The Senior Manager, Production Operations serves as the operational Managing Editor of National Geographic’s editorial platforms, including the brand’s print products—National Geographic magazine, Nat Geo Kids and Little Kids, National Geographic History, and our 20+ newsstand special editions annually—and our digital platforms. He/she/they is the key manager of all workflows and the production processes of our content creation, from idea inception through scheduling and publishing, establishing teams and timelines across departments tracking progress, and triaging as work moves through its lifecycle. Also will guide the application of the copy and research teams to our content across products and platforms, directly managing the copy department and partnering with our fact-checking center of excellence, and directs the exchange of our editorial content between our US and international editions. This senior leader plays a critical role not only in driving an efficient operation today but in continually identifying areas of opportunity for improvement, including the application of technology to our work. This is a terrific opportunity for a strategic, systems-oriented thinker to join a creative organization and have a meaningful impact in a time of evolution and change, as we modernize both our operation and our output, driving new thinking around and advances in how we work that enables the creation of extraordinary and innovative content.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all print and digital production workflows from end to end (pitching through scheduling and publication), defining and continually optimizing process, determining and enforcing timelines/deadlines, and troubleshooting delays and other roadblocks to ensure work is completed on time
• Manage the development and maintenance of editorial calendars across all platforms, working across the editorial leadership team, strategizing and proposing adjustments as needed
• Manage the flow of content across platforms, from print to digital and vice versa, including prioritization and timing of work, and alignment on direction and level of effort
• Oversee the application of copy editing and fact-checking teams to print and digital content, ensuring the accuracy of our content through effective prioritization and process
• Oversee our overall editorial relationship with our international editorial partners as well as the exchange of content between US and international editions
• Working with Technology and Product partners, manage the use of technology in support of editorial production, optimizing usage for performance and identifying and implementing new tools to drive efficiency

Basic Qualifications:

• 8+ years of working with and managing editorial workflows/processes, preferably in a magazine environment as a Managing Editor or Deputy/Assistant Managing Editor
• Experience with and understanding of print products and their associated production processes
• Experience with and understanding of digital platforms and their associated production processes
• Familiarity with copy editing and fact-checking and their associated methodologies and processes
• Familiarity with standard publishing tools (e.g., InCopy/InDesign) and collaboration and project management tools (e.g., Airtable)
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills, process/systems thinking, and attention to detail
• Ability to work with a wide variety of personalities and influence across a matrixed organization
• Ability to maintain a positive demeanor while also enforcing deadlines and adherence to process and policy

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

The hiring range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $115,500 to $154,800 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.