Description

The focus of the role is to lead the Publishing Services team to enable the successful delivery of strategic publishing objectives for Southern Africa. The Publishing Services Manager will establish and maintain effective methods for prioritising projects, tracking projects, and evaluating and improving our publishing processes to ensure that that they are operationally effective. The Publishing Services Manager will also be responsible for managing and tracking submission processes within the team and ensuring submissions are delivered on time and to specification.

The Publishing Services Manager will be reporting to the Product Director. This post is based in Goodwood, Cape Town.

Principal Accountabilities:

Team Leadership and capacity building:

• Lead a high-functioning team to provide high quality support services to the product teams.
• Ensure that internal and external publishing stakeholders are trained in industry standards and OUP process and standards.
• Ensure that suitable freelance suppliers are identified, and their skills are verified.

 Project Management:

• Provide high-level project management expertise to all product teams.
• Monitor project delivery and be able to provide accurate and timely reporting on Publishing Services activities, systems, and processes.
•  Respond to submission opportunities.

Collaborate, coordinate and problem solve:

• Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure that publishing processes and systems are set up for success.
• Work with the publishing teams, Senior Leadership Team, and key stakeholders to identify and troubleshoot any issues that affect our publishing operations, processes, and systems.

 Overheads and project budgets managed effectively:

• Forecast annual operational expenses in line with guidelines.
•  Manage costs against approved budget.
• Develop and managed cost-control mechanisms.
• Manage and revise rates cards in collaboration with all product teams.

Recruit talented staff, develop and manage for optimal performance:

• Evaluate structure and resourcing levels and recruit talented employees.
• Identify training needs and implement developing plans.
• Manage performance and employee relations.

Compliance:

• Adhere to OUP ethical policies and codes of conduct.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree level or equivalent professional experience
• 6 years or more relevant working experience
• Driver’s license (Code B)
• Can demonstrate a successful track record of complex project management across a range of projects – including print and/or digital projects, systems, and process-related activities
• Has extensive experience of coordinating activities against agreed deliverables – with effective tracking techniques and ability to manage conflicting deadlines and demands on resources and teams
• Extensive experience of project management and team leadership in a publishing/product development context.
• Digital publishing experience advantageous
• Experience working in multiple Southern African markets is advantageous

Requirements

Attributes:

• Action and delivery oriented
• Strategic thinker
• Shows resilience and commitment
• Problem solver
• Positive attitude
• Deadline driven
• Highly organised multi-tasker
• Expert project manager
• Conceptual thinker working to a longer term view
• Solid understanding of publishing systems and processes
• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
• Demonstrates a spirit of competitiveness
• Displays ethical behaviour
• Supports teamwork and empowers others to achieve their objectives

OUP offers the following:

• Remuneration will be commensurate with experience
• Pension and medical aid benefits
• Statutory leave
• Training opportunities
• Engaging work in a rewarding and ethical environment.