Openings at Maskew Miller Learning

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Contribution to Product strategy

• Physical Sciences subject matter expert.
• Research and understand market needs in collaboration with the research team.
• Maintain relationships with curriculum officials and external stakeholders.
• Generate Physical Sciences product and service pedagogy framework based on policy documents for all the subjects relevant to Grade 4 - 12.
• Research and analyze curricula, policy documents/gap analysis and evaluation criteria relating to submission and tender requirements.
• Review and analyze competitor and alternative products/services.
• Generate product or service concept/vision for all components.

Financial Management

• Prepare product budgets for sign-off (forecast costs).
• Manage product costs within approved budgets.
• Respond to budget queries and changes.
• Sign off and approvals of work as per schedule of authority.

Content Development

• Develop detailed specific product/service plan.
• Develop design specifications and cover briefs.
• Develop detailed instructional design/digital brief. 
• Develop detailed author/Subject Matter Expert (SME) commissioning brief.
• Recruit appropriate authors/SMEs. This includes the development and retention of market-leading content developers and subject matter experts (SMEs).
• Work closely with authors/freelancers to create products or services based on the relevant pedagogy.
• Commission content/service according to detailed product plan.
• Manage the development of print and digital content.
• Provide continuous support during the writing/content development process. 
• Contribute to the development of content for marketing material, including creating the product value proposition.
• Review quality and conformity and provide feedback until content is approved.

Project Management

• Create project schedule (forecast time). Responsible for the overall deadline of projects. This means ensuring that projects are completed by the agreed due date.
• Remain up to date with all admin duties and foster best practice.

Production Support

• Ensure that the vision for the product or service is carried through the entire production process.
• Support the Managing Editor(s) during production phase by: 
• addressing content/author queries
• approving final artwork and photo selection
• reviewing first draft and artwork pages
• Signing off and approving master set files.

Testing/trialing/research

• Develop prototype/sections/full product for testing/trialing/research purposes.
• Validate prototypes/sections/full products.
• Analyze and apply research feedback to improve products and services.

Relationship with External stakeholders

• Develop relationships with relevant Ministry and DBE officials and external stakeholders. 
• Brief external SMEs, consultants, freelancers as needed.

Develop good practice.

• Develop pool of excellent content developers/SMEs capable of responding to the needs as they arise.
• Develop skills of content developers/SMEs through training.

Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with colleagues during all stages of the project within the matrix.  
• Contribute to development of content for marketing material.

Follow new trends and developments.

• Stay abreast with new trends and developments in products/services, pedagogy, and market needs.
• Attending relevant workshops, conferences, and other industry events to stay up to date.

Digital

• Manage the development of digital content.
• Understanding of the Physical Sciences Learning Design best practice and principles for digital learning.
• Good understanding of instructional design and user-experience design best practice and principles – when & how to employ specialists.
• Collaborate with the Design and Digital Development team to develop digital content / products.

Project Lead Responsibilities

• As required, to perform the role of the project lead.

Educational Requirements

• Relevant Degree in the subject matter of Physical Sciences.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum three to five years working knowledge within the Content creation of Physical Sciences school textbook publishing and/or extensive Physical Sciences teaching educational environment. 

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Key Duties and Responsibilities

Editorial Project Management

• Responsible for the overall deadline of African Languages projects, ensuring completion and delivery by the agreed due date.
• Create project schedules with clear time forecasts and deliverables.
• Maintain up-to-date admin duties and apply best-practice project workflows.
• Ensure the publishing vision is maintained throughout the entire content development and production process.

Support the Publisher and Publishing Lead during the pre-production and production phases by:

• Sourcing and onboarding authors and reviewers for new submissions.
• Addressing content-related queries from authors and resolving them efficiently.
• Reviewing manuscripts to ensure content accuracy, curriculum alignment, and subject appropriateness.
• Sourcing illustrators, proofreaders, editors, and typesetters; maintaining working relationships with them.
• Collaborating closely across functions within the matrix team to oversee all stages of production.
• Overseeing the commissioning of artwork and photography relevant to African Languages.
• Approving final artwork and photographic selections.
• Reviewing first page proofs and artwork layouts.
• Performing final checks and proofreading before delivery to print or digital production.
• Signing off and approving final master set files.

Financial Management

• Work with the Publisher to prepare product development budgets and submit for sign-off.
• Manage product development within approved budgets.
• Address queries and updates related to budget adjustments.
• Approve work and services in accordance with the organisation’s schedule of authority.

Content Development

• Work with the Publisher to develop detailed product plans for African Languages offerings.
• Create design specifications, cover briefs, and instructional design briefs.
• Draft comprehensive author/Subject Matter Expert (SME) commissioning briefs.
• Recruit and retain experienced authors and SMEs in African Languages.
• Work with authors and freelancers to deliver curriculum-aligned learner and teacher materials.
• Work with the Publisher to commission content in line with product specifications and curriculum needs.
• Manage the development of both print and digital content.
• Support the Publisher to provide ongoing support to authors during the writing process.
• Contribute to marketing material development, including product value proposition.
• Review content quality and alignment to pedagogy; provide constructive feedback until content is approved.

General Contribution to Product Strategy

• Collaborate with research teams to understand market and classroom needs.
• Support the Publisher to analyse policy documents, CAPS curriculum, and submission requirements to ensure product alignment.
• Monitor competitor products and perform content gap analysis.
• Support the Publisher to develop the vision and framework for African Languages learning materials.
• Stay up to date with education and technology trends to inform future product design.
• Contribute to the development of marketing content and messaging.

Digital

• Manage the development of digital components and blended learning elements.
• Have a sound understanding of digital learning principles, including African Languages -specific pedagogy.
• Understand instructional and user experience design principles and know when to engage specialists.
• Collaborate with the Digital Development teams to deliver engaging and interactive digital content.

Business as Usual

• Manage backlist maintenance: respond to customer queries, update reprints, and apply corrections as needed.
• Work with the Publisher to continuously review current products for relevance, improvement, and compliance with curriculum updates.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, African Languages, Linguistics, or a related field (a postgraduate qualification will be advantageous).

Experience Requirements

• Extensive experience in publishing, education, or content development, with a strong focus on African Languages.
• Proven track record in managing complex projects, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality outputs.
• Deep understanding of African Languages, their cultural contexts, and educational applications.