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Department:                The Christian Science Monitor

SUMMARY

The Associate Publisher of The Christian Science Monitor serves the mission of The Mother Church by collaboratively leading the Monitor’s product-development and partnership activities in support of its mission to “spread undivided the Science that operates unspent” (Miscellany, 353) – in service of The Christian Science Publishing Society’s larger purpose of “promoting and extending the religion of Christian Science as taught by” Mary Baker Eddy (Deed of Trust).

Relying on spiritual insight and active collaboration, including with fellow members of the Monitor leadership team, this senior product leader envisions – and oversees implementation of – sustainable strategies for growth based on the Monitor’s unique mission.

As a curious and compassionate colleague, the Associate Publisher demonstrates love for fellow Monitor staff and their daily output; “unselfish ambition” in expanding the Monitor’s blessing to “all mankind”; keen knowledge of market and industry trends; and humble persistence in working within the Church’s matrix structure to further the mission of both the Monitor and The Mother Church.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Envisioning and building audiences and partnerships: Animated by a spirit of service to current and future customers, the Associate Publisher instills a customer-responsive mindset across the Monitor that leads to a strong vision for expanding reach and serving new audiences. In addition, the Associate Publisher identifies, prioritizes, and develops growth-focused partnerships with outside parties, such as civic groups, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations, and advertisers. As partnerships prove their utility, the Associate Publisher will collaboratively make the case for resources to expand and sustain these initiatives.

Developing effective product-growth strategies and product-development structure: Synthesizing mission, customer needs, their own intuition, ideas from colleagues, analytics insights, and market and industry trends, the Associate Publisher leads identification and adoption of new product strategies that generate growth, keep the Monitor “abreast of the times” (Church Manual), and help move the Monitor toward profitability. As the Monitor demonstrates growth, the Associate Publisher will continually evolve the product-development structure, including collaborative case-making for resources to support growth.

Collaborating deeply: Collaboration is a key part of our culture. As a matrix organization, success depends on all staff expressing proactive grace, empathy, and humility that demonstrates collaboration upward, downward, and outward. Key relationships include:

• The Christian Science Board of Directors and CSPS Trustees: Together with the CSPS Manager, the Associate Publisher elicits from Directors and Trustees their vision for the Monitor -- and operationalizes that vision.
• Monitor leadership team and partners: The Associate Publisher is a member of the cross-functional leadership team that collectively envisions and manages the Monitor’s growth strategy and enables an “undivided” partnership between the four key functional areas: editorial, product, promotion, and finance.
• Editorial: Without a robust partnership between the Associate Publisher and key Editorial team members, the Monitor simply will not thrive.
• Promotion and design: This centralized service group provides expertise and resources that support the Monitor’s product and promotion progress. Working closely with this group’s manager and staff is essential.
• Finance: Representatives of the Treasurer’s Office are essential partners in assessing the potential and value of product evolutions.   
• Other service teams: Service teams provide most organizational resources as part of The Mother Church’s matrix structure. So, the Associate Publisher’s proactive, humble, ongoing relationship-building with these groups is essential.
• CSPS Product Managers: Active collaboration, including with the CSPS Manager and other Product Managers, ensures synchronization across CSPS. The Associate Publisher mentors up-and-coming Product Manager colleagues.
• Other TMC departments: Reaching readers effectively involves partnering with Mother Church departments including Clerk’s Office, Church Activities, the Reading Room team, Committee on Publication, etc.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND JOB CONTACTS

Reporting relationships:

Supervision:    CSPS Manager

Supervises:      Associate Product Manager

Partnerships: Current and potential readers and subscribers, CSPS Trustees and Manager, Monitor leadership team, Promotion and Design Services, Treasurer’s Office, Office of the CIO, Fulfillment and Customer Care, Human Resources, Office of the General Counsel, and CSPS Product Managers.

Regular contacts include: Customers, CSPS Trustees, CS Board of Directors, P&DSG managers, Fulfillment Manager, Customer Contact Center Manager, Editors, financial managers, legal teams, copyright administrator, variety of outside creative talent and vendors.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience: College degree required. Advanced degree welcomed. 12+ years progressive professional and management experience in a purpose-oriented or equivalent organization in publishing, product management, and/or marketing.

Knowledge/Skills: Background in media, publishing, and/or journalism. Must understand -- and be able to lead -- the dynamic demands of a modern news operation – and have a proven track record of identifying and implementing strategies for growth. Knowledge of agile/Scrum practices and matrix organizations preferred. Demonstrated budgeting, forecasting, and P&L experience. Must excel at working individually and with teams. Needs to maintain a clear understanding of the unique mission of The Christian Science Publishing Society, the unique mission of the Monitor and recognize that sound business activities are grounded in spiritual insight.

Technology Skills: This position requires mastery of computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, Google suite programs, Trello and work-process programs, Slack, presentations, and database programs.

Work Environment: An individual in this position should be confident and comfortable in a fast-paced, changeable, deadline-oriented atmosphere; energetic, upbeat, thoughtful, creative, organized, willing, tactful, solution-oriented and spiritually grounded. This position regularly works in an office environment, and is preferably located in Boston.

Engagement with Christian Science: The ability to rely on a keen spiritual sense in discerning paths forward for the Monitor is essential to this role. So, too, is the ability to envision and articulate how the Monitor’s mission dovetails with the broader Church’s activities in serving the needs of humanity, including during interactions with The Christian Science Board of Directors, the CSPS Board of Trustees, other Church staff, and members of the Church. Membership in The Mother Church and Christian Science Primary Class instruction is preferred.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.