Content Project Manager

SummaryThis position will work within Thomson Learning's Global Production and Manufacturing and will be based in the Clifton Park office of the CPG Group.

The CPM is responsible 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. Responsible for outsourcing and managing work at Thomson-approved offshore and North American vendors, following a media-neutral, XML-based digital workflow. 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.Description? Manages the production process for assigned titles and projects, through in-house staff, approved full-service production houses, or approved media vendors, 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; validates individual project budgets; ensures setup of approved XML-based electronic copyediting workflow with service vendors; manages electronic copyediting, proofreading, and 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.

? Reviews and evaluates all stages of text and art manuscript delivery. Evaluates condition and quality of text and art manuscript for organization, consistency, level of writing, and completeness. Validates quality of electronic files for both text and art manuscript.

? Coordinates all components of project to ensure final delivery date is met. Includes coordination of cover/package design, text design, copyedit, composition, proofreading, art rendering, photo acquisition (inclusive of photo shoots), indexing, and final product delivery to Mfg.

? Works collaboratively with editorial, marketing, design, and technology, to set design and production goals, implement the appropriate XML-based workflow; and regularly communicate 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 Thomson 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

? Performs additional responsibilities as needed to achieve business goals.Qualifications? BA/BS or equivalent work experience
? Minimum of 3 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 Illustrator and Photoshop for reviewing electronic art and images.
? 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, 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 Dictionary.

Please include your annual salary requirements when submitting your resume and cover letter.