Product Development Executive

Job Description

Product Development Executive

About ABE

Founded in 1973, The Association of Business Executives (ABE) is a globally recognised professional membership body and awarding organisation based in New Malden, Greater London. It develops, assesses and awards high quality, relevant and affordable business and management qualifications from levels 3 to 7, managing approximately 100,000 assessment entries annually across the globe, helping people to advance their professional careers and providing progression routes to bachelors’ and masters’ degrees.

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Product Development, the Product Development Executive will be responsible for project managing the development of new, high quality products. The Product Development Executive will join the team at an exciting time as ABE is in the process of redeveloping its core portfolio of qualifications as well as producing brand new qualifications for an international market and this role will contribute significantly to the implementation of ABE’s exciting new qualifications.

The post-holder will undertake a variety of key tasks to support and implement the development of new products, including market research, qualification and specimen assessment development tasks, as well as liaising extensively with other teams to support the transition to the new portfolio.

Key Accountabilities

·  To project manage the development of ABE’s new qualifications portfolio, ensuring that all development activities are completed to time, quality and budget

·  To support the timely production of syllabuses and other key qualification components, including documentation tracking and management, commissioning external consultants and proofreading

·  To maintain cross-functional project activities, including steering groups and working groups as required

·  Act as a point of contact for external consultants acting as subject matter experts (syllabus writers, syllabus reviewers etc.), providing support, feedback and to ensure timelines are met

·  To liaise with other Product Development team members to support the development of learning resource materials for all new qualifications

·  To liaise with the Marketing team and contribute to the key marketing messaging and collateral for all new qualifications

·  To maintain stakeholder communications, both internal and external, regarding product development and related activities and to act as a point of contact

·  To conduct frequent market research to maintain market knowledge and understanding of market needs and to identify areas for new development

·  To contribute to the design and development of new products from initial conception to operationalisation and to support the on-going review of ABE’s operational qualifications to ensure that quality and fitness for purpose are maintained throughout the product lifecycle

·  To gather and analyse feedback from internal stakeholders, including the Business Development, Marketing and Administration teams to understand ABE’s product and service requirements

·  To ensure all products meet a high standard of quality and ensure that all suitable policies and procedures are in place to support product development and are adhered to, in conjunction with the Head of Product Development and Director of Quality & Compliance

·  To provide general project support as required, ensuring that project plans are produced and adhered to

Person Specification

·  Have a demonstrable understanding of qualification and assessment development processes and best practice

·  Be of graduate calibre, preferably with previous experience of Awarding/Professional Bodies, preferably in a regulatory environment

·  Must be able to plan and manage projects successfully in a fast-paced and challenging environment

·  Demonstrate an understanding of the education market, particularly Higher or Further Education

·  Must have an eye for detail and have excellent proof-reading skills

·  Have an understanding and empathy with the educational needs of business and management students both in the UK and overseas

·  Have a demonstrable ability to show initiative and take responsibility for designated tasks

·  Be able to interpret market requirements and develop ideas to address these needs

·  Must be a team player and can work effectively and negotiate where necessary with internal and external stakeholders

·  Have an ability to collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions

·  Be able to establish productive working relationships with external consultants, including academics and industry professionals, and other key stakeholders across different cultures

·  Be commercially aware

The Product Development Executive must also demonstrate the following competencies:

·  Customer focused, maintaining an equal focus on internal and external customer demands, ensuring that business decisions focus on improving customer experiences

·  Deliver goals in a changing environment, enthusiastic about the need for continuous improvement, identifying opportunities for improvement, and supporting the implementation of change where it meets the objectives of ABE and the needs of its customers

·  Driven and self-motivated

·  Able to challenge appropriately and be solutions-focused

·  Work well with others, foster good working relationships within own team, ensuring effective upward and downward communication, create a spirit of teamwork and opportunities for co-operation and resolve any conflicts that might exist