Publishing Operations Manager

Position: Publishing Operations Manager

Location: London, Ontario

Position Type: Full-time, temporary 18 months Business School Foundation contract with an anticipated start date of January 27, 2025

Hiring Range: $74,800 - $93,551

Application Deadline: Friday December 20, 2024, at 11:59PM.

*Ivey Business School, Western University is closed for the holidays beginning December 23, 2024. We will resume regular business hours on Friday, January 3rd, 2025. *

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lnaapewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada's leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey's faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today's leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

Ivey Publishing is the leader in providing business case studies with a global perspective. With over 8,000 products in our own collection, Ivey Publishing adds more than 350 case studies and learning materials each year. Clear, concise, and current, Ivey learning materials are lauded by the academic community as meeting the rigorous demands of management education by responding to the ever-changing needs of business and society. Ivey Publishing plays a pivotal role in supporting Ivey's Case Method Teaching.

Position Overview:

The Publishing Operations Manager is an experienced leader responsible for overseeing the lifecycle of high-quality products. From initial submission to final publication. They have strong leadership skills, the ability to make informed decisions, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This role combines expertise in operations management, project management, resource allocation, and author experience to ensure the efficient production of high-quality business academic products.

The Publishing Operations Manager will lead a dynamic team, provide guidance, mentorship, manage relationships, and support to ensure the team's success. The individual has a customer-focused approach and can build and maintain strong relationships with authors and other people of interest in the publishing process. They are adept at implementing digital transformation initiatives and utilizing data analytics to implement strategic decisions. They are proficient in project management and drive continuous improvement initiative. This position reports directly to the Associate Director of Product and Publishing and is integral to aligning the publishing process ensuring production and publishing efficiencies while aligning with Ivey Publishing and Ivey Business School goals, building trusted author relationships and maintaining a high-quality standard of the Ivey product collection. The Publishing Operations Manager is passionate and committed to ensuring that Ivey Publishing continues to impact the development of business academic products through collaboration with educators.

Responsibilities:

Publishing Operations and Management

• Oversee the queue of incoming learning materials, ensuring efficient workflow and timely publication.
• Develop and maintain relationships with authors, editors, and other people of interest to ensure the ongoing growth and quality of Ivey products.
• Provide direction and support to PC to guide and assist authors in preparing their product submission, especially in more challenging situations, including providing feedback on manuscript content, structure, and presentation.
• Establish guidelines and monitor overall quality metrics ensuring overall submissions meet publishing standards and requirements, handling escalated copyright issues
• Oversee the review, registration, and publication processes products, while checking for compliance with current standard guidelines, copyright issues, and reproduction quality.
• Lead and manage large-scale publishing, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, budget adherence, and timeline commitments.
• Ensure that all registered products are managed effectively through all channels, communication with people of interest is timely.
• Identify and mitigate risks in project plans through comprehensive risk management practices.
• Provide regular updates to senior management on project status, potential risks, and performance metrics.

Author Experience

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with authors, editors, and other people of interest to ensure ongoing growth and the quality of Ivey products.
• Provide guidance to authors throughout the submission process, offering feedback on content, structure, and presentation to meet publishing standards. This support can be delivered through one-on-one practicums or large-scale presentations, ensuring authors are well-equipped to meet the requirements.
• Ensure effective communication with authors and people of interest throughout the product lifecycle, addressing challenges and maintaining high satisfaction levels.
• Oversee the completion of the publishing process, ensuring that author expectations are met and that final products align with Ivey Publishing's standards.
• Work with the marketing and communications teams to highlight authors' achievements and promote their work post-publication.

Team Leadership

• Lead a team of Product Coordinators that review, register, and publish products, creating a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Develop and implement KPIs, such as time to publish, and strategies to improve processes and increase customer satisfaction, ultimately to meet Ivey Publishing's objectives.
• Provide guidance and support to team members, ensure efficient workflow and alignment with organizational goals.
• Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback, coaching, and mentoring to ensure that team members are meeting their targets and are developing their skills.
• Encourage open discussion and thoughtful consideration of approaches to product exceptions and other issues that may arise during publishing and make decisions that align with the overall strategy and values of Ivey Publishing.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the team, ensuring that team members are engaged, motivated, and committed to their work.
• Provide training and guidance to team members and stakeholders on publishing standards and guidelines and ensure that they are followed consistently.
• Create and maintain timely reports and dashboards to keep the manager informed of publishing progress, KPIs, and potential risks.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve processes, increase customer satisfaction, and meet publishing objectives.
• Manage the coordination of case competitions, including selection recommendations, and meeting submission requirements, to ensure successful entries.

Initiative, innovation and research

• Track industry trends and make recommendations for new and innovative products and publishing practices. Manage large-scale projects with a focus on achieving strategic objectives, budget adherence, and timeline commitments.
• Explore new methods and technologies to increase efficiency and quality and recommend new approaches to the management team.
• Implement the yearly strategic objectives as they relate to publishing and participate in projects to support yearly strategic objectives.
• Lead or support special projects as required.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as English, business, communications.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience with prior leadership experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and CRM systems (Salesforce).
• Solid understanding and experience working with copyright laws and publishing practices.
• Proven project management skills to handle multiple products simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills to build and maintain relationships with team members, authors, editors, and other stakeholders.
• Advanced expertise in the English language, with a deep understanding of grammar, spelling, and linguistic rules.
• Strong understanding of publishing processes, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage a high volume of demands, with autonomy and superior decision-making skills.
• Detail-oriented mindset, ensuring accuracy and precision in publishing operations.
• Strong strategic thinking and resource management skills, with the ability to effectively forecast staffing needs to meet growing business demands.
• Ability to motivate and mentor team members to improve performance and achieve team KPIs.
• Possess excellent planning, time management, and organizational skills with a keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience with product/contact management databases, i.e. using Salesforce CRM.
• Advanced computer skills, i.e. Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and database applications.

What We Offer:

• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation
• Generous benefits package with employer-paid premiums, including a comprehensive Health and Dental Plan, no waiting period required.
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources.
• Out-of-country travel insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Vacation starting at 15 days per year plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days.
• Paid time off during the School's December holiday closure.
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey's EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey's progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey's EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at [redacted] to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

Ivey Business School Foundation:

Ivey Business School Foundation employees receive benefits exclusive to The Foundation, separate from Western University.

*Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.