Custom Publishing Associate Director

AAAS•Washington, DC

10h

About The Position

The Custom Publishing Associate Director is responsible for the day-to-day execution of project management, team coordination, and operational workflows. This is both an internal- and external-facing position, overseeing communications and deliverables while frequently serving as a point of contact for domestic and international partners throughout the lifecycle of Custom Publishing engagements. The Associate Director will coordinate with stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization to manage timelines, track progress, and maintain visibility into project status. This role is responsible for ensuring consistent, timely, and clear communication in an agile environment, supporting iterative planning and delivery cycles across global Science teams and client counterparts. Working closely with Custom Publishing editorial and sales teams, as well as contracts, marketing, and production, the Associate Director will drive cross-functional execution, proactively resolve issues, and ensure adherence to established processes and timelines. Operating in a highly global environment, the role requires ongoing coordination with international clients, contractors, vendors, and internal teams across regions and time zones to maintain efficient, consistent delivery. Working hours will be aligned to support the demands of this global scope. Help us ignite the next era of science.

Requirements

Experience in project management tools/applications (e.g., Asana, MS Teams, MS Excel, Salesforce)
Experience partnering with international stakeholders, including teams in Asia, with the cultural awareness needed to support effective collaboration and project outcomes
Minimum 5 years’ direct staff management experience
5+ years’ work experience in project/program management; content creation experience a plus
Media, publishing, or agency experience or equivalent experience with client-side content team preferred
Experience in digital and print publishing or advertising a plus
Strong communication and cross-collaboration skills
Attention to detail and strong sense of time management/adherence to schedules
Administrative management: maintenance of databases/project files, meeting set up/management, preparation of meeting minutes, etc.

Nice To Haves

Project/program management certification a plus, Project Management Profession (PMP) certification preferred

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary liaison across internal teams, vendors, and contractors; coordinates touchpoints, clarifies ownership, and proactively identifies and mitigates risks to ensure alignment with policies, quality standards, and contractual requirements
Oversees end-to-end project delivery, including production workflows, execution support, quality assurance, and continuous process improvement to enhance efficiency and outcomes
Maintains adherence to standard Custom Publishing processes while identifying and implementing scalable workflow improvements that strengthen collaboration and reduce costs
Develops and maintains program management frameworks, including intake, scoping, production, and documentation templates, to streamline execution and improve consistency across the portfolio
Provides oversight of quoting and approval workflows, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and accountability to established standards and service expectations
Manages multiple concurrent projects, partnering with domestic and international stakeholders to define requirements, set goals, and maintain alignment with business objectives
Acts as a partner with the sales managers for client communication, expectation setting, and issue resolution to ensure responsiveness and prove an exceptional experience
Develops and manages detailed project plans, aligning stakeholders, identifying resource needs, and proactively mitigating risks to keep projects on track
Builds strong cross-functional partnerships, driving accountability to timelines and deliverables while anticipating challenges and implementing practical solutions
Navigates competing priorities by maintaining momentum, reinforcing accountability, and identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency
Fosters an engaged, collaborative team environment through regular communication, team coordination, and effective collaboration across global time zones