Custom Publishing Associate Director

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.

What You'll Do

• 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

Minimum Qualifications

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

Application Process

Submit a resume and cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position by June 23, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A Recruiter will contact you with next steps if you are selected for an interview.

The anticipated initial rate of compensation for this position is $120,000 per year. AAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance, each subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of AAAS and will be based on a variety of factors, including years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant factors. AAAS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Any unsolicited resumes sent to AAAS from a third party, such as an agency, including unsolicited resumes sent to an AAAS mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to AAAS employees, or to the AAAS resume database will be considered AAAS property. Verbal or written communications from any employee of AAAS shall not be considered binding obligations. AAAS Human Resources is the only AAAS representative authorized by AAAS enter into any employment agreements with any third party. AAAS will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

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