Publisher - Foundation Phase

**Job Desciption**:
**About Maskew Miller Learning**:
Maskew Miller Learning lends its name from the most trusted and recognisable publisher in South African history - Maskew Miller. At Maskew Miller Learning, we believe that learning allows people to move forward in life, enabling them to have brighter futures.

We are a B-BBEE - Level 1 contributor, providing education solutions ranging from early childhood learning to professional certification, curriculum-based print materials, e-learning content and tools, as well as teacher training. We publish in all 11 official languages and have the widest range of CAPS-approved content trusted by teachers. Our quality educational resources and materials are used in schools, TVET colleges, higher education institutions, and home and professional environments.

**Our Core Values**:

- We are Committed. We’re helpful and supportive of our customers and colleagues alike - providing educational resources to help people move forward, while also helping colleagues grow and excel
- We are
- Accountable. Our products and services have a tremendous impact on learning and for this reason we operate ethically and with integrity. We are honest, reliable, trustworthy, and take responsibility for our actions.
- We are Collaborative. We partner with both internal and external stakeholders to continually improve our offering and maintain a competitive edge. We are inclusive, valuing, and respecting colleagues’ ideas and encouraging thought leadership.
- We are Curious. We are forward looking. We challenge the status quo through creative, innovative, and agile thinking.
- We are Resilient and Impactful. We strive to make a positive, lifelong difference on our communities and environment by being considerate and progressive, developing solutions that affect real change.

**Main Purpose**:
The Publisher for Foundation Phase portfolio leads and manages the content creation for Foundation Phase related all numeracy & literacy products or services for Grade R, 1, 2 and 3.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Contribution to Product strategy**:

- Schools Foundation Phase matter expert.
- Research and understand market needs in collaboration with the Product Management team.
- Maintain relationships with Foundation Phase Curriculum officials and other relevant external stakeholders.
- Research and analyse curricula, policy documents/gap analysis and evaluation criteria relating to submission and tender requirements.
- Review and analyse competitor and alternative products/services.
- Generate product or service concept/vision for all components of the solutions offering.

**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 publishing plan.
- Develop design spec and cover briefs in partnership with the Head of Design and Production.
- Develop detailed instructional design/digital brief.
- Develop detailed author/Subject Matter Expert (SME) commissioning brief.
- 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 through the collaboration of the managing editors.
- Provide continuous support during the writing/content development process.
- Contribute to development of content for marketing material, including creating the product value proposition in partnership with the Product Management team.
- 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.

**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