Work for CRS

Position Summary

Department: Finance & Administration
Supervised By: Director of Finance

The Administrative Assistant supports the daily functions of the finance department. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for placing, receiving, and distributing orders for company purchasing needs. This position communicates with employees, customers, and vendors and works both independently and with others to plan, organize, and accomplish assigned work.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Monitor department email account and respond to or distribute emails as necessary
• Maintains general office supply stock
• Maintains a preferred vendors list and ensures CRS is receiving the best prices
• Places orders, reviews and distributes shipments for company purchasing
• Tracks department purchases against their annual budgets
• Provides back up support to daily cash receipt activities on an as-needed basis
• Provides support for the expense reports process and communication with employees regarding reimbursements
• Postage meter refills and month-end reporting
• Complete customer requests for W-9’s and other required forms
• Complete vendor credit applications
• Prepare customer letter and related documents related to New Jersey Business Registration Certificate requests
• Assists with distribution of monthly customer statements
• Create, edit, and distribute written documents and materials.
• Research, compile, organize and document information.
• Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems.
• Record information, update paperwork, and maintain documents or correspondence.
• Assist with department projects and initiatives.
• Maintain confidentiality of private or sensitive information.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• 2+ years of related experience in an office setting
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite
• Excellent verbal, written communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong work ethic
• High attention to detail
• The ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Accurate and efficient work despite interruptions
• Exhibit a professional, businesslike demeanor
• Regular and reliable attendance
• Ability to run local errands using a personal vehicle

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for up to 8 hours per day with breaks and lunch
• Ability to talk on the phone for up to 4 hours per day
• Lift up to 30  lbs. on occasion

These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.  Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of individual jobholders may vary from the above description.  Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder’s supervisor, may also be required.

Position Summary

Department: Publications
Supervised By: Director of Publications

The Editor/Writer reports to the Director of Publications and is responsible for supporting the work of the Publications department by helping to develop, write, edit and proofread content for a variety of publications products and materials. The Editor must be able to create and adhere to style sheets and guides, be skilled in writing for different audiences, have a basic understanding of product development in a publishing setting, and be able to work on multiple projects and deadlines with different teams. In some cases, the editor/writer supports a project and other times might oversee their own projects.  Assignments given to the Editor/writer have clear, and sometimes short-term, deadlines.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Contributing to the writing, editing, copyediting, background research, and proofing stages of CRS retail publications; including books, articles, Quick Coaching Guides, student books and materials, teaching guides, online content, video and various other products.
• Writing or editing material for newsletters, catalogs, website, and other marketing pieces
• Creating or contributing to the development of workshop and curriculum materials for Center for Responsive Schools programs, products, services and events as required.
• Ability to communicate tactfully with authors and content developers
• Creating and maintaining schedules and deadlines for assigned projects, Supporting the Executive Director’s office with writing and editing of materials as needed.
• Build and maintain knowledge of all Center for Responsive Schools brands, their basis, approach and practices.
• Staying informed of current educational trends, topics of high interest to Center for Responsive Schools customers, and the evolving reading habits and preferred reading mediums of Center for Responsive Schools audience.
• Interviewing educators for developing products with real-world accounts and also gathering testimonials.
• Working with the Marketing Department to develop copy for campaigns.
• Working with Programs and other departments to write and develop content as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, or related field
• At least 3 years’ experience in writing and editing for an organization, preferably in education publishing
• Ability to work on a PC, some Mac experience recommended
• Experienced in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat
• Familiarity with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, InCopy and other Creative Suite products helpful
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong organization, decision-making, and customer service skills
• Able to take direction, feedback, and edits from reviewers with varying roles and backgrounds
• Manage multiple priorities while attending to details
• Deadline-oriented
• Interest in education and organization’s mission
• Perform effectively as a team player in a highly-collaborative work environment
• Regular and reliable attendance, onsite position
• Building knowledge of Center for Responsive Schools customers, website users, and programs by periodically attending events as required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for up to 8 hours per day, with breaks and lunch.
• Ability to talk on the telephone for up to 4 hours per day.
• Ability to travel by airplane and automobile, on occasion
• Ability to lift 30 pounds on occasion.

These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties.  Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of individual jobholders may vary from the above description.  Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder’s supervisor, may also be required.

Position Summary

Department: Publications
Supervised By: Director of Publications

Working under the supervision of the Director of Publications, the Senior Editor/Writer is responsible for ensuring that CRS’s publishing house acquires and develops content for maintaining a robust publications pipeline.  This position collaborates with the Director to ensure that the publishing house products match CRS’ overall direction, program and service needs, and customer needs and interest; it is responsible for ensuring that the print and digital products are high-quality and are profitable.

This position works closely with the Director of Publications on managing multiple projects simultaneously for the lifetime of projects. Projects may be multi-year and multi-component, or small in scale (for example, new books, reprints, workshop products, articles, new or replacement lessons, lesson components and products, small guides, research reports, and marketing collateral). Finished products will publish in both print and digital formats. It also ensures that the publishing house is able to meet CRS’ general internal publishing needs.

This position requires developmental-level editing skills, excellent command of editorial processes and styles, and the ability to project manage in multiphase projects with multiple components.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Content and Author Acquisition

• Works closely with the Director of Publications on planning for publishing pipeline of 5-8 books for educators and 4-8 children’s books each year and managing the slush pile.
• Collaborates with Director, in conjunction with relevant program and research stakeholders to identify potential topics and authors for the publishing pipeline.
• Ensures that the content acquired for print and digital projects are appropriate for CRS’ audience, programmatically accurate, written to high standards of quality, and completed within a specified time frame and budget.
• Cultivates relationships with potential authors and solicits proposals designed to meet member and customer needs.
• Works closely with the Director of Publications to negotiate contracts with authors.
• Identify, source and build a pool of freelancers with relevant skills for the diverse titles produced (including translators, copy-editors, designers, illustrators, proofreaders)
• Works closely with the Director of Publications to research trends in the educational marketplace.
• Establishes and maintains professional relationships with program experts and practitioners who contribute content to CRS.
• Collaborates with colleagues in other departments.
• Contributes to the concept development and content review for other CRS programs, products, and services as required.

Proposal Development, Solicitations and Review

• Works closely with the Director of Publications on proposal development and author (and illustrator) acquisition for publishing pipeline of book titles and retail products that CRS identifies as important for the publishing pipeline.
• Prepares for quarterly Content Acquisitions Team meetings to review proposals, ensures there is a well-designed review process that engages team discussions and provides clear feedback to prospective authors.
• Responsible for implementing a well-designed proposal review process
• Implements and manages a peer review process that ensures manuscripts are original, research-based, practical, specific, and conversational in tone.
• Evaluates completed manuscripts for quality, reviews permissions, and makes recommendations for copyediting and production.
• Works closely with the Director to plan and/or attend CRS sponsored events to identify potential authors, to seek potential authors and raise awareness of author opportunities among diverse educators.
• Makes presentations, organizes conference exhibits, and shares information gathered on-site.

Project and Production Management

• Works closely with project editors and authors whose projects are under contract, and provides guidance and support during the writing phase.
• Provide guidance that ensures content is shaped and organized in line with the expectations of the proposal.

• Agrees to deadlines, negotiating fees, ensuring freelancers are properly briefed and have all the necessary materials.
• Chases work prior to agreed delivery dates, assessing work when it is delivered to ensure that it is complete and in accordance with the proposal and review feedback before passing to production.
• In collaboration with Director of Publications and project editors, monitors and draws up schedules for projects, ensuring that all deadlines are met; keeps the Director of Publications informed of any changes to deliverables schedules.
• Collaborates with the Director of Publications to develop proposal project budgets for all parts of a project; monitors costs during the duration of the project and keeps the Director of Publications informed of any budgetary problems.
• Demonstrates and uses understanding of the significance of the relationship between the reasonableness of the project budget and profitable, viable product; adheres to project budgets and timelines.
• Records all details relevant to the accurate costing and invoicing of a project.

General Administration and Internal Publishing Needs

• Supports Director of Publication in managing and monitoring product titles, consistent with CRS guidelines for (front list, back list, sunset and revision)
• Prepare text of completed projects for website, marketing sales or other as required
• Support all work units in achieving their editorial, print, videography, photography, graphic design, illustration and production goals.
• Assists with general publications tasks as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, English or journalism or closely related field, background in education a plus.
• At least 4 years’ experience in writing and editing, preferably in book publishing and preferably in an office setting
• Experience with a publisher specializing in K–12 education and multimedia projects is highly desirable.
• K–12 education experience in professional development or as a teacher, administrator, or leader is a plus.
• A high level of professional judgment to organize, plan, and manage multiple priorities.
• Deadline-oriented with the ability to juggle myriad details while maintaining a big-picture strategic view, calm and perspective
• Ability to make sound editorial decisions.
• Experience with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, MS Word, PowerPoint, Google and other publishing productivity software.
• Ability to work in both a Mac and PC environment as required by project
• General knowledge of copyright law and publishing processes and procedures including project planning and production scheduling
• General knowledge of book conceptualization and development practices, editing standards, and publishing contract terms and negotiation strategies
• Ability to set and meet project milestones and work under aggressive deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills to negotiate complex editorial issues with authors, illustrators and other roles related to publishing.
• Receptive to direction, feedback from people with varying roles and backgrounds
• High attention to detail
• Perform effectively as a team player in a highly collaborative work environment
• May require occasional travel.
• Must maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Demonstrate professionalism and caring for CRS and its mission at all times.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for up to 8 hours per day, with breaks and lunch.
• Ability to talk on the telephone for up to 4 hours per day.
• Ability to lift 30 pounds on occasion.
• Ability to work in a suite environment.

These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties.  Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of individual jobholders may vary from the above description.  Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder’s supervisor, may also be required.