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Manager, World Languages - Editorial
Pearson
Boston, MA, United States
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SUMMARY
Provides overall product development leadership for a pre-K-12 product line with an annual plant spending budget ranging from $2-$10 million or leads product development efforts for a major program or family of products within a market segment (K-5 or 6-12) with an annual plant budget of $2-$10 million. Working with Product Management, provides input on publication plans and strategy. With Product Management and Design, works to shape and finalize individual product plans, overseeing prototyping activities, component array planning, and customization strategy for a product line, major program, or family of products. Manages the work of the supervisory staff on major department projects through all stages of product development, ensuring that projects are completed on time, on budget, and in alignment with original product vision.
SCOPE AND IMPACT OF JOB
Dollar responsibilities (budget and/or revenue)
$2-$10 million per year in plant
Strategy and Planning The Editorial Manager participates in and contributes to overall line strategy and pub planning for a K-12 subject area or to a major segment (K-5 or 6-12) of the overall line strategy, working closely with the appropriate VP and/or Director, Product Development. In addition, the Editorial Manager serves as the leader throughout the detailed planning of individual programs and works hand-in-hand with Product Management, and the appropriate Editorial and Design staff, and defined planning team to make all key decisions in the development of a detailed program plan. The Editorial Manager knows the subject matter for his/her assigned area and, in combination with the appropriate editorial staff, uses that knowledge to help ensure that the program plan is both highly competitive and instructionally sound. In addition, the Editorial Manager is responsible for encouraging digital and print development strategies to improve efficiencies and lower overall program budgets.
Development The Editorial Manager is responsible for oversight of the execution strategy that will ensure that all titles within his or her line are completed on schedule and on budget. This involves coming up with department staffing plans, recruiting outside writers, managing author involvement, and determining outsourcing strategy. The Editorial Manager is responsible for ensuring that staff understands all of the details in the plan for the assigned project, including specs, writing guidelines, and the plan details for any Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The Manager is ultimately accountable for ensuring that the evolving product meets the objectives of the plan, its budget, and its schedule.
The Manager typically oversees the development of one major program or collection of single titles at the same time, and he or she is responsible for determining staff assignments and providing on-going guidance and mentoring editors throughout the duration of a project.
The Editorial Manager ultimately shares responsibility with the appropriate Product Managers for the overall success of his or her products in the marketplace.
Supervisory responsibilities (direct and indirect)
• Plans for and manages the use of in-house resources as needed to complete assigned projects. Takes an active role in the performance management of assigned staff, encouraging appropriate career growth as well as feedback in the case of performance issues.
• Writes yearly performance appraisals and objectives for assigned staff.
• The Editorial Manager is also responsible for supervising the enlistment and retention of authors including the development and maintenance of their contracts.
• Manages as many as 10 editorial staff members.
Qualifications
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Related work experience
• 5+ years of project management experience and staff management experiences is essential.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with instructional materials development or in an editorial capacity within educational publishing.
Formal education or equivalent
• A BA/BS in a related field required. Master’s level degree preferred.
• Teaching experience is strongly desired.
Skills
• Proficient user of computers and software programs including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with learning management systems, mobile devices, and other newer technologies would be a plus.
• Understands Pearson budgeting, project approval, and production processes.
• Able to be strategic and efficient in planning and meeting schedules, budgets, and accuracy/quality goals. Makes and implements decisions compatible with organizational goals.
• Able to present program plans, including the marketing story, as well as finished products to senior management, the sales force, and customers.
• Experience in curriculum materials development, in instructional design development, and in the visual delivery of instruction. Able to create effective product in both print and digital media.
• Strong problem-solving skills in dealing with the ambiguity of a fast-paced setting. Anticipates and addresses potential problems.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, strong team-building skills, and strong leadership skills.
• Must be able to respond quickly in an environment of changing priorities. Must be able to set relevant priorities on a daily basis as the job requires multi-tasking.
• Must have a “customer focus” in working with the team to conceptualize marketable product. Must be able to turn great ideas into concrete product plans that fit the timeframe and resources available (drive for results). Actively pursues innovation to create products of the future.
• Knows how to translate knowledge of world languages and world languages teaching into formats that meet customer needs.
• Must be strategic and efficient in planning and executing to ensure consistent on-time delivery of product.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively with counterparts in other functional groups.
• History of effective staff management and leadership. Must be able to generate excellent involvement from a variety of staff members who have various specialized skills.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to develop staff and improve productivity through goal setting, coaching, delegating, training, and regular performance evaluation.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Manage the work of editorial staff on one or more projects in the following responsibilities:
◦ Development of competitive and detailed program plans based on customer needs and with clear areas of differentiation.
◦ Seeing manuscript through all stages of print or digital production.
◦ Ensure that product responds to customer needs.
◦ Ensure that programs are published on budget and on schedule.
• Working with Product Management, analyze competition and market trends and incorporate findings into program.
• Participate, as appropriate, in market research efforts (e.g. prepare sample lessons, conduct phone interviews, attend focus groups, etc.)
• Participate in planning assigned projects; make creative suggestions that reflect an understanding of the market place and an awareness of customer needs.
• Provide marketing support, as appropriate, that may include sales and conference presentations, correlations to state guidelines, and workshop support for departmental products.
• Participates, as appropriate, in managing staff performance in the following ways:
◦ Identifies opportunities to support employees through professional development activities.
◦ Identifies key staff and grooms them for greater responsibilities and future management roles as part of succession planning.
◦ Improves communication by taking a leading role in regularly scheduled staff meetings.
◦ Monitors and communicates job expectations for performance improvement.