Senior Content Project Manager - Political Science

SummaryResponsible for project managing the production and delivery of content for assigned core and ancillary 1-, 2-, and 4-color titles, their covers, related art programs, and associated media supplements from transmittal through final distribution. Outsources and manages work at Thomson-approved offshore and North American vendors, following a media-neutral, XML-based digital workflow. Is directly accountable for ensuring that assigned projects are delivered on schedule, in line with editorial specifications, and within budget in order to achieve financial targets. Mentors/trains content project managers or associates in company processes and procedures. Takes on special projects, as assigned. Description? Manages the production process for assigned titles and projects, through approved full-service production houses or approved media vendor, meeting schedule and cost requirements while ensuring quality and accuracy

? Prepares core projects for approved full-service and specialty vendors, completing the Project Property Form for each in concert with production technology analysts; develops and monitors overall schedule from receipt of completed content to publication; assembles/validates individual project budgets; ensures setup of approved XML-based electronic copyediting workflow with service vendors; manages electronic copyediting, proofreading, index checks through the full-service house; works with full-service houses or other outside vendors to manage, schedule, and track art programs, ensuring compliance with Thomson Learning standards and tools for art trafficking and status management

? Works collaboratively with editorial, marketing, design, and technology, to set design and production goals, implement the appropriate XML-based workflow; and regularly communicatie schedule, author, quality, and budget updates

? Manages activities that ensure the creation and persistence of high-quality TLdoc XML, including quality assurance checks of vendor-submitted XML at various production stages and monitoring final ingestion of XML into the core COMPASS XML Repository; works with media production and editorial on downstream reuse of XML content and embedded media/art assets

? Ensures that production standards and best practices, including the use of standard key marks, XML communication tools (e.g., the Project Property Form), and media/art and text asset development tools, are correctly implemented throughout production cycle; monitors vendor compliance to production standards; suggests updates to best practices and standards as needed

? Manages plate budgets of projects, including accurate cost estimating and tracking in IPS; monitors plate expenditures on assigned list of titles to achieve plate budgets and to meet agreed-upon cost-savings targets, reporting in a timely fashion about potential cost overages

? Adheres to standardized buying practices and processes for all content production, composition, prepress, and media production services; ensures that new processes and technologies (e.g., use of composition style sheets and XML production workflows) and approved standards are implemented on assigned projects
? Establishes priorities for project team and helps resolve process problems and workflow impediments in order to achieve desired publication dates

? Implements final vendor strategy, ensuring placement at approved off-shore and North American full-service vendors to achieve significant cost savings and workflow efficiencies; monitors vendor performance to maintain and improve quality

? Ensures that all production information is kept current in IPS
? Provides regular feedback on vendor performance to management

? Participates in management-led activities to define and refine production workflows, as needed

? Acts as a mentor to content project managers or associates; is assigned specific training role to ensure that processes and procedures are followed by new or less experienced CPMs

? Contributes in an area of expertise (e.g., technology, editorial processes) or takes on special projects, as neededQualifications? BA/BS or equivalent work experience
? Minimum of 5 years experience in print and/or media production
? Strong project management and organizational skills required; able to successfully juggle multiple projects and to prioritize tasks
? Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking skills; able to predict, identify, and resolve issues in a timely and effective manner
? Demonstrates initiative and innovation; identifies and supports ways to improve processes through technology or new ways of thinking
? Ability to adopt and implement new processes, procedures, and standards in an environment of continuous improvement
? Works collaboratively and in partnership with all functional areas to establish and implement new workflow processes
? Excellent computer skills; strong word processing and spreadsheet skills, preferably with Microsoft Office, and Internet skills, including ftp software, Adobe Acrobat
? Knowledge of electronic prepress technologies and composition/page layout tools, including automated composition systems and XML, QuarkXpress, and InDesign, and printing processes; knowledge of or strong aptitude for learning XML-based tools and technologies used for print and media product production, archiving, and reuse
? Demonstrated editorial skills (proofreading, copyediting, application of style conventions)
? Independent self starter; detail oriented
? Knowledgeable about print and media production, including scheduling, programming, copyediting, proofreading, composition, prepress, design, and permissions
? Ability to work effectively in a team environment and to direct outside vendors and freelancers
? Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interpret and translate information to teams and individuals and to report effectively to management
? Familiarity with The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition, and Webster?s Tenth Collegiate DictionaryEEO/AA/M/F/D Employer