Head of GCOM

Macmillan Education provides world class content in the most relevant, engaging and flexible formats to support students, teachers and institutions through a lifetime of learning. Macmillan Education produces content for English Language Teaching (ELT) and for Schools curricula around the world whilst Palgrave Higher Education develops and distributes textbooks, e-books and interactive e-learning resources primarily for University-level students.
 
MacMillan Education are looking for a Head of GCOM (Global Customized Publishing) to champion, promote and provide operational excellence to our bespoke education content offering.

This is a global role and will see you work closely with the Director of Adult and GCOM and with regional sales and publishing teams to identify and assess new local, regional and global publishing and licensing opportunities.  For all opportunities you will ensure that a profitable business plan is agreed and delivered and that the needs of Ministries of Education, other key clients and regional management teams are met. Working on customised projects and collaborating with cross-site in-house editorial and operational teams, you’ll then ensure full implementation of the publishing plan.

As Head of GCOM you’ll oversee and drive the operational, publishing and editorial procedures, working closely with the Publishing Operations Manager to ensure best practice. In addition to this, you’ll coordinate the recruitment and resourcing of the editorial team, and oversee training across all roles to ensure the appropriate level of quality is achieved.  You’ll work closely with sales teams globally to build strong and lasting relationships with key accounts to ensure the continuation and growth of sales through those channels.  Due to a key strategic partnership we hold you will also promote NILE's TPD courses.

Deadline for receipt of applications: Sunday 8th October 2017

Required skills/knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge of multiple ELT markets
• Experience or demonstrable track record of having worked in a global, commercial role to deliver on business targets (e.g. business development or business growth)
• An ability to negotiate with internal and external customers; apply commercial acumen to ensure projects deliver value for money
• Detailed understanding of ELT and/or educational publishing processes and best practice for both print and digital products, and ability to create and implement new processes
• Awareness of pre-press, press and digital processes and how they impact manuscript development, and time and cost implications
• TKT/CELTA qualification and/or teaching background
• The ability to create and manage a project P&L and understand how this inputs into company profitability
• Flexible approach and the ability to adapt to changing environments
• The ability to set and respond to extremely challenging schedules and deadlines
• Team player familiar with high-performing team disciplines and management
• Strong organisational skills
• Eye for detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage own workload and set priorities for the team

Required Experience

• Extensive, market-focused ELT publishing experience at project leadership level
• Experience of working within a structured yet changing publishing environment
• Experience of developing, implementing and monitoring editorial and operational procedures
• Experience of working and negotiating with Ministries of Education and preparing bids for tenders issued by Ministries of Education
• Experience of training others and developing training material

Required Skills & Behaviours

Customer Focus (internal and external customers)

Nurtures relationships by recognising and delivering on internal and external customer’s needs and opinions.  Helps others to understand the implications of their decisions. Develops and sustains productive internal and external customer relationships.

Innovation & Influencing

Embraces creativity, innovation and is open to new ideas. Innovates to improve current working practices/products/technologies to provide business opportunities and results.  Successfully influences others to accept and support an idea/proposal/plan.

Strategy & Planning (incorporating Business Awareness)

Understands the needs and direction of the business in context of market opportunities and threats, anticipates and develops business priorities to meet these. Embraces change and drives to improve current working practices/products/technologies to grow the business.

Business Management (incorporating feedback, sales and commercial capability, presenting and securing agreement to proposals and ideas, fiscal control, etc.)

Produces outstanding results both professionally and personally by effective management of business processes. Effectively plans, budgets, tracks and evaluates performance of his/her business area.

People Management (incorporating resource planning, performance management, development and motivation)

Effectively manages people to achieve the best results for the business. Monitors performance on an ongoing basis, provides positive feedback for effective performance, coaches to resolve performance difficulties.  Analyses business area to determine critical positions, skills and resources required.