Head of ICAS Delivery & Operations

Position Summary:

The Head of ICAS Delivery & Operations is responsible for the end-to-end operational delivery of International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) and related products across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this senior leadership position ensures ICAS programs are delivered on time, at scale, and to a high standard by leading delivery planning, managing operational risk, and resolving complex delivery issues.

The role chairs the ICAS Delivery Committee, driving efficient, consistent, and high-quality assessment delivery while personally managing critical workstreams and key stakeholder relationships with international resellers, and testing centres, and internal business units. It combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership, directly managing critical projects and continuous improvement initiatives, with one direct report and operational oversight of extended delivery teams.

The role also works closely with the Commercial team to ensure ICAS delivery is tightly aligned to commercial objectives, go-to-market plans, customer commitments, and revenue outcomes. This includes supporting customer growth, renewals, new market initiatives, and ensuring operational readiness for commercial launches and campaigns.?

Duties & Responsibilities:

End to end ICAS Delivery Accountability:

• Hold ultimate accountability for the successful delivery of all ICAS assessment events and related products across all markets.

• Lead end-to-end operational planning, scheduling, and execution for ICAS Assessments, personally managing high-priority or high-risk delivery workstreams.

• Develop and manage operational budgets, resource plans, and capacity forecasts for ICAS programmes, with direct involvement in resource allocation decisions.

• Apply strong project management discipline to oversee and deliver multiple concurrent ICAS initiatives, ensuring delivery to scope, time, quality, and budget.

• Be prepared to ‘roll up sleeves’ and execute tactical operational tasks during peak periods or critical delivery windows.

• Own operational accountability for ICAS customer experience outcomes, including contribution to Net Promoter Score (NPS), working in close partnership with Commercial, Product, and Support teams to address drivers and improve results.

Leadership, Governance & Ways of Working:

• Provide leadership and direction to the ICAS Business Operations Manager and exercise operational authority over cross-functional delivery teams.

• Chair the ICAS Delivery Committee, providing strategic direction and operational governance whilst personally driving execution of critical initiatives in alignment with ICAS commercial priorities and go-to-market plans.

• Coordinate cross-functional resources and activities across Test Development, Test Delivery Operations, IT, and Support functions— facilitating collaboration.

• Champion and personally model the use of project management best practices, tools, and techniques across all ICAS delivery workstreams.

• Provide senior leadership with expert advice and operational input into pricing, contract structuring, delivery feasibility, and risk assessment for ICAS commercial opportunities, renewals, and new initiatives.

Commercial Partnership:

• Partner closely with the Commercial team to align ICAS delivery plans with commercial strategy, go-to-market activity, customer commitments, and growth objectives, ensuring operational readiness for new products, campaigns, and market expansions.

• Provide operational input into pricing, contract structuring, delivery feasibility, and risk assessment for ICAS commercial opportunities, renewals, and new initiatives.

• Manage critical stakeholder relationships with international resellers, testing centres, and key clients and resolving escalations.

Operational Strategy, Performance & Continuous Improvement:

• Develop and implement operational strategies, whilst being hands-on in executing improvement initiatives and solving operational challenges.

• Establish, monitor, and act on key performance indicators and operational metrics to drive accountability and performance improvement.

• Drive operational efficiency initiatives and process improvements, being hands-on in mapping processes, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions.

• Own assessment and optimisation of international reseller and domestic testing centre delivery models to reduce operational complexity and improve internal efficiency, scalability, and customer experience.

Risk, Quality & Incident Management:

• Establish and maintain robust project governance frameworks, including risk registers, issue logs, and stakeholder communication plans—actively managing critical risks and issues.

• Own the operational risk management framework for ICAS delivery, leading crisis response and resolution for critical incidents.

• Ensure compliance with quality standards, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations, conducting hands-on quality reviews as needed.

• Lead incident response for critical operational issues, working hands-on to resolve problems and minimise impact to customers and stakeholders.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications:

Essential:

• Proven senior operations and delivery in education industry: 8-10 years of progressive experience in operations and delivery roles, particularly K-12 schools, with at least 3-5 years in a senior role combining strategic oversight and hands-on execution.
• Experience delivering complex, large-scale programmes.
• Strong project management expertise with ability to personally manage and deliver multiple concurrent projects to scope, time, quality, and budget.
• Strategic planning and governance expertise: proven ability to chair governance committees, provide operational governance, and implement operational frameworks that drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Operational and commercial acumen:  sound computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite), budget accountability, contract negotiation, vendor management, and customer experience outcomes.
• Stakeholder and team leadership: exceptional ability to influence cross-functional teams, manage key relationships and personally execute critical work (“player-coach” capability).
• Strong analytical and decision making skills: data driven approach to performance management, operational metrics, and decision-making skills in high-pressure situations, including crisis management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: advanced presentation skills and the ability to engage effectively across organisational levels.

Desirable:

• Tertiary and professional qualifications: degree in Business, Commerce, Operations Management, or related field, and/or formal project management certification/ qualifications (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum certifications).
• Sector experience: prior exposure to educational assessment, testing, EdTech or government/highly regulated environments.
• International operations: experience managing programmes across multiple time zones and geographic markets.
• Risk, crisis and continuity management: background in incident management, crisis response, or business continuity planning.

Next Steps

If you are looking for an organisation that will support your growth, provide you with the flexibility you need and are looking for a greater purpose to exercise your skills, then please submit your application. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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About Janison

Janison exists to transform the way people learn. Our team of educators, technologists and change agents empower teachers, students, accreditation bodies and governments to achieve meaningful educational outcomes by measuring knowledge and progress.

Founded 25 years ago, we are an Australian-owned edtech pioneer delivering more than 6.5 million assessments annually in 117 countries. Our technology supports our commitment to equity and accessibility for all.

Why Janison?

As a finalist in the 2023 Wrk+ Great Place to Work Awards, we are delighted to offer you a fun and inclusive workplace environment, plus:

• Access to our Employee Share Ownership Program. We will match your shares of up to $2,000 per year
• A 5th week of annual leave (conditions apply) and a day off on your birthday
• Parental leave benefit including paid leave, continued Super contributions and more
• A day off each year to volunteer with a community-based organisation dear to your heart
• Annual pay review and bonus program
• A focus on virtual engagement and inclusivity to support our distributed workforce across the globe
• A focus on development and upskilling opportunities (if that’s what you’re after)

For a glimpse into Janison’s culture and to see our regular employee updates, follow our channel on LinkedIn. We’d love for you to be part of our community!