We love being able to offer slightly quirky gigs that are off the beaten track yet for serious professionals only, and this is one of them: You take your excellent business/planning/operational skills and put them to use working closely alongside an executive who’s been tasked with rolling out the new strategy of a huge publishing house. It’s a three-month gig with the potential to turn into something more if the right Gun lands it. So, are you the right Gun?
The Nitty Gritty
Viewed from the highest level, your job will be to help translate strategy into a comprehensive plan of action. The company has taken a hard look at itself and is ready to make serious changes in order to modernize, digitize, and remain competitive (shut down business line X, boost business line Y, that kinda thing). But knowing what to do is different from knowing how to do it. That’s where you come in. You’ll sit down with the executive VP and study the strategy, the business lines, the requirements, and the resources at your disposal. Then you’ll do that thing you do, which is to integrate work-streams, develop nicely aligned project plans in multiple departments, build out financial models addressing various possible scenarios, determine capability levels, make technology and systems recommendations, and facilitate change throughout the culture.
Hired Gun Profile
You’re a business-analysis veteran who has demonstrably met the challenges of some serious operational and transformational projects in the eight to ten years you’ve been doing this sort of thing. Where others groan at the enormity of rolling out big strategic changes, you rub your hands together in delight as your analytical mind automatically sets to work to solve the delicious puzzle. You’ve got the gravitas to step into a very high-profile role working alongside top executives, but you aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get down to some heavy lifting. A mighty quick study, all you really need is someone to show you the lay of the land, and then you get it and are off to the races.
Someone of your experience knows that organizations can contain people at every level who are resistant to change. You’ve got the interpersonal and diplomatic skills to calm nerves, convert nonbelievers, win hearts and minds, soothe egos, and instill confidence in the new approach. You communicate directly and clearly, both in speaking and in writing, as will become evident through your informal interactions, your Gantt charts, and your highly effective PowerPoint presentations.
Inside Skinny
No direct publishing experience is required (although of course you should flaunt it if ya got it); what we really need to hear is the who/what/when/where that proves you’re an expert in converting strategy into action.
Net Net
Temporary gigs don’t get much more high-profile and important than this one. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talents at a big-time company that may well have further use for you in the future.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, creed, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.