive team andsenior leadership team both locally and where relevant, globally.

The New Business Director’s responsibilities willinclude the following tasks:

• Developa growth strategy focused both on financial gain and customer satisfaction
• Reviewand report on the execution of key projects, ensuring that the objectives arewell understood and executed by the relevant teams
• Developa Stakeholder engagement plan, identifying current key stakeholders, wherethere are opportunities to optimize growth and in line with the businessstrategy, and also new stakeholders Pearson can engage with in line with ourlong-term objective and value proposition
• Identifynew market spaces, market disruptions and where the business areas should focusto obtain market share, long term sustainable growth and generate operatingincome and opportunity for growth
• Presentand facilitate the implementation of all business projects that fall within thescope of the New business
• Providemarket feedback to the leadership team regarding competitive offerings,prospect needs and generate product development ideas
• Collaboratewith and engage global colleagues and teams to ensure local strategy andlandscape is understood and global reach is aligned to local conditions
• Effectiveworking in a virtual and matrixed environment locally and globally, takingaccountability for the delivery of the local strategy, understanding thatleadership alignment is mandatory
• Facilitateand lead the business in innovation around new product and service initiativesand idea generation, using the Pearson agile SAFE approach and by optimizing thePearson hackathon and technology platforms
• Balanceshort term financial requirements and longer term sustainability projects
• Ensurepersonal and brand credibility in the marketplace through regular interactionwith stakeholders and customers
• Deliverfinance and efficacy results according to targets

Essential Skills AndExperience

• Proventrack record of being an Innovation catalyst and successful strategicimplementation of Innovation strategy aligned to business objectives at asenior leadership level, seen as someone who delivers results, leads by exampleby behaving as an Owner (as opposed to an Employee), low profile (i.e. does nottake the limelight)
• Aninfluencer of change and innovation, enabling a business to introduceInnovation as a way of working; to ensure idea generation and agile thinkingand approach are embedded into business process and formulation of strategy
• Highlevels of business acumen to ensure that any initiative introduced orimplemented is viable, sustainable and profitable
• Trackrecord in agreeing and closing deals with clients
• Understandspeople are the main priority and that leadership alignment is mandatory:collaboration is key
• Effectivestakeholder management at a senior level across external and internal groupsboth globally and locally
• Entrepreneurial,‘hands on’ style who can delegate tasks and hold others accountable fordelivery
• Strongskills in business development, project management, commercial acumen, criticalthinking and analysis
• Understandsthe role culture plays in the company success
• Ability to rally a large group of people towards key goals,strong verbal and written communications, and interpersonal interactions andget strategy implemented through teams that are not in your directorganizational structure
• Has leda large organisation transformation or change initiative, preferably one thatrequired a digital transformation
• Provencapability to understand and meet requirements from both internal and externalcustomers
• Provenexperience working in collaboration with a widely distributed team in a globalenterprise to make things happen
• Ideallyhas knowledge of top of current technologies, trends and understand how theymight be used to solve challenges today and in the future
• Mustemulate the Pearson ‘always learning’ culture through having completed tertiaryeducation up to Honours level or Masters level, and desire for continuouslearning by keeping up to date with the economy and opportunities for growth

Qualifications

Must emulate the Pearson ‘always learning’ culture through having completed tertiary education up to Honours level or Masters level, and demonstrate the desire for continuous learning by keeping up to date with the economy and opportunities for growth

Important to note

• Therole requires local and international travel, and with time zones, virtualmeetings in line with North and South America time zones.EmploymentEquity will be factored into the decision on the final candidate
• Pearson iscommitted to the principles of Employment Equity and in accordance with ourEmployment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitableapplicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act andsubsequent amendments thereto.