Job Title: Senior Education Product Manager and Web Producer, Reading Universe 

Reports to: Senior Director, Reading Universe 

Status: Full-Time, Exempt, Grant-Funded 

Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000

POSITION OVERVIEW 

We are looking for a senior product manager and web producer to join the team responsible for Reading Universe, WETA’s ambitious new web-based national literacy project focused on teacher professional development. You would play a leading role in producing and publishing content for the Reading Universe website.  

We launched the prototype of Reading Universe in July 2023, and we’re aiming for it to become the definitive online guide to teaching reading and writing effectively. It is growing into a state-of-the-art, research-based, video-rich service for educators working with children in pre-K through 6^th grade.  

We are seeking to add to our team an experienced product manager who brings creativity and innovation to producing online teacher professional development. We need someone who can dive in and help us crank out a high volume of high- quality text, graphics, video, downloadables, courses, and other interactive content … and integrate it all into our existing platform. 

Ideally, you would also have a deep commitment to our mission: providing appealing and accessible resources to educators everywhere so that every child has the chance to read. We have a special focus on historically underserved communities. 

We appreciate you taking the time to review the list of qualifications. If you would like to apply for the position, please submit a cover letter, a resume that includes links to work samples, and 1-3 writing samples.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position is responsible for the development of interactive multimedia web resources for ReadingUniverse.org, including Skill Explainers, PLC Guides, Articulate assets, and courses. (The breadth of the content we’re planning to produce is outlined in the Reading Universe Taxonomy.) You will oversee multiple projects from start to finish: managing timelines, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met across editorial, design, video, and development teams.  

For each project under your responsibility, you will: 

• Work alongside curriculum and instructional designers to identify, in detail, the digital assets (e.g., video clips, graphic art, and printable resources) that need to be created as part of the project 

• Provide creative input for the production of engaging media-rich resources for teacher professional development 

• Bring a user experience eye to academic content 

• Write production schedules that generate tasks and team assignments for editorial, video, and design staff 

• Manage and foster the creative development of the project by bringing together copy, design, and media elements into meaningful and engaging learning objects for teachers. This includes writing design and technical specifications for media development. 

• Prepare and upload digital assets to the content management system (CMS) including selecting photographs and writing (or verifying) descriptions, tags, and metadata 

• Conduct thorough quality checks to ensure that our content is free from errors, meets technical specifications, and adheres to our branding and style guidelines 

For example, the leadership team might assign you the project of launching a new skill explainer, about teaching short vowels, for example. You would then, in collaboration with the leadership team, assign the initial drafting of text to our instructional designer. That draft would make suggestions for videos and graphics to accompany the text. You would evaluate the draft and determine if the digital assets make sense and if others are needed. You would then generate ideas for additional assets. With review and approval by the leadership team, you would launch the production of all the assets, working with the video team and the design team. As the products come together, you would be responsible for reviewing each for accessibility, clarity, and adherence to the Reading Universe brand. It’s possible you might need to manage the production and review of dozens of assets ... decodable texts, for example. After review of the complete package by the leadership team, you would build the product in the CMS and be responsible for final quality control checks, with the support of a copy editor. 

Core Competencies: 

Educational Publishing: 

• Experience in developing web-based content for K-12 educators 

• Familiarity with reading instruction preferred 

• Proven knowledge of online media production, publication, and distribution 

• Familiarity in publishing content with a Content Management System (CMS) or Learning Management System (LMS) 

• Experience with Craft a plus 

• Familiarity with library and information science cataloging systems to manage our digital assets in the CMS and our photography and video libraries 

Communication Skills: 

• Excellent writing and verbal skills 

• Ability to clearly translate ideas into actionable tasks and projects 

Collaborative Communication: 

• Work closely with colleagues and freelancers, including graphic designers, video producers, content experts, and back-end developers to ensure seamless integration of all elements into the final product. 

• Work with our academic advisers, our partners, and our teacher cadre to ensure that we are consistently refining our ideas about how Reading Universe can be as authoritative and user-friendly as possible. 

Problem Solving: Address and resolve any technical or creative issues that arise during the product development process, finding effective solutions to maintain project quality and timelines. 

Creativity: Exceptional storytelling skills with the ability to translate concepts into compelling web and social media content 

Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to maintain high standards of quality and accuracy 

Team Player: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a team environment 

Adaptability: Flexibility to handle changing priorities and work under tight deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude 

Additional Skills and Qualifications: 

• Experience in and a commitment to contributing to equity in education 

• Familiarity with reading research and the challenges facing teachers in Pre-K through 6^th grade 

• Ability to manage a complex, long-term project 

• Substantial experience with content management systems and/or learning management platforms is extremely helpful 

• Familiarity with social media being used effectively to serve educators 

• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities and deadline pressures 

• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills 

• Clear and colloquial writing style 

• Demonstrated ability to exercise considerable initiative and sound judgment 

To confirm that a WETA or PBS NewsHour job posting is under recruitment, please visit our websites for our current job postings list:  www.weta.org and www.pbsnewshour.org. 

LOCATION

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations.  We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA.  WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible.  Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nation’s capital; produces a portfolio of national television productions, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans; creates impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; features a variety of content offerings on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App and the WETA Classical App; and serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that contribute to the company’s mission of public service. Please also see our Benefits:  Benefits | WETA

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

WETA/NewsHour Productions is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. Fostering a culture of mutual respect is a top priority and something we take very seriously. 
Employment at WETA/NewsHour Productions is based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, age, ethnicity or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex (including pregnancy), physical, mental or sensory ability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are also committed to demonstrating fair and equitable systems, practices, and processes related to how we recruit, develop, retain, promote, reward, compensate, and terminate talent.
We know that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is fundamental to the success of our business and our people, and we will continue to recognize it as part of our guiding principles.