Production Director

Here at Wilson Language Training, we are committed to working together for our mission to achieve literacy for all. We believe literacy is a fundamental right and should be attainable for all people. We strive to reflect this belief in our work.

The success of our team members is no less paramount. We’re dedicated to ensuring that every Wilson employee experiences truly satisfying professional development while feeling inspired to bring their authentic selves to work.

Wilson Language training is growing and is looking to hire a Production Director.

Job Summary:

Wilson is a fast-growing educational publisher and leader in Structured Literacy programs. As the organization scales its portfolio and expands distribution, production complexity continues to increase across multi-component programs that include print, digital, and ancillary materials. This role is critical for:

• Enabling operational scale and consistency across production workflows
• Implementing and optimizing CMS and DAM systems
• Driving quality, efficiency, and cost discipline across internal and vendor ecosystems

The Production Director will partner closely with Product, Project Management, and external vendors to ensure seamless production execution across Wilson’s portfolio.

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

· Establish 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
• Strengthening 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 [BTS 27 Production JD | Word]
• Operational Excellence
  • Strong project management, scheduling, and budgeting skills
  • Ability 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
• Hands-on experience implementing a CMS/DAM "from the ground up” not just administering an existing system
• Direct experience with [CMS Brand X] strongly preferred
• Strong change management skills, with the ability to guide cross-functional development teams (curriculum, product management, design, production) through new tools and workflows
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with confidence and communication skills to engage credibly with senior leadership and peers
• Strong project management skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and vendor/resource management
• Ability to translate complex technical/system changes into clear plans and communications for non-technical teams
• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort operating in ambiguity during a system transition
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Experience

• 8+ years of production experience in publishing, education publishing, or a related content-driven industry
• 3+ years in a leadership role overseeing print and digital production teams
• Direct experience managing at least one full CMS/DAM implementation cycle (selection, migration, rollout, adoption)
• Experience with [CMS Brand X] or comparable enterprise-level CMS/DAM platforms
• 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

Wilson has identified the anticipated pay range for this role based on the many factors that we consider in defining compensation levels for our roles, including market data, and internal equity considerations. Actual pay, and allocation between base and any target discretionary bonus, will vary based on geographic location, education, work experience, skills, market data, and internal equity considerations. Wilson offers competitive benefits, including:

• 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.

Anticipated Salary Range: $145,000 to $175,000

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