Where I Was is Getting Less

From my June 8th Corridor Business Journal newsletter:

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Pearson eliminating 47 more jobs in Iowa City            
   
The educational and professional assessment company Pearson is eliminating 47 jobs at its Iowa City operations in the third round of job cuts this year. The company issued a notice of its plans to lay off the employees to Iowa Workforce Development on June 7.

Pearson spokeswoman Laura Gamble said the latest reduction is in line with plans announced by the company in January to reduce its global workforce by 10 percent through the course of 2016.

The latest cutbacks appear to bring the number of jobs eliminated by Pearson in Iowa City to at least 166, although the company has declined to release figures on the number of employees affected. Pearson notified state officials in January that it was laying off 62 employees, and in March that it was laying off 57 employees.

In a prepared statement, Pearson said, "Our employees in Iowa have a long, proud history of serving students, parents and educators across the state and around the nation. We are committed to supporting those affected employees during this difficult transition period."

Demand for educational assessments has been down, Pearson CEO John Fallon said in announcing plans to cut 4,000 jobs worldwide in January, indicating that fewer Americans are seeking college enrollment. He said the restructuring is intended to simply the company, integrate operations and cut costs to get Pearson growing again.

Iowa Workforce Development is offering services to assist the affected workers, a spokesman said.

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Editor's Note: The text above is a copy-n-paste from the email I received. Here is the article online: http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/business/pearson-eliminating-47-additional-jobs-in-iowa-city-20160608

ATH - 13 Lies Employers Tell About Job Offers

I'm pretty sure I've bemoaned not knowing about Nick Corcodilos during my job search in 2016. I think just reading Corcodilos' perspective would have been really helpful during those days between when I was laid off from Pearson and when my current manager offered my current job to me.

While my job search in 2016 has been on my mind this week - and yes, I know it's only Tuesday! - I've also been thinking about my job search in 2011 because I happened to see a "Technical Communication Specialist" opening at the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa, yesterday. Readers of this blog will recall that the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa company is the label I've given to the company I left Quintrex to join. It's also the company I hated working at. I stayed there for a mere 5 months, 3 weeks, 5 days (177 of the longest days of my E N T I R E  L I F E!!), which is how long it took before I was informed I was not a good fit for the role, which was also called Technical Communication Specialist.

What I noticed in the job ad yesterday were two things:

1. The job description mentions the need to adhere to standards.
• When I was at that company, I asked my co-worker what the standard was for spaces after a period. Her response was "Use one unless it looks funny, then use two." I sincerely hope that isn't a "standard" they are wanting this role to adhere to!
2. The job description mentions that there is a desire to hire a person into this role who has experience with Madcap Software and HTML.
• When I was at that company, my purpose was to write online Help for their budding software products. However, the idea of using another tool, such as Madcap Flare or RoboHelp for that online Help, was off the table because the department used InDesign in the most asinine possible way on the planet. It was interesting to me to see Madcap Software and HTML listed in the job description when those were not options when I was there.

I worked at the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa and I don't regret anything about the experience. While it's been a whopping 7 years, 6 months, 2 weeks, 3 days (2757 days) since I worked there, I went through the following logic in my head.

1. Had I not left Quintrex for the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa, I don't really know if I would have been hired at Pearson. 
1. Had I not been hired at Pearson, I don't really know if I would have had at least two things happen that happened during my time at Pearson. 
1. Professionally, I know that working with Confluence and learning about includes and snippets and variables ignited a passion for my work. I don't know if I would have ever found that renewed passion 
2. Outside of work, I know without a shadow of a doubt that because Pearson sent me to WritersUA 2012 in Memphis, TN, I found the fire within me for playing drums in an Ideal Band was reignited. I don't know if I would have ever met Joe or Matthew, who were in Lou's Classic Ride with me, or if I would have thought to ask Brian Guitar to play guitar in that band with me. It was such a fluke that Brian Guitar's schedule allowed him to be off early on Friday during the summer. Pearson's policy of allowing its employees to work 36 hours M - R and then 4 hours on Fridays  allowed Joe, Matthew, and I to be able to rehearse on Friday afternoons as well.
1. Had I not been laid off at Pearson, I don't really know if I would have been hired here.

As you just read, there is a direct relationship between working at the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa and what I do now. As I just wrote, absolutely NO, I don't regret anything about the experience. A lot of elements fell into place and for all of those elements mentioned above and being removed by my internal editor as I write these words, without the good and the bad in life, I wouldn't be where I am now. This article by Nick Corcodilos - 13 lies employers tell about job offers - was published today and while not directly related to anything I have wrote above, just knowing about his existence has seemed to somehow reinforce how God has blessed me by being able to live the life I lead.

Wide-Ranging Post Promises to Discuss Broken Promises

A relevant Star Wars Universe quote and me impersonating a Star Wars Universe character to make my point should set the tone for this post:

1. As Anakin Skywalker said, "If you're not with me, then you're against me." 
2. As Yoda might say, "Trusting are you too much."

Now, on with the topic. On the ACT Jobs site - https://careers-act.icims.com/jobs/intro - I searched for the word "Pearson" because I wanted to know if any of the ACT job descriptions mentioned working with employees at Pearson - I was curious. During my job hunt in January 2016, if I had found an ACT job with the word "Pearson," I would not have applied since I had just been laid off from Pearson. I was very surprised when I saw the following search result:

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I clicked the link and again searched for "Pearson" because there was a search result that made a promise to me that if I looked at that search result, I would find the information I wanted.

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It's the same bogus search result I used to see at Pearson when I would search for the word "jetty" and see a search result, only to have a search on the search result be a false promise. In the "jetty" situation, the word is on the page - you just need to expand multiple drop-downs in order to see it and, once you find it, you may think that there is only one instance of the word, but you'd be wrong.

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See, no page-level result:

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But when you look at the code, Jetty is there:

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I think there should never be situations like these examples when a user cannot find the information they are seeking.

Another SRE Job - at Pearson?!?

This must be the week for SRE jobs. This one is at Pearson, where I worked from 5-30-2011 --> 1-26-2016 1702 days (4 years, 7 months, 3 weeks, 6 days). As I mentioned the other day, no, I'm not qualified for this role so no, I'm not going to apply.

However, I do have the following simple questions:

• what is the standard for including hyperlinks as actual hyperlinks in a job ad - should they be an active hyperlink, as designated below in red or not an active hyperlink, as designated below in purple?
I wish there was a standard...
• what does #LI-POST mean, as designated below in green.
  

I don't have an answer to either question and it doesn't matter as I am not even applying for what might be an awesome job.

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Site Reliability Engineer Iowa City, Iowa 

We are the world’s learning company with more than 24,000 employees operating in 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment,powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people.

The Cloud Infrastructure Services team is seeking candidates for a Site Reliability Engineer. SRE’s play an integral role ensuring that our customers have a highly available and reliable platform. The role supports the deployment and customization of our ERP Platform. As a Site Reliability engineer, you will scale systems sustainably through mechanisms like automation, and evolve systems by pushing for changes that improve reliability and velocity.

As an SRE, you will:

• Design scalable, robust, secure systems using cloud architecture

• Build automation using industry tools (like Jenkins, Ansible, etc.) to deploy hundreds of different services

• Ensure a high degree of availability across all of our service offerings.

• Identify bottlenecks and problems throughout the infrastructure.

• Drive projects/technical initiatives and architectural/technical service improvements .

• Build automation to scale infrastructure based on forecasted demand.

• Develop custom tools as necessary.

• Document system design and procedures.

• Maintain applications and services once they are live by measuring and monitoring availability, latency and overall system health.

• Practice sustainable incident response and postmortems.

• Partner and lead internal and external technology resources in solving complex business needs

• Participate in an on-call rotation.

• Provide architectural recommendations

• Ensure SLA obligations are met.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years' hands on experience managing, maintaining, and automating infrastructure in AWS.

• 4+ years' hands on experience managing and maintaining Linux systems.

• BS degree in Computer Science or related technical field involving systems engineering (e.g., physics or mathematics), or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced problem-solving experience involving leading teams in identifying, researching, and coordinating the resources necessary to effectively troubleshoot/diagnose complex project issues; prior success extracting/translating findings into alternatives/solutions; and identifying risks/impacts and schedule adjustments to facilitate management decision-making.

• Hands on Experience with Oracle Database and Middleware Infrastructure.

• Good understanding of standard networking protocols and components such as: HTTP, DNS, TCP/IP, ICMP, the OSI Model, Subnetting and Load Balancing.

• Fluent in at least one scripting language, Python experience highly preferred.

• Strong experience using logging and monitoring tools (ie: Splunk, Cloudwatch, NewRelic)

• Experience with Ansible or other configuration management systems.

• Strong familiarity with software configuration management systems and/or source code version control systems

• Excellent English communication skills

The anticipated starting salary range for Colorado-based individuals expressing interest in this position is $100,000.00-$107,000.00. This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program.

Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at: https://pearsonbenefitsus.com/

Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com.

Pearson believes that wherever learning flourishes, so do people. We are committed to being an anti-racist company in everything we do. We value the power of an inclusive culture and a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm, and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to a sustainable environment and workplace where talent can learn, grow, and thrive.  

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, please click here:  http://www.pearson.com/careers/diversity-and-inclusion.html  

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other group protected by law.

Job: TECHNOLOGY

Organization: Corporate Strategy & Technology

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Req ID: 2109432

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I Don't Get to Know the Answer to That Question (x 2)

YES, I am not interested in this position with Pearson that was posted on Friday, July 10. Notice that there is a typo - the bold text in the 4th bullet below -which shows me that there is a need for an editor... <GRIN>

Would I have been able to transition to this position instead of being laid off in January 2016, if this opening existed in January 2016? What tools would this position be using?

Guess those answers will remain for eternity...

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Editor in Iowa City, Iowa

Editor

Description

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Review and edit text thoroughly for correct grammar, syntax, usage, style, and consistency.

• Proofread rendered copy at various stages of development with a goal of 100% accuracy.

• Verify edits and ensure uniformity and consistency across components.

• Perform editorial reviews of XML-based paper and online components at all stages of production.Tasks may include providing queries/feedback regarding style/formatting issues, coordinating with other teams/departments to produce test booklets, and/or moving materials through all phases of development with minimal oversight.

• Act as a point of contact for assigned projects and provide detailed updates regarding project handling and status to teammates and managing editor.

• Work proactively with managing editor to identify training issues or process inconsistencies/gaps.

• Author or contribute to project style guide and/or editorial training materials.

• Serve as a mentor to colleagues.

• Attend project meetings, provide editorial status updates, and maintain organized and accurate records and logs as assigned.

• Consistently follow established best practices and contribute to the development of new workflow processes.

• Create project-specific work instructions as needed.

• Review and edit assessment ancillary documents, such as educator’s guides, technical reports, parent reports, business process documentation, etc., as needed.

• Collaborate with test development managers, content specialists, other content developers, psychometricians, publishing designers, and other internal and external stakeholders to produce top-quality materials.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or other related discipline or work experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

• At least three years of copyediting experience. Two years of experience in copyediting educational assessment development stimuli, items, and/or ancillary products preferred.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of all phases of assessments, including processing, scoring, and reporting of assessments.

• Experience with project leadership, resource allocation, training/mentoring, coordinating deadlines with multiple work groups, and maintaining communication required to meet objectives.

• Professionally tailored and strong verbal and written communication skills required.

• Strong knowledge of how to apply and/or interpret information in print or online references (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style , The Gregg Reference Manual , Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , etc.)

• Strong knowledge about word processing and professional office applications including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Project, and Adobe Acrobat Professional is required. Solid understanding of the use of HTML and XML in web publishing is desired.

• Ability to maintain professionalism in challenging situations and when dealing with difficult individuals. An awareness of nonverbal communication cues and appropriate responses to those cues is also desired.

• Ability to lead discussions, persuade others as needed to reach goals effectively, and articulate risks/benefits during problem-solving efforts.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Primary Location: US-TX-Austin

Other Locations US-IA-Iowa City, US-TX-San Antonio

Work Locations: US-TX-Austin-400 Center Ridge 400 Center Ridge Drive TechRidge Three.2 - Suite 100 Austin 78753

Job: Professional Development

Organization: Assessments School

Employee Status: Regular Employee

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Job Posting: Jul 10, 2020

Job Unposting: Ongoing

Schedule: Full-time Regular

Req ID: 2006757

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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I Call BS on This!

When I worked at Pearson, I asked the guy who would raise your desk for you to do so. The cubicles were such that there was not a "sit/stand" option. If the guy did this to your desk, you always stood.

I wanted to do this because of the reasons mentioned in the video about sitting for long periods of time. As the renovations were being planned, I inquired about how I liked having a raised desk and asked about having the ability to stand at my desk in my space after the renovations were complete. The answer I received was troubling and contradicts what Pearson was saying when I was there (5/2011 - 1/2016). Unless I had a doctor's excuse which then had to be approved by Pearson, I wasn't going to be able to stand at my desk. In my situation, I took it upon myself to have a raised desk - I haven't been to a doctor in 8 years. I knew it would be healthier. Despite what the video below would have you believe, my experience is that Pearson was good at giving lip service about being healthy - it participated in a walking program - but when push came to shove, they were at the very least sending an inconsistent message about wanting their employees to be happy. It really doesn't take much for me to be happy at work. I don't need a big office or a fancy title or even a reserved parking place. It's the little things, like being told, "No, you can't do what you know would be healthier for you" that irk me.

All that said, here's a video to watch:

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From day one at where I work now, my desk has been a sit/stand desk. I don't stand as much as I could but I am (actually) standing now because of seeing the video above.

No, But Interesting

If I hadn't been laid off by Pearson in the first place and if I was in the job market, I might have considered applying for this position. Timing is every thing and things happen for a reason. My 6 month anniversary has arrived and I am beyond happy to be where I am. It's more fun to think about options when they are options I don't actually have to consider whether to choose it.

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Industry

Education Management, E-Learning, and Information Technology and Services

Employment type

Full-time

Job Title

Information Technology,Analyst

**Associate Software Configuration Analyst**

Description

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe.We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

Pearson is the largest provider of educational assessment services in the U.S. Yet, for us, being the leading assessment provider isn’t about scale. It’s about ensuring learning outcomes are at the heart of every assessment we create. We partner with educators in states and districts across the country to help them develop problem solvers and critical thinkers who are ready for college and careers.

The Associate Software Configuration Analyst is part of our large scale assessment group. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience using MS Excel to create complex spreadsheets and extract data using formulas and pivot tables, a passion for organization and meeting deadlines, and the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers both verbally and in writing.

Summary:

Using Oracle P&D, the Associate Software Configuration Analyst supports Pearson’s Packaging and Distribution (P&D) Setup and Configuration Team with the setup and configuration of projects for the distribution of paper testing materials to schools and districts around the country. This position works closely with the Program Teams and Business Analysts to understand test material requirements; using strong organizational and problem solving skills the Associate Software Configuration Analyst translates those requests into digital materials requirements. Additionally, this position supports the setup of configuration files for the Report Development team and may identify the need for improvements to existing work processes.

Responsibilities:

• Setup and maintain P&D packaging rules.
• Verify P&D packaging rules that have been coded.
• Create P&D Inventory files for Test and Production.
• Create P&D Inbound and Outbound Labels files for Test and Production.
• Assist in setting up Additional Orders for P&D
• Archive reporting files.
• Setup configuration files for reporting services for zbatching, extracts, scrubbing data, and validating input driver files.
• Assist in the implementation of new processes and tools that increase development accuracy and reduce overall development hours
• Achieve consistent level of deliverables completed ahead of project deadlines
• Report team-performance metrics and monthly deliverable reports to management team
• Establish long-term customer (schools and districts) relationships through prompt and courteous service
• Monitor timelines and flag potential issues

Qualifications

• Demonstrated proficiency using MS Excel to create complex spreadsheet and manipulate data using pivot tables and formulas
• Proficient working in windows and Linux operating systems
• Ability to prioritize and complete tasks on schedule, and manage concurrent tasks.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a highly organized environment and demonstrates strong organizational skills
• Strong problem solving skills
• Familiar with Microsoft Project
• 2 or more years of experience working in a business or educational environment
• Associate Degree preferred
• Experience with XML preferred

Primary Location

US-IA-Iowa City

Work Locations

US-IA-Iowa City-2510 North Dodge 2510 North Dodge Street Iowa City 52245

Job:

Technology

Organization

Assessments School

Employee Status

Regular Employee

Job Type

Standard

Shift

Day Job

Job Posting

Sep 13, 2016

Resources I Hope I Never Need in My Life

When I went through my layoff at Pearson in January 2016 and had to search for a new Senior Technical Writer position, I was truly devastated. As anyone who pokes around this blog can infer, I landed "up" when I was hired by the U of Iowa to work on Disaster Recovery documentation. I started on March 28, 2016.

I never expected to be looking for work in January 2016 because I "had" to look for work. I had interviewed with the U of Iowa earlier in January for my current position and while I was happy at Pearson, I also felt like maybe I needed to move on for reasons I won't go into today.
When I started thinking about all of this today, I realized that I worked at Pearson for 1702 days (4 years, 7 months, 3 weeks, 6 days). While that is impressive (because I say it is!), my employment at the U of Iowa is shorter as far as days: 1656 days (4 years, 6 months, 1 week, 4 days). My conclusion is that while I worked at Pearson longer than I have at the U of Iowa, flipping that narrative will be happening on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 - the day before Thanksgiving. What is ironic is that I applied for my U of Iowa position on the day before Thanksgiving 2015. Interesting, right? (Your answer is "yes!") I am eager to be able to state that my employment at the U of Iowa is my longest employment in the last decade.
I subscribe to a weekly email called Friday Reflection by Megan Gilhooly (megan.gilhooly@zoominsoftware.com). Each week, I read her excellent content. Today's email is no exception - I pasted what I liked reading below from her email. I didn't write the following words, so I want all credit for the following content to go to Megan!

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Today’s reflection covers inspiring stories from people who have worn the out-of-work shoes and turned their situation around, as well as the best places to find content jobs today.

• Three Steps To Recover From A Late-Career Job Loss by John Tarnoff. Ignore the “late-career” part of the title because this article is relevant to all ages. And his advice is far from ordinary. Ok, establishing a routine is popular advice, but cutting ties with former colleagues? I would not have thought to give that advice to anyone, but his argument is solid. His last piece of advice is the toughest to implement--framing your situation in a way that suggests hope and opportunity. I usually suggest an hour a day punching a heavy bag or going full throttle on a spin bike, but given COVID, John’s advice might be more accessible. 
• How to Build a Personal Brand After a Job Loss by Dennis Shiao. This is a truly inspirational story from a guy who lost a job in the last economic crisis in the U.S.  When you lose a job, the last thing you want to do is write a compelling blog article or get busy on social media posting articles about your trade. But, that’s exactly what Dennis did. He focused on building his brand--and the jobs came to him. 
• Where are content jobs listed? I reached out to Jack Molisani, founder of Lavacon content strategy conference and ProSpring Technical Staffing, to get his insights on the best places for job seekers to find content jobs. Here’s his list:
• The UX Content Strategy group on LinkedIn (~40K members)
• The Content Strategists group on Facebook (~5K members)
• DICE.COM
• Indeed.com
• jobs.google.com
• GlassDoor.com

And here’s a pro tip: When searching for roles by title, consider broadening your search. According to Jack, “Facebook just announced they are changing the name of content positions from ‘Content Strategist’ to ‘Content Designer’.” He also reminds content professionals to keep in mind that “‘UX Writer’ is a growing subset of content jobs.”

Lesson 2016:03

When I left Pearson for the last time as an employee on January 26, 2016, which was 11 months, 5 days (340 days) ago - the day I was laid off - I cared about Pearson documentation.

I still care.

However, I have learned (a-ha!) that I can not control what my co-workers do with the documentation I helped create. I am no longer their co-worker. Yes, I will likely have a morbid curiosity for a period of time. I had that same type of attitude when I could view the Quintrex documentation after I left. Eventually, though, that feeling of ownership dwindles as the balance between what I contributed and what has been contributed since I left tips.

Quintrex? Ah, yes.

When I left Quintrex on October 15, 2010, it was leaving 12 years, 2 weeks (4397 days) of work behind.

I had an empire. I was the only technical writer and every word that went into the online Help, which was seen by the customer, and every word that went into the internal documentation was reviewed by me.

The end-user documentation had started as hundreds of OfficeVision (an AS/400 word processor) documents and a handful of MS Word documents. Over my time there, I had converted that content to WinHelp files (see below) and then to HTML. I can vividly recall that I knew about "span classes" when I initially started working with HTML. I created a CSS definition called "programname" and any time I wanted to have bold, I used that span class. Then I learned about having a separate CSS definition for each "type" of "thing" I wanted to be bold. I defined "check_box" and "dropDown" and "dropDownValue" and was methodically going through all of my HTML files to change "programname" to a specific span class tag. That work was not done when I left.

The internal documentation was called Billopti. That was short for "Billable Options" even though I referred to them as "System Options" in the documentation. Why the difference? In reality, not all "Billable Options" were actually billable to the customer. Some "Billable Options" were standard.

I digress.

When I left Quintrex on October 15, 2010, I really thought I was going to a better situation. I thought I would be able to build the same type of pseudo-kingdom I had built at Quintrex. I thought I was going to do awesome but readers of this blog from October 15, 2010 - April 15, 2011, know the truth.

I digress again. Damnit!

When I left Quintrex on October 15, 2010, I had invested hours upon hours of my own time to learn technologies. I spent hours in the den, downloading WinHelp (.hlp) files and decompiling them to learn how a feature I had seen was done. If it was fairly easy, I would then take that knowledge to work the next day and try to implement it.

When I left Pearson January 26, 2016, I had been with the company for 4 years, 7 months, 3 weeks, 5 days (1701 days), which is obviously not as long as the amount of time I was at Quintrex. Yet, with the Pearson documentation, I really came into a deeper sense of my work. When we shifted from the PDF paradigm to the Wiki paradigm, I was initially not a strong supporter. I knew our existing customers and my co-workers had very specific requirements and I was doubtful they could be met with a Wiki. Initially, the direction was to dismiss those requirements and to not worry about:

1. writing procedures - we would lead the user to the place in the system to do a task but not tell them what to click
2. writing user-role based documentation - we would document all tasks that could be done in the system
3. including screenshots - we would not include screenshots for a variety of reasons
4. creating a printable version - we would not create a PDF because a PDF is instantly out-of-date

Our department had worked in that direction until we showed it to the first customer of the rewritten system. Guess what they wanted? Better, guess what we began to do...

Too Late

When I saw this ad for a writing job at Pearson, I couldn't help but wonder: what if this job had been posted in January 2016, after I was laid off? Could I have transitioned from my Senior Technical Writer role to this Senior Proposal Analyst / Proposal Writer position?

I'll never know.

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Job description

Senior Proposal Analyst

Description

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

The Senior Proposal Analyst takes responsibility for the entire proposal process from RFP receipt to high-quality proposal creation and delivery in a high-volume environment. The Senior Proposal Analyst works closely with Business Development, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and other key staff to develop and deliver high-quality, compelling proposals. The Senior Proposal Analyst is also responsible for facilitating bid strategy sessions and assisting the Director, Global Proposals with research and process improvement projects. This position also will provide guidance to the Proposal Analysts, Associate Proposal Analysts, and Proposal Coordinator.

Primary Responsibilities

Proposal Response Development…..40%

• Guarantee successful delivery of superior quality proposals.
• Write new text or customize existing text for proposal responses.
• Review RFP in detail and identify mandatory business requirements.
• Create or obtain proposal appendices.
• Accurately incorporate all edits from reviewers.
• Ensure 100% accurate and clear cost proposal/forms.
• Ensure compliance with RFP requirements.
• Coordinate and produce final proposal documents with the support of the Proposal Coordinator.
• Track shipments.
• Conduct research for process improvement projects.
• Update and maintain boilerplate.
• Provide guidance for proposal analysts and coordinator, as needed.

Bid Strategy and RFP Review Meeting Facilitation…..35%

• Schedule, facilitate, and actively participate in bid strategy meetings to prepare proposal response.
• Recommend solutions for proposal response based on prior proposal experience.
• Ensure all aspects of RFP are addressed with pertinent Subject Matter Experts.
• Review RFPs in detail and identify mandatory requirements.
• Prepare fact sheets/proposal outlines.

Prepare for RFP receipt (pre-work)…..10%

Proofread and edit various proposals as needed by the department…..10%

Other duties as assigned…..5%

Qualifications

• BA or BS, preferably in English, Journalism, or Business or similar degree.
• Master’s degree in English, Journalism, or Business preferred.
• 5-10 years of experience in proposal writing or similar discipline.
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft Word and moderate proficiency with Excel, Project, Visio, and PowerPoint.

Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Good verbal skills, excellent written communication skills.
• Above average writing and editing skills required.
• Ability to conceptualize and think creatively.
• Ability to work comfortably with executive team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work under tight deadlines.
• Team leading skills.
• Effective relationship building and maintaining skills with team and senior management.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Time management, planning, multi-task and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Primary Location: US-IA-Iowa City

Work Locations: US-IA-Iowa City-2510 North Dodge 2510 North Dodge Street Iowa City 52245

Job: Sales

Organization: Assessments School

Employee Status: Regular Employee

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Job Posting: Jul 17, 2018

Job Unposting: Ongoing

Schedule: Full-time Regular

Req ID: 1810340

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

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Editor's Note: Using both the Awesome jobs that I won't apply for & Crappy jobs that I won't apply for labels for this post as it would have been awesome to transition from role to role, but, compared to where I work now and what I have been doing at work since leaving Pearson, it could be considered a crappy job. Also, it's "crappy" because of the timing of it being posted.

Should I Tell?

Should I tell employers I don’t have a smartphone? is a very good question.

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These days it seems so many companies expect you to use your personal smartphone for company business. I do not have a smartphone and worry it will impact my job search.

I have a basic flip phone for a variety of reasons, including what was basically a smartphone addiction that impacted both my mental and physical (neck strain) health. I am so much happier now with the simplicity of a basic phone, but worry potential employers will think I’m a Luddite. I’m not. I’m used to working in front of a computer all day, but I really don’t want to buy a personal smartphone for work, nor do I feel I should be required to do so. I am not expected to bring my own personal computer or desk chair to work. Why should I use a personal phone for my professional life, especially one where I’m in an office all day?

Should I disclose this to potential employers, and if so how?

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Personally, I understand from where the person who wrote this question is coming. There are many good comments about the article, including this one that I think is relevant:

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I remember the old Corona commercial where a guy, on a beach, has his pager go off… and he tosses it into the ocean.

:)

If you’ll tolerate the snark… companies squeeze on pay, squeeze on benefits, and expect me to be on call 24/7 and then wonder why people get snarky and have no loyalty?

A short anecdote, related to availability.

I was looking for work and got a call from an HR department on Thursday wanting me to come in Friday or Monday for an interview. I had obligations so I asked if I could come in Tuesday. Not Tuesday four weeks from then, but literally one day later than their requested Monday. I knew from their eyes that I didn’t get it when I was there.

Confused, I tried to get ahold of someone I knew there (a VP). He sent me an email at eight-something saying “What’s your phone number?” I sent it and said “I look forward to talking with you tomorrow; I’m getting the kids to bed now.”

For over a month he then ghosted me. No reply to emails, no return calls. I FINALLY got him and he said he was just leaving work then (!) and had wanted to call me right then… and was put off by the fact that I was not available.

Which, IMHO, tells me a dodged a bullet. A man who is at work for, presumably, 12 hours a day and who who does more work than that is – clearly – a driven man who drives everyone else.

NO. THANK. YOU.

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All of this to say, THANK. GOD. I. AM. NOT. LOOKING. FOR. WORK.

Even if I do have a smart phone!

In news that is related to this question, I noticed this job opening, which is very similar to the position I was hired for in May 2011. My position was eliminated 1323 days (3 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, 1 day) ago, which is probably why this position is listed as being a temporary position. It is interesting that there is not a duration specified.

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Technical Writer, Proposal Solution Design

Description

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

The Technical Writer, Proposal Solution Design will coordinate and produce assessment technology engineering text to support Pearson proposals in response to RFPs, RFIs, and anything that requires proposal creation. The Senior Technical Writer will lead the effort of writing proposal text for Assessment Technology Engineering technical systems, infrastructure, security, and delivery. Additional responsibilities include assisting with research and process improvement projects. This is a highly networked role that requires the ability to work independently under pressure and to meet challenging deadlines.

Qualifications

Core Responsibilities:

• Manage multiple proposals, deadlines, releases and priorities
• Guarantee the successful delivery of superior quality proposals.
• Review RFPs in detail and identify mandatory business requirements.
• Analyze and Interpret RFPs as released; identify specialty requirements and constraints.
• Ensure compliance to internal policies and procedures.
• Verify compliance with RFP requirements.
• Accurately incorporate all edits from reviewers.
• Participate in reviews and incorporate all feedback and revisions in a timely manner.
• Conduct research for process improvement projects.
• Update and maintain boilerplate.
• Work collaboratively with leadership, subcontractors/partners, subject matter experts to gather information, synthesize technical concepts, and write original content around technical solutions.

Requirements

• BA or BS, preferably in English, Journalism, or Business or similar degree.
• 2 to 4 years proposal writing or similar experience.
• Master’s degree in English, Journalism or Business preferred.
• Experience with K-12 assessment industry terms, deliverables, and processes is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of RFP and proposal process is required.
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft Word and moderate proficiency with Excel, Visio, Project, and PowerPoint

Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:

• Good verbal skills, excellent written communication skills
• Above average writing and editing skills required
• Ability to conceptualize and think creatively
• Ability to work comfortably with executive team
• Strong attention to detail
• Flexibility to work under tight deadlines
• Curious and quick learning
• Team leading skills
• Effective at building and maintaining relationships with team and senior management
• Problem-solving skills
• Time management, planning, multi-task and project management skills
• Ability to work independently
• Strong PC skills

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

• Primary Location: US-IA-Iowa City
• Work Locations: US-IA-Iowa City-2510 North Dodge 2510 North Dodge Street Iowa City 52245
• Job: Technology
• Organization: Assessments School
• Employee Status: Fixed Term
• Job Type: Temporary Work
• Shift: Day Job
• Job Posting: Sep 5, 2019
• Job Unposting: Ongoing
• Schedule: Full-time Temporary
• Req ID: 1911839

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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10 Questions to the Future Version of My Self

Today is Saturday, 12/6/2015. Last night, at the Big Ten Championship game in Indy, the MSU Spartans defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 16-13 in a devastating loss. The 2015 season was the one during which Iowa was 12-0 going into that game and now, today, they play MSU at Kinnick Stadium. I have zero doubt that last night's game has been hyped as either when Iowa began a magical period of dominance or when they began a slide into mediocrity. All I know is that when 2017 rolls around, the players that played quarterback for MSU and Iowa will not be playing. MSU's quarterback was a 5th year senior and, unless there's been an injury to Iowa's quarterback, C.J. Bertherd graduated in May 2017 and is not playing a 5th year. Sure, the running back that scored the winning touchdown last night is, in 2015, a freshman which probably means he is a junior at MSU today in 2017. I'm sure the fans in Kinnick Stadium will not forget last night's loss and they will make the stadium as difficult to play in as they possibly can today.

The 10 questions the 12/6/2015 version of me wants the 9/30/2017 version of me to answer are:

1. Are you going to the game today and whether the answer is yes or no, I want to know if  Kinnick Stadium is still located where it is in 2015, which is directly across the street from UIHC? Bonus question: is there any talk of relocating Kinnick Stadium or building a larger capacity stadium?
• Me in 2017 says:
• No, I am not going to a game at Kinnick Stadium today. The game today is at MSU in East Lansing. Kinnick Stadium is still located where it is in 2015, directly across from UIHC and no, there is no talk of relocating Kinnick Stadium or building a larger capacity stadium. There is a brand-new football facility building that is located near the existing Kinnick Stadium and there are multiple projects to enhance Kinnick Stadium that were done during summer 2017 with more planned after the season. Additionally, the Children's Hospital was built overlooking Kinnick Stadium and at the first game of the season, a new tradition began where the fans turn and wave at the kids in the hospital who are watching the game. Kinnick Stadium is likely going nowhere in my lifetime.
2. I work at Pearson on North Dodge Street in Iowa City. The discussion about my future plans are up in the air, unfortunately. It is unknown if I will be a part of the restructuring, about which I know no details about today. Where did I go to work yesterday (Friday, 9/29/2015) and is that the same employer I will go to work at on Monday, 10/2/2017? My hope is that on this day in 2017, the next line says "Pearson. Duh."
• Me in 2017 says:
• Well, no. I was laid off from Pearson on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. I am now a Senior Technical Writer at HCIS.
3. I expect that Karen and I will have been married for 24 years with only 311 days (or 10 months, 1 week, 1 day) until our 25th wedding anniversary. What are you purchasing for her 25th anniversary present?
• Me in 2017 says:
• For many years, Karen and I talked about going to Hawaii for our 25th wedding anniversary. The reality is that we have both kids in college at UNI, which means college tuition is a focus point for us when it comes to finances. At this point, the joke is that we may make it to Riverside Casino if we do not make it to Hawaii. I have no current plans to go to Hawaii in 2018.
4. The discussion about our plans for the Tuesday of this week are chaotic. Our agenda includes things like having Lowe's look at our new washer because of a clunking sound we hear when it is running (the washer we have today in our house is the one we purchased at Lowe's in November 2015), getting Karen to Alex's ortho appointment at 4 to ask the orthodontist about what happens if a bracket is damaged during his scheduled oral surgery on 12/23/2015 (17 days away), me teaching Zach Burkle a drum lesson at 5, Alex working at Fareway at 6 PM and Holy Day Mass for the Immaculate Conception also at 6 PM. What are the plans for Tuesday, October 3, 2017?
• Me in 2017 says:
• First of all, I don't know why I thought the Holy Day Mass for the Immaculate Conception would be on a Tuesday in October - I must have wrote these questions across a period of time because 17 days from September 30 is never going to be 12/23/2015! Secondly, Alex doesn't have braces anymore. I don't teach drum lessons to Zach Burkle. C, Karen and I have an empty nest so we pretty much go by what we want to do. There is a UNI football game on Saturday so I imagine we will be preparing in some way to head north to Cedar Falls.
5. Alex is a freshman in college. On 12/6/2015, the discussion about his future plans revolved around beginning either a 2 year IT degree at Kirkwood in fall 2017, followed by 2 years of online classes to complete his B.A. degree at UNI or beginning 2 years at UNI to be followed by a 2 year IT degree at Kirkwood. What is he studying in college and which college does he attend?
• Me in 2017 says:
• The 2 + 2 program that Kirkwood offers was not a good option for him. Alex is a freshman at UNI with a Management Information Systems (MIS) major.
6. Megan is a junior in college. On 12/6/2015, the discussion about her future plans revolved around completing her degree in elementary education at UNI - tentatively graduating in May 2019. What is she studying in college and which college does she attend?
• Me in 2017 says:
• Megan is an Elementary Education major with a Mathematics minor. She is a junior. It is still undecided exactly when she will do her student teaching.
7. Mom passed away on 12/29/2014 so it is now 1006 days (2 years, 9 months, 1 day) since she was breathing in her room at Mercy Hospice in Cedar Rapids. How do I honor her as my mom over 1000 days after her death?
   
   • Me in 2017 says:
   • I honor Mom by trying to be a good person, which I think she tried to be. I also honor Mom by supporting Megan in her pursuit of being a teacher.
8. When was the last day and time that you saw Dad and Mark? In 2015, I am not using the word "alive" in this question on purpose.
• Me in 2017 says:
• Dad: MM/DD/YYYY
• Mark: MM/DD/YYYY
9. My 5 favorite bands are:
1. Bayside - saw them in October 2015 with Chris Motter in Des Moines
2. Metallica - currently recording an album
3. Count the Stars - broken up for several years but still adore "Never Be Taken Alive"
4. Five Finger Death Punch - saw them in October 2015 with Alex in Cedar Rapids
5. Shinedown - saw them in August 2015 with Alex in Davenport
• Me in 2017 says:
• There's really not a band that has overtaken the above 5 bands since 2015. 
1. Bayside - touring in support of the 10th anniversary of "The Walking Wounded" as well as released a CD, Vacancy in August 2016.
2. Metallica - saw them in concert on Friday, June 10th, 2017, in Newton, IA, with Volbeat & Avenged Sevenfold.
3. Count the Stars - fairly regularly, listen to them.
4. Five Finger Death Punch - fairly regularly, listen to them.
5. Shinedown - fairly regularly, listen to them.
10. I spent some time on 12/6/2015 organizing my 1000ish cassettes into groups for a pending conversion project to MP3. I have not scheduled any dates for this project - when to begin, milestones/goals, or when I hope to be complete. Have I started this project and, if so, when did I begin, what are the milestones/goals I established for it, and when is the target completion date? While the idea of having a page on this blog that is dedicated to this cassette to MP3 project it has not yet been created. If it exists in 2017, this is the link to that page. Otherwise, my answer is:
• Me in 2017 says:
• Unfortunately, the cassette to MP3 conversion project has been pushed off indefinitely. I am currently converting my 50 spindles x 100 CDs to MP3 because of an April 2016 EHD crash.

Disagreement = Trouble?

Yesterday, I went for a walk with a co-worker. She works in a different department and I don't know her all that well, but we have history. When I worked at Quintrex, from 1998 - 2010, there was a project to convert legacy OfficeVision documents to MS Word. I don't remember exactly what steps I took to follow to have it happen, but eventually, she was hired by Quintrex as a contractor to help me with the conversion. After that project was over, I wasn't in touch with her. Then, when I started here nearly two years ago, I happened to see her last name on a food item in the common refrigerator. Eventually, I found where she sat and then, one day, I stopped at her cubicle to ask her if she had worked a contract at Quintrex many years ago - she was. Fast forward to yesterday, and I happened to be walking laps in the training area of my level when she came out of a classroom. We struck up a conversation about work. I found myself telling her the story of how, at Pearson, I was one of the negative people. Initially, I didn't agree with authoring in Word & distributing PDFs to authoring in Confluence. I was late to the party, if you will. Then, when I was at the party, I bought into the concept of snippets so that I only had to write text one time. I didn't want to write the same content on multiple pages and then have to remember what pages had to be updated. That was what had happened with the user guides in Word. When there were 10+ user guides to update with the same text, it felt like an enormous waste of my time. Thus, I went 'all in' when it came to snippets. I wanted to make our workflow lean and efficient and since there would be those 10+ customers using the single Confluence site, I wanted to be consistent across all pages.

Frankly, that led to me stating my minority case to the majority in the department and being overruled. Repeatedly. Now I'm not mad about what I went through because by making my case, I had to use logical reasoning skills which I have worked on as one of my personal weaknesses. I wanted to convince the majority of some simple truths about single sourcing content and snippets, but ultimately, it just didn't happen. I still am passionate about snippets and use them now, in my disaster recovery documentation. I have a Word document - named "DRMStandards.docx" that stores the standard headings I want to use in all of my linked Word documents. I store each heading as a bookmark. Then, in my linked Word documents, there are references to the bookmarks in the DRMStandards.docx file. If I would want to change a standard heading, I update the heading in DRMStandards.docx, refresh all the other Word documents (which I do by deleting the HTML files that RoboHelp automatically creates for each of the Word documents), and all of those linked Word documents then have the updated heading. It's really slick and works well for my purposes.

Thus, it was in that frame of mind that I brought to this article about disagreeing at work (link below). To be crystal clear, I enjoyed my time at Pearson and I don't regret any of the days I spent there. I enjoyed working on the team I worked on as well as working for my manager. I have no ill will whatsoever. The above words are meant to describe my perspective after nearly two years of not working at Pearson on a daily basis.

Why We Should Be Disagreeing More at Work; Author: Amy Gallo; Published on: January 03, 2018

How to Get Through a Tough Job Search

It was a year ago today when Paul Arens told me that my Senior Technical Writer position had been eliminated at Pearson. I remember I cried. I was angry that I was about to undertake yet another job search just as the wounds from the previous job search - April 13 - May 31, 2011 - were starting to scar over. I felt like I was going to retire from Pearson even though I knew there were going to be 4,000 layoffs before the end of 2016. When I look back at that job search, I could have used articles like this one to pull me through the dark days when I felt isolated and alone and stupid. Thankfully, I landed up at the University of Iowa and in 2 months, 3 days, I will celebrate my 1 year anniversary within HCIS.

Editor's Note: I learned earlier this month that Paul Arens left Pearson to go to ACT. There is also an unverified rumor that my former manager is selling their house and possibly moving back to the state from which she came to Iowa - again, unverified speculation.

Nope, Not For Me!

No thanks. I prefer my current position over the one described below.

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Senior Proposal Analyst

Iowa City, IA Full Time Administrative & Clerical / Education & Training

The Senior Proposal Analyst takes responsibility for the entire proposal process from RFP receipt to high-quality proposal creation and delivery in a high-volume environment. The Senior Proposal Analyst works closely with Business Development, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and other key staff to develop and deliver high-quality, compelling proposals.

The Senior Proposal Analyst is also responsible for facilitating bid strategy sessions and assisting the Director, Global Proposals with research and process improvement projects. This position also will provide guidance to the Proposal Analysts, Associate Proposal Analysts, and Proposal Coordinator.

Primary Responsibilities:
Proposal Response Development…..40%

• Guarantee successful delivery of superior quality proposals.
• Write new text or customize existing text for proposal responses.
• Review RFP in detail and identify mandatory business requirements.
• Create or obtain proposal appendices.
• Accurately incorporate all edits from reviewers.
• Ensure 100% accurate and clear cost proposal/forms.
• Ensure compliance with RFP requirements.
• Coordinate and produce final proposal documents with the support of the Proposal Coordinator.
• Track shipments.
• Conduct research for process improvement projects.
• Update and maintain boilerplate.
• Provide guidance for proposal analysts and coordinator, as needed.

Bid Strategy and RFP Review Meeting Facilitation…..35%

• Schedule, facilitate, and actively participate in bid strategy meetings to prepare proposal response.
• Recommend solutions for proposal response based on prior proposal experience.
• Ensure all aspects of RFP are addressed with pertinent Subject Matter Experts.
• Review RFPs in detail and identify mandatory requirements.
• Prepare fact sheets/proposal outlines.

Prepare for RFP receipt (pre-work)…..10%
Proofread and edit various proposals as needed by the department…..10%
Other duties as assigned…..5%
Qualifications:

• BA or BS, preferably in English, Journalism, or Business or similar degree.
• 5-10 years proposal writing or similar experience.
• Masters degree in English, Journalism, or Business preferred.
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft Word and moderate proficiency with Excel, Project, Visio, and PowerPoint.

Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:

• Good verbal skills, excellent written communication skills.
• Above average writing and editing skills required.
• Ability to conceptualize and think creatively.
• Ability to work comfortably with executive team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work under tight deadlines.
• Team leading skills.
• Effective relationship building and maintaining skills with team and senior management.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Time management, planning, multi-task and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently.

About Pearson
At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large and small.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Nope, Not for Me II

 Noticed this job that is in Madison, WI, but also lists Iowa City, IA, as a possible work location, that also has the blurb about the salary in CO. Someone got lazy with copy & paste? 

As I said on Nope, Not for Me:

I have zero plans to ever leave UIHC. God-willing, for another 14 years, 6 months, 1 week, 1 day (5303 days), I will work here as "the" Senior Technical Writer, assigned to Disaster Recovery documentation & assigned to Knowledge Management.

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Director Publishing

Pearson Madison, WI 4 days ago

Full-time

10,001+ employees · Education Management

About the job

Description

We are the world’s learning company with more than 24,000 employees operating in 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment,powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people.

Pearson School Assessments is looking for a leader for our high-caliber Publishing teams. The ideal candidate has experience working in the publishing trenches and in direct and indirect leadership roles. You will be expected to communicate with varying roles and teams with a high degree of emotional intelligence.

Publishing is responsible for transforming assessment content into print and/or online forms. Publishing works closely with the content experts (both internal and external) to obtain the final content and test maps to produce the final print or online forms. Publishing ensures those forms are available to our print operations and/or in the online test administration and delivery platforms.

The Director Leads a Team Of 75 (off-peak) To 110 (peak) That Is Organized Into Four Major Functions -- Three With Managers, And One (TBD) To Be Led By The Director

The Director, Publishing leads with an emphasis on strategy, people, processes, and technology to improve productivity and quality and reduce issues and risks.

• Publishing Implementation Management guides the publishing process. A Publishing Implementation Manager (PIM) is assigned to oversee the onboarding of a new program, migration of an existing program onto a new publishing technology platform, or to support programs with evolving publishing technology needs. The PIM is engaged in project planning, requirements capture, costing/forecasting, and solutions design. They oversee risk mitigation planning for Publishing related risks and engage in issues resolution for complex technology-related issues within publishing systems and tools. The PIM is the customer-facing point of contact to address publishing needs.
• Publishing Workflow keeps projects on track as they move through the publishing processes. Workflow Project Managers (PjMs) participate in project scope discussions and project planning, support training around workflow management system (Jira), and create/initiate all paper and online form ticket needs. The Workflow PjMs create and monitor publishing schedules, evaluate resource needs, provide status and respond to questions or issues related to publishing production, and facilitate the Publishing Change Control Board (CCB). The Workflow PjMs work hand in hand with all publishing lead team members, but specifically with the PIMs to collaborate on issues related to schedule, planning, process & risk/issue management.
• Publishing Technology is the workhorse for ensuring content is encoded properly for both print and online test forms. Publishing Technology has expertise in QTI and APIP XML encoding and how that XML is used by technology systems to produce online and paper forms. In addition to assessment content, Publishing Technology also has extensive ancillary materials experience and can support the workflow, design, production, and publication of ancillary materials. Publishing Technology making ancillary materials accessible to meet WCAG and 508 standards.
• Publishing Verification (PubV) ensures that all forms are properly formatted and functioning across a variety of technology platforms and devices. PubV uses several automation tools to ensure that items are generating and processing response data properly. PubV uses several assistive technologies to ensure forms are accessible using those technologies. PubV ensures that all print forms adhere to print standards before handoff to print operations.

The anticipated starting salary range for Colorado-based individuals expressing interest in this position is $107k - 110k. This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at: https://pearsonbenefitsus.com/Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• 8 years of publishing experience.
• 5 years line management experience -- non-exempt and exempt workers, regular and temporary workers, employee performance, various and sensitive HR matters.
• Experience driving strategy, people, processes, and technology for the improvement of productivity and quality and the reduction of risks and issues in the publishing domain.
• Experience forecasting workload for a portfolio of committed and pipeline projects and then staffing up/down to optimize schedule, quality, and cost.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in building strong partnerships to effectively deliver on projects in a cross-functional environment, driving them to successful completion
• Sharp analytical and problem-solving skills to deliver recommendations and drive to results
• Strong influencing and leadership skills
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience with the Microsoft suite of tools including Teams, Office, etc.

Primary Location : US-RE-Remote

Other Locations : US-IA-Iowa City

Work Locations :

US-Remote

Remote

Job : Publishing

Organization : Assessments School

Employee Status : Regular Employee

Job Type : Standard

Job Level : Director

Shift : Day Job

Job Posting : Sep 16, 2021

Job Unposting : Ongoing

Schedule: : Full-time Regular

Req ID: 2113398

 

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