Product Manager, Collins Learning

Introduction to the role

Collins schools publishing delivers up-to-date and engaging student resources and exceptional teacher support to help UK and International schools tackle new initiatives and utilise the latest technology. The small Product Development team are content developers and editorial project managers, working with authors and freelancers to create print and digital resources from the publisher’s brief to final sign off. We are looking for a Product Manager with specialist subject knowledge and expertise in maths and/or science, who is confident and competent in scoping market-focused products, contracting and commissioning authors, and then managing them to deliver. As a senior member of the team, you are adept at developing content - print or digital - and project managing products with total autonomy through to delivery. Confident in either maths or science publishing, you will take the lead in delivering projects in these important curriculum areas.    

Key tasks and accountabilities

Commissioning

• Works with a Publisher to capture requirements for new products, and input into the most efficient, cost-effective and appealing way to realise a product idea.

• Speaks to teachers or key customers as necessary to refine the proposition

• Produces Product Development Specification and author brief, and commissions and contracts author

• Works up detailed costs and schedules for each product proposal and presents for sign off.

Product Development

• Works with authors to produce final manuscript, develops MS (or sends to external specialist editor) QA’s MS on return and sends to copy-editor

• Works with designer to produce proofs

• Resolves editorial queries on manuscripts or proofs

• Ensures projects hit milestones on schedule, that tasks are completed on or below budget and to a high quality standard

• Works with designer, sales and marketing and publisher to produce draft and final cover

• Manages and records plant spend vs budget and has a clear line of sight on project budgets of direct reports

• Helps us to continually refine and improve our processes

• Answers ongoing customer queries on content. Commissions auxiliary resources on demand (reps and customer services) such as matching charts.

 Experience required

• Relevant commissioning and product development experience with a focus on science and/or maths

• Project management across number of simultaneous products, print and digital

• Worked with and managed teams of authors and freelancers, especially to strict deadlines

• Desirable: Maths/Science background; Digital publishing

Skills required

• Excellent organisation, time and resource management with the ability to step back and see bigger picture to plan, prioritise and make decisions

• Adept at managing budgets and bringing in projects on budget while maintaining high standards of quality

• Able to reconcile conflicting viewpoints during product development to produce products with the widest possible appeal and use

• Proactive in trouble-shooting and solving problems

• Clear, effective and engaging communication skills, written and verbal

• Personal leadership skills to influence/win over stakeholders, especially through presenting new products or when managing authors

• Questioning/analytical approach – suggestions to improve process/products

Benefits 

• Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

• Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

• Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

• Summer Hours  

• Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

• Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

• Relocation Rent Support Loan  

• Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work

• Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

• Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

• Gym membership discount 

• Onsite physiotherapy (London only) 

• Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days 

• We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

• Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)

• With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire

• Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

• Subsidised canteen and retail discounts 

• Onsite prayer room 

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to [email removed - click apply for more details] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.

Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.