Technical Product Analyst

Job Title

Technical Product Analyst, Platform Technologies (Education/Schools)

Job Holder

Vacant

Reports to

Head of Technology Consulting and Analysis (Education/Schools)

Date

July 2025

1. Job Purpose

The role is responsible for business and technical analysis, design and architecture of solutions managed by the Platform Technologies team within our Schools business.

This role is placed in a customer-oriented team, building solutions for end users, and whilst working in a matrix environment will collaborate with technology and business groups in the wider global business to ensure operational developments recognise our broader strategic direction.

The range of stakeholders this role will engage with means that the ability to translate customer and business needs into a technical perspective is coupled with a requirement to clearly explain complex scenarios to non-technical stakeholders.

The role will require an analytical mind-set, and the ability for lateral thinking to consider the most effective means of identifying appropriate technical solutions to meet customer and business needs.

2. Dimensions

Financial:

This role has no direct financial responsibility in budgetary terms but the post holder will be expected to contribute to budget planning in an informed and responsible way.

Staff:

No direct reports are expected. The role entails stakeholder management across individual business groups and Technology teams.

Other:

Contribution to the knowledge of the team, investigation of new technologies, may require specific professional development and course attendance.

3. Key Accountabilities

• As a member of agile teams, work closely with their related product owners, scrum masters, designers, development leads, developers and testers - taking responsibility for design of technology solutions to be developed by those teams.

• Be a technology lead and technical design authority supporting the team throughout the planning and development cycle.

• Analyse and understand user and business needs to ensure technical solutions encompass them, participating in user story refinement with focus on both functional and non-functional requirements.

• Model and document technical solutions by collaborating with developers and leads in the team, as well as across the organisation with other architects and technology partners – internal and external.

• Ensure alignment of technical solutions to architectural goals in such areas as reusability, modularity, security, scalability, legal compliance.

• Define target KPIs for the non-functional elements that comprise the solutions.

• Ensure solutions support known future product and technology roadmaps, architecture principles vision and best practices in web development.

• Model existing, and goal/target processes and solutions.

• Evaluate technical solution options and provide thoroughly informed recommendations for the best fit. Ensure sign-off from relevant parties to key technical decisions and documents.

• Own/support the team in management of technical dependencies, prioritisation, risk mitigation, and issue resolution.

• Engage with strategic technology and publishing vision and how the assigned projects can be measured against it, and ensuring that the maximum value is delivered.

Additional Duties

• Undertake research, exploratory and proof of concept projects for assessment of new technology adoptions partnering with internal and external stakeholders and developers.

• Work closely with the Platform Technology team - Technical Service Management, Technical Service Support, Data Reporting and Delivery Management to ensure appropriate fit for solutions within the portfolio.

• Own your learning and development and how it fits in and contributes to the work of the solutions and technology team. Maintain current knowledge of emerging technologies, tools, architecture and related standards.

• Contribute to internal continuous development initiatives

To carry out any other duties which may be reasonably expected of you by your immediate manager or a senior director.

Cambridge Policies and Procedures

To abide by all Cambridge policies and procedures, as detailed in your contract of employment and the Staff Handbook, e.g. Code of ethics, anti-bribery and corruption, Health and Safety, e-mail and Internet use and standards of behaviour.

4. Context

(a) Operating Environment:

Providing technical and requirements analysis, and providing solution direction within cross-functional teams, introducing agile principles/processes to drive value and deliver viable solutions to customer-facing elearning and supporting services.

(b) Framework & Boundaries:

Operating and making recommendations within the context of the existing technology choices and strategies, and researching and recommending new solutions and providers.

(c) Organisation:

Matrix structure (India branch and Education Technology) requiring collaboration across Education teams and core services providers within the organisation's solutions landscape.

5. Relationships

(a) Subordinates:

None

(b) Superior(s):

Head of Technology Consulting and Analysis

(c) Other Contacts:

Within the company

• Agile Scrum Teams within which the role may be placed

• Platform Technologies team(s)

• Broader Architecture group and Customer Services

• Close partnership with roles in Schools including, but not limited to, publishing, design, UX, editorial, sales, marketing, projects office.

Outside the company

• Working with third parties and technology partners.

6. Knowledge and Experience

Technical (essential):

• Experience in modelling as-is and to-be systems, integrations, data, processes

• Experience in full-cycle web/software development process, from requirements and idea inception through development to delivery to customers

• Ability to produce clear and well written documentation for use with internal and external stakeholders including non-technical audience

(advantageous)

• A relevant degree or demonstrable equivalent experience in a technical discipline

• Minimum of 3+ years working experience in business analysis, technical analysis, systems analysis, senior web development or solution architecture

• Experience in some or all of the following modern web development technologies: cloud and serverless (AWS), microservice creation and management, Javascript based, PAAS/SAAS integrations, APIs, relational and non-relational databases

Way of working:

• Practice in agile development methodologies

• Experience working in a Matrix structure and working collaboratively day to day, including remotely – occasionally during unsocial hours.

Personal:

• Proactive style and ability to think flexibly and quickly

• Natural problem solver

• Good team player, with excellent communication and interpersonal engagement skills

• Able to work independently across a range of projects in parallel.

Other:

• Understanding of the broader commercial picture beyond technology concerns, being able to consider cost/benefit, and ROI

• Strong presentational skills

• Experience in development of elearning solutions

• Familiarity with assistive technologies

• Exposure to Dev/Sec/Ops principles and practices.

7. Job Challenge(s):

• Establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with key stakeholders across the business.

• Transition planning for remaining legacy estate to meet technology strategy

• Maintaining flexibility in a fast-changing and agile environment.

• Balancing conflicting priorities and a heavy workload

• Awareness of applicable compliance and governance issues.