Production Director

Job Summary

Wilson is a fast-growing educational publisher and leader in Structured Literacy programs. The Production Director role is critical for enabling operational scale and consistency across production workflows, implementing and optimizing CMS and DAM systems, and driving quality, efficiency, and cost discipline across internal and vendor ecosystems.

Essential Job Functions

• Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, the Senior Production Manager will own the production lifecycle from kickoff through final delivery across print and digital formats. This role is both strategic and operational, combining:

• Production leadership and execution
• Process design and continuous improvement
• Change management tied to new systems (CMS/DAM)
• Vendor and budget management

• Able to deliver scalable, high-quality production

• Ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of all program components

• Improve production quality and reduce rework

• KPIs: On-time delivery rate, defect/error rate, production cycle time

Build a Modern Production Infrastructure

• Successfully implement and operationalize CMS and DAM systems

• Enable structured content and multi-channel outputs

• KPIs: CMS adoption, asset reuse rates, production efficiency improvements

Create Best-in-Class Production Standards

• Create standardized workflows, templates, and governance

• Ensure consistency across all product lines

• KPIs: Compliance with standards, production throughput, stakeholder satisfaction

Optimize Cost and Vendor Performance

• Manage budgets and identify cost-saving opportunities

• Strengthen vendor performance and accountability

• KPIs: Cost per unit, vendor turnaround time, budget variance

Strengthen Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Improve coordination across Product, Development, and PMO

• Enhance visibility and predictability in production timelines

• KPIs: Cross-functional satisfaction, project predictability metrics

Skills

• Production & Publishing Expertise: 8+ years in educational publishing production

• Experience managing complex, multi-format programs (print, digital, ancillary)

• Systems & Change Management: Expertise in CMS and DAM implementation and governance

• Very strong change-management capability to drive adoption and transformation

• Tools & Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Adobe InCopy/InDesign/Acrobat

• Experience with project tracking and production systems

• Operational Excellence: Strong project management, scheduling, and budgeting skills

• Able to manage multiple concurrent, deadline-driven program

• Quality & Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with WCAG and Section 508

• Strong attention to detail and content accuracy

• Comfortable presenting performance data, pipeline contribution, and marketing ROI to the CEO and Leadership Team

• Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to work cross-functionally

• Strong vendor and stakeholder management: Excellent communication and organizational skills

• Process-Driven, Yet Adaptive: Build structure while navigating evolving organizational needs

• Collaborative Partner: Works effectively across Product, PMO, and external vendors

Job Requirements

• Proven ability to manage end-to-end production workflows across both print and digital deliverables simultaneously

• Demonstrated success leading a CMS/DAM selection process from requirements-gathering through vendor evaluation and contract negotiation

• Direct experience with [CMS Brand X] or comparable enterprise-level CMS/DAM platforms

• Experience with [CMS Brand X]

• Experience leading organizational change management initiatives (with formal training or certification a plus)

• Experience working within K-12 or education publishing production standards and workflows (curriculum, literacy programs, assessments, etc.) preferred

• Experience managing external vendors, freelancers, and print/digital production partners

• Experience presenting and influencing senior leadership or executive stakeholders

• Experience with digital asset workflows, metadata taxonomies, and content reuse/repurposing strategies

• Familiarity with production and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar)

Education or Certification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Anticipated Salary Range

$145,000 to $175,000

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and Life & Disability Insurance

• 401k plan with partial employer match

• Paid Time Off

• Paid holidays

• Tuition reimbursement

• "O'Connor days," which refers to a company-wide office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, as well as other perks.

About the Role

Wilson Language Training is an Equal Opportunity, Drug-Free Employer Committed to Diversity in the Workplace.