The Head of Assessment Recognitions leads Pearson’s global strategy to secure and activate institutional and government recognition of Pearson’s English language assessments — including the Pearson Test of English (PTE), Pearson English Express Test (PEXT), and related products. This role ensures Pearson’s assessments are accepted for key decision purposes such as university admissions, visa applications, and professional certifications. 

The position drives recognition, advocacy, and activation activities through a globally distributed team, collaborating closely with Product, Marketing, Government Relations, and Pearson VUE to position Pearson as a trusted and preferred assessment provider worldwide. 

Key Responsibilities 

Global Recognition Strategy 

Develop and execute a comprehensive global strategy to secure recognition of Pearson’s assessments (PTE, PEXT, PEIC) by governments, universities, and institutions for visa, study, and migration purposes. 

Prioritize regions and markets based on strategic opportunity and alignment with business growth goals. 

Identify and address competitive threats by shaping policy and advocacy engagement with recognition bodies. 

Advocacy and Relationship Management 

Lead high-impact engagement with ministries, regulatory bodies, immigration authorities, and higher education associations to build trust and influence acceptance of Pearson assessments. 

Serve as a visible and credible Pearson representative at key industry events and conferences. 

Cultivate deep relationships with decision-makers at recognizing organizations, ensuring they understand Pearson’s value proposition and evidence base. 

Recognition, Activation and Promotion 

Ensure that new recognitions are effectively “activated” through close collaboration with Marketing, Product, and Sales to drive visibility and inclusion in customer-facing channels. 

Track and improve activation rates — ensuring recognizing bodies actively promote Pearson tests as an accepted option. 

Maintain a clear understanding of competitor recognition strategies (e.g., Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL, LanguageCert) and use these insights to proactively shape Pearson’s positioning. 

Identify and remove barriers that inhibit Pearson’s acceptance by recognition bodies. 

Showcase Pearson’s assessments at industry conferences, forums and events, including UCAS, UKCISA, EAIE, AEIC, The PIE Live, etc. 

Team Leadership and Regional Collaboration 

Lead a global team of approximately 15 recognition and business development professionals, with regional managers aligned to key markets. 

Establish clear performance goals and KPIs for recognition wins, activation, and competitive positioning. 

Operate effectively within Pearson’s matrix structure, maintaining strong dotted-line relationships with regional sales leaders. 

Work collaboratively across the Sales Leadership team to ensure global strategy is aligned with local market opportunities for near-term and long-term revenue. 

Performance & Impact Measurement 

Partner with the Assessments and Certifications Product team to ensure alignment on test design, validation, and psychometric evidence for recognition discussions. 

Collaborate with Pearson VUE on security, proctoring, and test delivery credibility to reinforce recognition outcomes. 

Work closely with Marketing, Communications, Government Relations, and Finance to coordinate recognition launches and advocacy campaigns. 

Experience, Capabilities and Leadership 

Experience & Qualifications 

12+ years’ experience in assessments, education policy, or government advocacy with a proven record of influencing institutional or government recognition. 

Global experience leading multi-regional or cross-functional teams. 

Strong understanding of English language assessment, validation, and education policy ecosystems. 

Experience engaging with immigration or education authorities and frameworks. 

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Education, Public Policy, or Business preferred. 

Core Capabilities & Skills 

Strategic Influence: Engages and persuades high-level policy and institutional stakeholders globally. 

Commercial Acumen: Connects recognition outcomes to volume growth and commercial performance. 

Policy & Advocacy Expertise: Understands regulatory environments and pathways for assessment recognition. 

Stakeholder Management: Builds durable, trust-based relationships across complex ecosystems. 

Cross-Functional Leadership: Aligns global teams and functions around shared recognition objectives. 

Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses data to prioritize markets and measure impact. 

Communication & Representation: Confident public speaker and credible external representative. 

Leadership Abilities 

Executive Presence: Credible, articulate, and confident in senior external and internal interactions. 

Influencing and Advocacy: Builds consensus and commitment among senior decision-makers. 

Results Orientation: Focused on measurable outcomes and sustained performance. 

Collaboration: Fosters partnership across Product, Marketing, Sales, and Regional teams. 

Strategic Agility: Anticipates regulatory and competitor shifts to guide proactive action. 

Purpose-Driven Leadership: Connects recognition impact to Pearson’s mission of enabling life-changing learning.