Senior Proposition Manager

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Overview

Do you want to be help enrich the lives of learners worldwide?

At RM, we've been pioneers of education technology since 1973. We provide technology and resources to the education sector supporting over 10 million students around the world. We work with 28,000 schools, nurseries, and education trusts in 115 countries to deliver customer-centric solutions that improve education outcomes worldwide.

What we do helps learners at all stages of their lives, from preschool to higher education and professional qualification, we partner with schools, examination boards, central governments and other professional institutions, to enrich the lives of learners.

Responsibilities

We have an ambitious programme of investment that will help us to continue to be relevant to assessment organisations around the world as they look to modernise their assessment processes. This will see a particular focus on supporting organisations to transition from paper to digital assessments. This is so much more than simply replacing existing paper-based processes with digital and provides an opportunity to transform assessment and learning processes. Supporting organisations on that journey is a key differentiator for RM, and as a recognised thought leader in the market, we will bring capabilities such as artificial intelligence and adaptive testing into the eAssessment ecosystem in new, valuable and innovative ways.

Reporting to the Head of Proposition of RM's Assessment Division, we are looking for a leader who can take ownership for the development and delivery of RM's assessment propositions. The remit is to drive new propositions forward to launch, and manage the end-to-end lifecycle of existing propositions based on a sound understanding of market need. It is an exciting role that will help enable RM's drive to establishing a catalogue of repeatable services to facilitate our business growth ambition. In leading this function, the role is key in helping to drive mindset change across the organisation.

The portfolio of differentiated and compelling propositions will be articulated in a way that is aligned with the needs of RM's target markets, and the value our solutions bring to addressing those needs in the context of delivering high quality assessments and driving improved educational outcomes.

The role will work closely with Business Growth to gain market insight of emerging trends, pain points and user needs. It will also work closely with Product Management to align product roadmaps that deliver the required products and services to meet the proposition ambitions. It will work closely with the Service Design team to ensure that propositions are well designed, deliverable and carefully transitioned into live operations. It will also involve ownership of strategic relationships with key partners and suppliers which are foundational to the propositions that we offer.

This role will include leadership of the Propositions team, which will include other Proposition Managers and supporting roles such as Business Analysts. The purpose of the team is to act as the customer for internal investment, getting under the skin of market need, clearly articulate the business requirement, and drive the creation of propositions that will meet those needs.

Proposition Strategy

• Develop and maintain a portfolio of propositions that is aligned with RM's strategic objectives, and that articulate high customer value that addresses real market needs as more than just an articulation of "products and features".
• Ensure that the portfolio of propositions (both those owned by you and others owned within the proposition team) are joined up, and clearly communicated.
• Build compelling evidence of the value proposition through feedback with customers and the wider market.

Proposition Development

• For each proposition, establish a proposition roadmap.
• Establish and lead cross-functional teams in the design, development and launch of new propositions. Some project teams may include a Project Manager.
  • Own the requirements for each proposition, working with stakeholders inside and outside RM to define detailed requirements, working with a Business Analyst to complete this where appropriate.
  • Work with Product Management and the Service Design teams to ensure clear plans are in place for the development of products and services to meet current and future proposition needs.
  • Where relevant, establish and work with partners and suppliers integrating their service offerings into the proposition, ensuring the delivery of high quality and high value services. Own the establishment of new partnerships, including leading on the negotiation of commercial agreements.
  • Collaborate with the Business Growth teams to understand customer requirements, market dynamics and competitive landscape, and agree go to market plans.
• Establish and maintain catalogue descriptors, pricing and licence models, and compelling bid and sales collateral, to enable the business growth teams to communicate the benefits of the proposition to suspects and prospects, and secure new business opportunities.

Proposition Ownership

• Gather customer feedback and undertake continuous improvement of propositions to enhance their effectiveness.
• Monitor cost and profitability against forecast
• Be the evangelist for your proposition/s, able to sell their benefits and promote them within and outside of RM.
• Own and regularly update the proposition roadmap and catalogue descriptors.
• Align your proposition roadmaps with partners' roadmaps where relevant, ensuring the offer remains compelling and competitive.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, technological enhancements and learning from business growth and operational delivery, to refine propositions such that they remain differentiated, and to drive profit improvements

Team management

• Establish and lead a high performing Proposition Team, including Proposition Manager/s, Business Analysts, and Product Managers of early-life products. Ensure accountability is clearly defined, and individuals know how to succeed.
• Help drive cultural change across the business, where the Proposition Team is seen as a key enabler in the adoption of high quality, repeatable SaaS services that helps drive strategic growth in the organisation.

Experience

Proven experience of:

• Developing high value commercial propositions that deliver significant business growth and multi million pound revenues
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate customer insights into innovative proposition concepts that meet market need
• Strong management and leadership skills, demonstrating the ability to co-ordinate cross-functional teams and drive projects to successful completion

You will be:

• A strong communicator, able to effectively articulate the value of propositions to both internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong collaborative team player able to work well with individuals at all levels in the organisation to ensure all functions work in concert to deliver required business outcomes
• A market facing individual with track record of building strong long-term relationships with senior customers and suppliers.
• A confident decision-maker who is able to demonstrate sound commercial judgment in a broad variety of complex business scenarios

You will have:

• Demonstrable drive, energy and passion with an appetite for change and experience of successfully leading change
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, a highly personable, engaging approach and a strong communicator
• Attention to detail, demonstrating ownership of propositions, pricing models and adherence to governance processes

Desirable experience of:

• The assessment industry or education sector, ideally with previous experience of developing products or propositions for use within this sector

What's in it for you?

At RM we have "My Work Blend @RM" which provides office-based colleagues with multi location and hybrid working options to suit them. As well as your office base, you can spend a proportion of your time working at other locations that suit your role and your life, including home, other offices, customer sites, distribution centres or on the move. We encourage you to discuss arrangements for this role with your potential line manager during the recruitment process. We expect how we make best use of hybrid working may continue to adapt as we adjust to our new ways of working.

As well as a competitive salary and our core benefits package which includes private medical healthcare, life assurance and a Group Personal Pension Plan with higher contribution levels available, some roles are also eligible for a performance-related bonus. There are lots of voluntary benefits too. You could buy additional annual leave, join our dental plan, sign for a health assessment, or take part in our cycle to work scheme. You could even earn yourself an extra bonus for successfully recommending a friend or family member for a position within RM.

To better reflect the society that we serve, we're committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. To achieve this, we create teams of talented people from different backgrounds and experiences and strive to be a business where our people can bring their whole selves to work. We also want to make the recruitment process as inclusive as possible for everyone. Should you require additional support with your application or through the interview process, please contact us at recruitment@rm.com.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.