Publisher: Coding and Robotics at Oxford University Press Southern Africa

Principal Accountabilities:

Developing market-focused product

• Contribute to the strategic execution of the Schools business, conduct robust planning and resource market research, competitive analyses, accurate budgeting, and to commission and publish products that increase market share and profitability, timeously.
• Supporting authors through effective workshops, ensuring smooth implementation of content and ancillaries, as well as submission and approvals management.

Maintaining productive relationships with internal & external stakeholders

• Actively collaborate with Sales and Marketing teams, deepening opportunities within the market and providing first-line support on product knowledge, institution engagement and event attendance.
• Liaise with Digital Product team, contributing continuously to the digital product strategy, generating business cases and budgeting, project management and meeting deadlines where required.
• Liaising with Publishing Services regarding project briefs and information so that publication goals are met, manuscript handover, as well as monitoring and production input throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensuring that author engagement is sustainable by attracting professionals with market-facing experience, profile fit and supported through training and timeous complaint resolution.
• Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with professional organisations, NGOs and educationalists.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with relevant education ministries and government departments.
• Contribute to OUP’s Thought Leadership strategy in collaboration with the Marketing team.

Finance and budget management  

• Forecast annual operational expenses in line with guidelines in terms of overheads, author and first costs. Budgets are compiled and approved within margins.
• Manage costs against approved budget and producing insightful variance analyses.
• Develop and manage cost control mechanisms

Efficient business systems user

• Business systems used efficiently, procedures are up to date and new users are trained.

Ethical, regulatory and legal risk management

• Adhering to OUP ethical policies and codes of conduct, maintaining strict confidentiality and scrutiny of business transactions and active prevention tactics applied

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (NQF 7) in related field. Teaching or lecturing experience in Coding and Robotics and CAT is advantageous.
• Driver’s license (Code B)
• Minimum of 2 years’ working experience where a track record of conceptualising and delivering high- quality, successful Coding and Robotics print and digital products for schools, preferably in multiple Southern African markets is demonstrated. Experience in digital publishing advantageous.
• Minimum of 3 years’ working experience of setting up and managing projects across complexity, and overhead budgeting at a leading level, in a product development context
• Proven experience in market research and analysis, and writing business cases in aid of product development