Associate Director, Program Management, Consumer Products, Out of Print (Open to Remote)

Out of Print, a division of Penguin Random House, seeks an Associate Director to spearhead our strategic program management initiatives that will overlap with product development and all its complex workflows and cross-departmental project structures. The Associate Director will sit at the intersection of strategy, design, operations, marketing, and licensing, and requires someone who can facilitate communication between teams. You'll need to be persistent, empathetic, highly organized, and firm when needed. You'll be a force multiplier for our dedicated team, driving predictability, discipline, and strategic clarity into the dynamic product development lifecycle.

 

Out of Print’s mission is to celebrate the joy of reading by creating high-quality, stylish apparel and accessories. Designed with readers in mind, our products feature iconic book-related artwork and literary references to delight book lovers of all ages. Our shirts, totes, socks, and accessories allow readers to wear their favorite stories and share their love of reading with the world.

 

We’re looking for an Associate Director who thrives in dynamic environments, brings clarity to complexity, and builds structure that empowers teams. This role provides strategic oversight and coordination of our core product development initiatives from concept through delivery, coordinating timelines, workflows, and resources across departments at Out of Print.

 

Specific responsibilities include:

 

Project Management & Coordination 

• Own timelines for all product launches
• Build and maintain project calendars, proactively identifying bottlenecks, risks, and resource constraints
• Drive cross-functional alignment between design, inventory, licensing, marketing, ecommerce, and ops teams
• Coordinate project updates, deadlines, and deliverables across teams
• Lead bi-weekly cross-functional meetings to report on project progress, review next steps, and address risks and roadblocks
• Ensure the team is briefed and aligned on all new projects in the pipeline by overseeing creative/project briefs, running kick-off meetings, and providing the information needed to execute effectively
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Resource & Capacity Management 

• Partner with VP and department heads to forecast resourcing needs across internal and freelance teams
• Monitor team bandwidth and identify resourcing risks early
• Partner with leads to optimize how work is allocated across teams

 

Process Development & Discipline

• Standardize repeatable workflows to support more consistent execution
• Implement tools and processes to improve visibility and accountability
• Establish regular check-ins and post-mortems to drive continuous improvement across projects

 

Cross-functional Communication

• Facilitate conversations between departments where alignment is challenging; serve as a neutral and trusted broker
• Translate high-level business goals into actionable plans and workflows that resonate with both creative and operational teams
• Keep executive leadership informed of key milestones, delays, and decisions

 

Ultimate Goals & Success

• Product launches are delivered smoothly and on schedule
• Designers, marketers, and ops are collaborating effectively
• Each project has a clear, trusted roadmap
• Cross-functional SOPs are documented and maintained in a central location
• Department heads respect your role as the project steward, because you're clear, fair, and reliable

 

Please apply if you meet the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in production or project management in consumer products or apparel/accessories
• Experience in licensed product development, bookish merchandise, or fandom-driven consumer products is not required, but a plus
• Familiarity with working under multiple brand guides and/or rightsholder requirements
• Mastery of project management tools like Asan