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Director Editorial, Literacy
Pearson
Glenview, IL, United States
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Description
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.
The Editorial Director of Product Development Literacy position resides within the Literacy Business Unit and is responsible for the print and digital development of K–12 programs in Literacy. Under the leadership of the Vice President, Literacy, the Editorial Director will play a critical role in the creative long-term vision for assessment and data analytics, both print and digital across PreK–12. This position will contribute to the development of large scale product offerings. The Editorial Director will work with Product Management to define the component or product offerings, manage the budget, lead the development, manage the QA, and launch the products to the market. This position will bring sound pedagogy and innovation to the product offerings and the development processes. This position will work closely with the core development teams, including the technology group to build products for Literacy. The candidate will have an excellent understanding of assessment and data analytics, literacy instruction, print and digital development processes and tools, and bring to the position skills to build market-winning product offerings.
Strategy and Planning:
The Editorial Director participates in and contributes to overall line strategy and pub planning for elementary literacy, working closely with the VP Literacy. In addition, the Editorial Director serves as the leader throughout the detailed planning of individual programs and works hand-in- hand with the VP and the appropriate Editorial, Design, Technology, and Production staff, and defined planning teams to make all key decisions in the development of a detailed program plan. The Editorial Director is the subject-matter expert for the 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 Director is responsible for encouraging development strategies – such as content reuse – to improve efficiencies and lower overall program budgets.
Development:
The Editorial Director is responsible for oversight of the execution strategy that will ensure that all programs or titles within the product 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 Director, in combination with the appropriate editorial managers, 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 RFPs. The Editorial Director is ultimately accountable for ensuring that the evolving product meets the objectives of the plan, its budget, and its schedule.
The Editorial Director shares responsibility with the appropriate Product Managers for the overall success of Pearson elementary literacy products in the marketplace.
Supervisory responsibilities (direct and indirect):
Plans for and manages the use of in-house and 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 Director is also responsible for supervising the enlistment and retention of authors including the development and maintenance of their contracts.
Manages two or more direct reports; indirectly supervises a staff of 10 to 40 editors at various levels.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage the work of senior staff members 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 content through all stages of 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.
• Coaches department managers in effective practices for performance evaluation, focusing on performance improvement issues.
• Monitors and communicates job expectations for performance improvement.
Qualifications
Related work experience:
• 7+ years of project management experience and staff management experiences is essential.
• Minimum 7 years of experience with instructional materials development or in an editorial capacity within educational publishing required.
Formal education or equivalent:
• Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Masters-level degree preferred.
• Teaching experience is strongly preferred.
Skill Requirements:
• Understands budgeting, project approval, and production processes.
• Ability 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.
• Strong problem-solving skills in dealing with the ambiguity of a fast-paced setting.
• Excellent 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.
• 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.