Our Organisation

We are the world’s learning company with more than 20,000 employees, supporting learners in nearly 200 countries worldwide. We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. We’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

At Pearson, we believe in the power of difference. Harnessing the unique skills, perspectives, and backgrounds of every employee helps us foster innovation and create the most effective solutions for learners around the world. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring that diversity and inclusion are embedded into everything we do. We foster a work environment that’s inclusive and diverse — and where our people can be themselves — so we can reflect the customers and learners we serve. You can learn more about our commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture here:

https://plc.pearson.com/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion/

At Pearson, we are delighted to be awarded Gold against the Investors in People standard in the UK; we are confirmed by Stonewall in the Top 100 Employers LGBTQ+ UK employers; we are a Disability Confident committed employer, and committed to the Race Charter; we were recognised in the Best Employers for Diversity 2019 awards; we were featured on The Forbes List of Best D&I Employers; we are a Working Mums Top Employer and Age Positive employer. Pearson is a truly global family, and listed on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges. We are proud to offer an exceptional and supportive environment to develop your professional career!

Your Opportunity

• Lead Instructional Designer, Online Learning

• UK work from home position with occasional travel to Harlow/London

• Permanent & full-time working 37.5 hours per week

Reporting to the Principal Instructional Designer, the Lead Instructional Designer is responsible for managing the content development process from handover of the final learning design, UX and technology solution by Academic Services to handover of final and complete content (including storyboards, asset briefs, transcripts) to Content Production, ensuring that the learning design and content quality and treatment is as envisioned and maintained throughout the programme and module development. The Lead Instructional Designer plays an important role in working collaboratively with academics to achieve the desired course outcomes and will be the main point of contact for academics and Programme Leaders at the Institution.

This role will also manage and oversee Instructional Designers in all aspects of their work, ensuring consistency of approach and the highest quality across units. The Lead Instructional Designer will need to be prepared to script and storyboard themselves where needed and will work collaboratively with the Senior ID on project priorities. The Lead Instructional Designer will need to work collaboratively within a cross-functional team to deliver projects on time, to specification, quality and budget.

Your Key Responsibilities

Academic Relationship Management

• Serve as primary contact for academics and Programme Leaders at client universities. Consultation activities will include face to face meetings, instructional design and process workshops and presentations.

• Establish mutually agreed guidelines and templates for academics (to include academic manual and briefing documentation) for all projects

• Establish a relationship management strategy for each module to include ways of working, best practice, communication plan to ensure the development is collaborative and inclusive

Instructional Design standards and processes

• Lead on establishing storyboard templates for each programme and detailed module design documentation based on agreed ID methodology and course objectives

• Create objective-based, engaging storyboards, course components and courses that are aligned with the agreed learning design

• Be able to design, develop and review content in a range of off-the-shelf authoring tools (e.g. Articulate, Evolve etc)

• Produce sound instructional materials in accordance with solid instructional principles, current research, client objectives, and program objectives.

• Responsibility for ensuring that necessary Pearson and third party rights and permissions have been checked and cleared for use where Pearson is proposing content

• Select, engage and manage a strong network of trusted freelance instructional designers with the appropriate skill set in collaboration with the Principal Instructional Designer.

Content Development standards and processes

• Create a digital delivery plan for projects assigned: In conjunction with Principal Instructional Designer, confirm and agree appropriate resources, validate content development schedule and budget.

• Create template storyboards for each programme based on the agreed learning design

• Ensure quality, standards and schedules are maintained across all projects assigned to Instructional Designers

• Ensure all courses remain aligned to agreed brief, client needs and, above all, learner outcomes.

• Engage, train, coach and develop Instructional Designers, to include training and reviewing of all storyboards/content to ensure quality and consistency.

• Ensure content is final and complete for handover to content production team. This includes monitoring and reviewing content for rights & permissions, ensuring accurate ALT text and ensuring that all third party content is appropriately cleared for reuse where Pearson is proposing content

• Provide clear briefs as agreed for all asset creation and incorporate as part of the storyboard process.

Project management

• Manage all projects assigned from a content development perspective, ensuring that all projects are delivered on time, to budget and to specification. Continuously assess and prioritise your list of projects in order to maintain high standards that result in the delivery of an accurate and professional final product. Attend regular project team meetings as required and report back on schedule, risks and issues. Regularly report on progress of all projects to Principal Instructional Designer.

• Resolve all project-specific issues as they arise, ensuring that key stakeholders are aware of any delays or effect on milestones which may affect delivery. Risk and issue management; identifying risks, categorising and identifying suitable mitigation options.

• Manage budget/costs against initial P&L: monitor content development budget for projects assigned and communicate regularly on budget performance against agreed P&L to stakeholders.

• Project closure and archiving: Ensure that all key and relevant assets and documentation are archived.

Best practice

• Training and mentoring: Train and mentor new team members in best practice in instructional design and content development as required

• Documentation: create and share best practice/ detailed process documentation (with input from Principal Instructional Designer).

Our Successful Candidate

• Experience of working as an instructional designer or content development editor at a university or other Higher Education establishment, or publisher/online learning company producing online courses for the HE market

• Expert content writing skills, together with knowledge of the end to end content development process

• Experience of developing and producing online course materials in a variety of content formats

• Ability to work on multiple, complex projects within aggressive timeframes, to multi-task and continually prioritise changing project tasks / deliverables, and meet deadlines

• Solid project planning and management skills

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, academics and other key institutional stakeholders, and collaborate both in person and remotely.

• Ability to brief and manage external instructional designers to script content to the required standards and according to schedule

• Knowledge and experience with University Learning Management Systems

• Familiarity with relevant computer programs and course delivery platforms including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, flowchart mapping (e.g Lucidchart), screen capture software (e.g. Camtasia), off-the-shelf authoring tools (e.g. Articulate) and writing for Virtual Learning Environments (e.g. Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas)

• Strong attention to detail, superior organisational skills

• Academic relationship/management skills

• Willingness to travel within the UK to client meetings ( 20%)

• Understanding of the regulatory and legal requirements when using media assets such as copyright, intellectual property (IP) rights, web accessibility etc. desirable.

Transform your expertise to a new level - we have many interesting and dynamic projects to look forward to in 2022, therefore now is the ideal time to join our Pearson family. Apply now for a highly rewarding and truly global career!

Your Reward & Benefits

We’ll expect a lot and we know you’ll do great work, so we give a lot back with some of the best benefits in the business! We know that one size doesn’t fit all, so our workplace programmes meet the different needs of our diverse teams and their families too. Our most exciting options are featured below and when you join our Pearson family you can look forward to:

• Work from home with occasional travel.

• A starting holiday of 25 days plus UK public holidays and you’ll earn 1 additional day’s holiday per year you work with us.

• Generous pension scheme where we match and double what you contribute.

• Maternity, paternity, and family care leave as well as flexible work policies.

• Stock/share purchase options.

• Healthcare and dental plans, and an employee wellbeing assistance programme for you and your family to help balance work, family and personal life.

• Cycle to work program, gym membership concessions in selected office locations, along with retail and leisure discounts.

Our Recruitment Process

Please complete and submit your application as soon as possible and ensure that you apply directly on our Pearson Careers website only.

We are reviewing applications regularly and interviews are being scheduled now, therefore we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Wishing you success with your application!

#LI-POST

Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com. Pearson believes that wherever learning flourishes, so do people. We are committed to being an anti-racist company in everything we do. We value the power of an inclusive culture and 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 a sustainable environment and workplace where talent can learn, grow, and thrive.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, please click here: 

http://www.pearson.com/careers/diversity-and-inclusion.html

Pearson is an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate against employees or job applicants and select the best person for each job based on relevant skills and experience.

We are also committed to building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce and encouraging equality and diversity.

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