Acquisitions Editor: ASCD

Hi all...interesting gig from ASCD. Contact David Hargis: dhargis@ascd.org
Michele


Position Title: Acquisitions Editor
Reports To: Director, Content Development
Work Group: Program Development / Content Acquisitions & Development
Unit: Content Development
FLSA Status: Exempt
Date Updated: 10/4/10
Position Number: 402003

POSITION SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Director of Content Development, the Acquisitions Editor manages
the development of complex virtual products from inception through final delivery. The position
is responsible for ensuring that ASCD’s virtual products meet the needs of ASCD members and
contribute meaningfully to the larger education community. The Acquisitions Editor develops,
evaluates, and implements best practices, templates, and protocols for virtual products.
Additionally, successful incumbents can—with limited supervision—make nuanced, timesensitive content and editorial decisions that take the needs and perspectives of multiple
audiences into account.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Ensures that virtual products are relevant and engaging, capitalize on the virtual
environment’s unique benefits, are developed to high quality standards, and contribute
to ASCD’s growth, overall success, and members.
• Identifies potential subject matter experts for ASCD’s consideration and functions as a
point of contact for new and potential authors and subject matter experts; identifies and
helps develop potential new products and ideas originating from existing ASCD subject
matter experts and authors.
• Helps subject matter experts shape and organize key ideas, reviews and comments on
their output, and negotiates changes to content to ensure the final product is original,
research-based, practical, specific, and conversational in tone.
• Collaborates with other unit members to create templates and quality criteria to expedite
and streamline efforts across projects.
• Participates in virtual products’ long-range strategic planning and content and
researches topics and trends in the marketplace and presents them for consideration.
• Evaluates completed products for quality, reviews permissions, and makes
recommendations for copyediting and production.
• Collaborates with colleagues in other units. Contributes to developing concepts and
reviews content for other ASCD programs, products, and services.
• Other duties as assigned.
http://inside.ascd.org/collaboration/wgu/OS/hr/Position Descriptions/AE-402003.doc
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QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge
• Knowledge of online product lifecycles, processes, and procedures, including long-range
planning; product conceptualization and development; template and protocol
development; and quality assurance standards.
• Understanding of trends, issues, and customer needs in preK–16 education.
• Understanding of effective lesson development, including objective and assessment
writing.
• Successful candidates typically hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education,
English, journalism, or a related field.

Skills and Abilities/Critical Success Factors
• Ability to make nuanced content and editorial decisions that successfully balance the
perspectives of multiple audiences.
• Ability to set and meet project milestones and work under aggressive deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills to negotiate complex editorial issues with subject matter
experts and internal team members.
• Must be a self-starter able to manage and organize one’s own time and others’ time with
limited supervision.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, excellent command of the English
language, and proficient use of technology.

Experience
• Five years in the education or nonprofit field, with two–five years in online education or
educational technology.
• Project leadership and complex task management.
• Experience in a preK–16 education setting is preferred.
• Experience in professional development strategies and delivery is a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
• Normal demands associated with an office environment.
• Fast-paced environment; work on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate on teams.
• Daily contact with internal and external customers, vendors, colleagues, associates,
supervisors, and managers at all levels of the organization.
• Deadline-driven environment requiring initiative.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment.
• Other normal demands associated with an office environment, such as the ability to sit
for prolonged periods of time and communicate with individuals by telephone, e-mail,
and in person.
http://inside.ascd.org/collaboration/wgu/OS/hr/Position Descriptions/AE-402003.doc
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• Travel to external sites (up to 10 percent).
This position description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor
restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should
not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the
right to review and revise this document at any time.