Senior Strategy Consultant/Manager

Sanoma Learning (SL) is the largest focused K12 learning materials and services provider in Europe, reaching about 20 million students across 11 countries. Our best in class teaching methods in combination with our digital platforms allow us to help European K12 students reach their potential.

Our more than 2,700 colleagues have a deep rooted passion for education. We believe education is the key to reach the potential of students and we feel privileged to be able to play a significant role in this journey. The opportunity to contribute to the development of future generations is why we are passionate, committed and always willing to go the extra mile for students, teachers, schools and each other.

We plan to continue our growth trajectory both through M&A and through winning in our markets due to our excellent products and innovative commercial models. We are undergoing multiple transformation processes, for the successful management of which we are seeking to strengthen our in-house capacities in strategy. Consequently, we are looking for a Senior Strategy Consultant/Manager to join our global Strategy team.

The Senior Strategy Consultant/Manager will have the opportunity to engage in projects such as:

• SL Strategic Planning cycle – reviewing and updating the market analysis, overarching strategic logic and ambitions, key initiatives, financial forecasts, risk management etc.
• Key initiatives in proactively transforming Sanoma Learning business; strategic program about to be launched aimed at increasing collaboration across markets in a core area of the business as well as investigating alternative business models;
• Commercial due diligences (in-house for smaller or initial, interface to advisors for larger M&As) and supporting the M&A funnel by reviewing incoming teasers as well as proactively scanning the learning market;
• Post-merger integration and subsequent proactive fostering of SL integration through embedding in newly acquired operating companies’ operations to support them in key strategic projects;
• Creating a centre of excellence for harmonising management practices and frameworks internationally across Sanoma Learning;
• Reaching out to external stakeholders in the European K12 publishing industry, edtech and technology players as well as non-commercial (regulatory, academic, research) bodies;
• Synthesising Sanoma Learning’s position, plans and impact in business and the broader society into a narrative for communicating to the capital markets and key stakeholders.

The person selected for this role will work closely with the central Product function, the Functional Control team in the Finance function, as well as with Sanoma Learning companies across Europe, in particular with colleagues in Segment Management (i.e. commercial and publishing leaders) and Strategy, Research and Insights.

As the projects the Senior Strategy Consultant/Manager will be working on are of central importance to the company, s/he will have direct exposure to Managing Directors of Sanoma Learning companies and to Sanoma Learning C-level leadership. S/he will contribute to thought leadership of the company and will have the ability to influence the decisions of senior executives.

The role can be seen as one of internal management consultant. Accordingly, s/he will have the opportunity to leverage their expertise across all domains of management consulting, ranging from pure strategy through marketing and pricing, to organisation, to M&A/PMM. Moreover, as the K12 publishing market is undergoing deep changes and Sanoma Learning is its leading player in Europe, this role offers an opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of European learning.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Problem-solving:

• Analyses issues faced by Sanoma Learning businesses, breaking them down into logically structured, MECE questions. Designs and implements (or works with others to implement) fact-based analyses (both data-driven and qualitative-insight-driven) to answer these questions. Consequently, provides actionable recommendations on how to address the issue at hand;
• Assesses the issues faced by Sanoma Learning businesses in a given domain to prioritise the problem-solving of these with highest impact;
• Storylines, writes and delivers well-structured, top-down presentations on specific topics within Sanoma Learning strategy and key initiatives – including analyses and recommendations based on facts and aligned with the relevant stakeholders.

Project Leadership:

• Leads projects and workstreams within the Sanoma Learning strategy domain;
• Contributes to projects at Sanoma Learning or operating companies where others lead, demonstrating good teamwork.

Market Expertise:

• Contributes to building thought leadership on the societal value of Sanoma Learning products, such as the role of learning methods in educational outcomes and efficiency of educational systems;
• Demonstrates an understanding of the pedagogical, educational-policy, economic and technological context in which the market operates;
• Contributes to identifying and defining the most critical factors in the competitive landscape.

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred;
• 4-8 years of experience in a top management consulting firm;
• Prior experience in education and/or software, publishing, media businesses is not a prerequisite but will be an advantage;
• Strong analytical skills, both quantitative (including a sound understanding of financial metrics) and qualitative;
• Strong written, visual and oral communication skills, particularly in preparing and delivering eloquent and concise management presentations;
• Strong people skills, including demonstrated ability to quickly build networks across a complex organisation and manage multiple stakeholders;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to manage complexity and ambiguity;
• Team player attitude with experience working in a matrixed, international environment;
• Fluent in English. Other languages in our footprint valued

About Sanoma Learning

How do you prepare students for the world, engage their curiosity and inspire them to grow? That is the main question of teachers all around the world. At Sanoma Learning, it has always been our mission to help to find and develop best-in-class answers to this question. If you join us, it means that you embark on an exciting journey to help shape the future of learning for primary, secondary and vocational education. We believe that your journey is our success as a company.
Sanoma Learning is a leading K12 European learning company, operating in 12 countries. Our learning products and services enable and support teachers and schools to develop the talents of every child to reach their potential. By offering printed and digital learning content, as well as digital learning and teaching platforms for primary, secondary and vocational education, we want to grow our positive impact on learning across Europe. With over 3000 employees, we help shape the future of education for 25+ million of students.
So, are you ready to start your journey to help shape the future of learning and help teachers to support all students to reach their potential?
Sanoma Learning is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to inclusion and diversity, ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristics.