Job title: IELTS Programme Delivery Lead
Contract: Full time, permanent
Salary: £62,100-£73,200 per annum
Location: Cambridge, Hybrid
We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation, and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.
Lead delivery for Cambridge of the change programmes and projects for International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the world's most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test for study, work and migration.
Our mission is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Which is why every year, we give vital support to millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. From teachers and learners to researchers and academics, we help to build confidence, unlock potential, and enable success. We give people the opportunity to show what they've learnt, we spread knowledge, spark enquiry, and aid understanding.
We achieve this by embracing change, and continuously focusing on our customers' needs. And by collaborating, and carefully listening to our customers and to each other, we keep moving forward, keep innovating, and keep finding newer and better ways of doing things.
The Role
The IELTS Programme Delivery Lead is responsible for delivering on behalf of the Programme Change Director, all the projects for which Cambridge has shared or full responsibility as part of the major transformation programme of work to modernise the IELTS product, systems and processes. Accountable to the Managing Director of IELTS and Programme Change Director, you'll need to successfully deliver IELTS product, system and process modernisation outcomes and objectives to meet schedule, budget and quality expectations.
Overseeing a portfolio of related projects, the role will involve guiding the programme manager and project managers, reviewing plans for alignment with programme strategy and schedule, tracking progress, managing interdependencies, risks and issues, developing and implementing the programme commercial model, and managing benefits realisation. Working closely with the Head of IELTS Product Development, you'll also provide oversight of product development, scope prioritisation and requirements management. You'll lead development of business cases for investment funding and oversee programme finances.
In a complex organisational and stakeholder environment, you'll provide the interface between product owner, programme manager and functional leads and act as a key liaison point between the programme, other parts of the business, suppliers and partners. You'll need to manage successful delivery of change into operations, and oversee communications across the portfolio. At the same time you'll need to manage a high performing multi-functional programme team in a matrix environment.
About You
With solid experience of successfully delivering complex multi-faceted programmes and projects, you'll be confident delivering technology-enabled change in a challenging stakeholder landscape and demanding operational environment. You're likely to have strong experience of working in an agile environment, with knowledge of product development and the ability to see the broader picture and how it impacts on programme delivery.
You'll have excellent communication skills including the ability to manage complex internal and external relationships and negotiate with and influence senior stakeholders, suppliers and partners. You're also likely to have strong commercial expertise, and ideally will have awareness of the global English language assessment market.
You'll need to have a collaborative approach whilst being tenacious and resilient to ensure focus on delivery. You are likely to have a degree in a relevant field or proven comparable experience, and qualifications in programme/project management and/or agile software development are desirable.
Given the global nature of IELTS, a degree of flexibility to work outside of normal business hours will be required.
Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive package of benefits to help with your life both inside and outside of work:
- Generous contributory pension
- 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Annual performance related bonus and increases (discretionary)
- Employee discount and cash back scheme at 2,500 retailers
- Cycle scheme
- Season Ticket Loan
- Subsidised staff restaurants
- Support for professional qualifications
- Discounted access to the University of Cambridge Sport Centre, along with various other local gyms.
The key to our work is our colleagues, whose shared commitment enables us to have an ever-greater impact. We are a united, vibrant, and respectful global community of people, and we ensure that every individual is recognised, listened to, and cared for. And because our impact is amplified when our people are empowered, we give everyone the opportunity to develop in their own way. Whether you want a career that's linear, or want to follow your own path, we'll support you, and help give you the resources and training you'll need to be bold and take ownership of what you do.
The closing date for application is 19th March 2023.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it's safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.
We believe that diversity of thought, background, and approach create better outcomes. More importantly, fostering an inclusive culture is the right thing to do, and it's part of how we achieve our purpose: to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Ensuring that anyone, no matter who they are, feels they belong here is an essential part of who we are and the contribution we make to society, and to our planet.
To enable an environment which our people can thrive in, our customers benefit from, and where work complements life, we empower everyone to manage their time and capacity, and to prioritise their wellbeing. That's why from day one everyone at Cambridge University Press & Assessment can discuss flexible working options to find the best solution for them and their role. 
