Job Description

Director of Content Development

Peterson's 

Location: Denver, CO (Hybrid)

About Peterson's:

Founded in 1966, Peterson's is a leading provider of educational resources specializing in test preparation, publishing, and training. With a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability, we empower individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals through comprehensive and engaging learning solutions. Our offerings span a wide range of areas, including entrance exams (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT), professional credentialing exams, PMP certification, and medical terminology. We are increasingly focused on delivering innovative and effective digital educational content to meet the evolving needs of our learners.

Position Summary:

Peterson's is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Content Development to lead the strategy, creation, and delivery of high-quality digital educational content across our diverse product lines. Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Content Development will be responsible for building and managing a team of content professionals, overseeing a robust editorial function, managing outsourced content development relationships, and ensuring that our content is engaging, effective, accurate, and aligned with market needs and pedagogical best practices. This is a critical leadership role that will directly impact the success and growth of Peterson's digital learning solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Content Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive content strategy that aligns with Peterson's overall business objectives and product roadmap for test prep, publishing, and training across entrance exams, credentialing exams, PMP certification, and medical terminology.
• Team Management and Development: Build, lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of in-house content developers, subject matter experts, instructional designers, video production, and editorial staff. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Outsourced Relationship Management: Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with external content creators, subject matter experts, and vendors to supplement internal resources and ensure timely and high-quality content delivery. This includes negotiating contracts, setting clear expectations, and monitoring performance.
• Content Planning and Production: Oversee the entire content lifecycle, from initial concept and curriculum design to content creation, review, editing, and final delivery across various digital formats (e.g., online courses, practice tests, interactive exercises, video lessons, eBooks).
• Quality Assurance and Accuracy: Establish and maintain rigorous quality assurance processes to ensure the accuracy, pedagogical soundness, and effectiveness of all educational content. Implement feedback mechanisms and iterate on content based on performance data and user feedback.
• Innovation and Best Practices: Stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in digital learning, instructional design, educational technology, and content development. Champion the adoption of innovative approaches and technologies to enhance the learner experience.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with Product Management, Marketing, Sales, and Technology teams to ensure content aligns with product specifications, marketing strategies, and technical requirements.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the content development budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost-effective content creation.
• Performance Measurement and Reporting: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for content effectiveness and regularly report on content performance, identifying areas for improvement and optimization.
• Compliance and Accessibility: Ensure all content adheres to relevant accessibility standards and copyright regulations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, English, Journalism, a relevant subject matter field, or equivalent experience. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in content development, preferably within the education, publishing, or training industry.
• Demonstrated experience in developing digital educational content for diverse subject areas, including test preparation, professional credentialing, or related fields. Experience in the specific areas of entrance exams, credentialing exams, PMP certification, and medical terminology is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in managing and leading a team of content professionals, including hiring, training, mentoring, and performance management.
• Significant experience in managing outsourced content development relationships, including vendor selection, contract negotiation, and performance oversight.
• Strong understanding of instructional design principles, adult learning theories, and effective pedagogical practices for digital learning.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure. Familiarity with Project Management systems (ex. HIVE, Smartsheet, JIRA, Trello, etc.).
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and communication skills, with a deep understanding of editorial best practices, style guides (e.g., AP, Chicago), and grammar.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and various digital content authoring tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and make data-driven decisions.
• Passion for education and a commitment to creating high-quality learning experiences.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and copyright regulations.

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