Senior Program Mgr - New Consumer Initiative (Contractor)

Media Source LLC is home to trusted brands serving the library, education, and publishing communities, including Junior Library Guild, Library Journal, School Library Journal, and The Horn Book.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager

to lead the development, launch, and initial evaluation of a new consumer-focused initiative. The Senior Program Manager will report to a senior Media Source executive and work closely with teams across the Media Source portfolio. 

This is a remote position based in the United States. The role will require regular collaboration across fruncations and time zones. Liminted travel may be required for planning sessions, vendor meetings, operational testing, or launch activities.

This is a full-time, six-month, 1099 contractor assignment focused on the development, launch, and intitial evaluation of the invitiative.

The assignment may be extended or converted into a permanent position depending on business needs, the results of the initiative, and mutual interest.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on assignment for someone who can take an early-stage concept and turn it into a market-ready pilot.

The role requires strong cross-functional leadership across product development, marketing, technology, customer experience, operations, fulfillment, and finance.

The Senior Program Manager will build and manage the integrated program plan, establish clear accountability across workstreams, resolve obstacles, coordinate internal and external resources, and ensure that the initiative is delivered on schedule and within budget.

This person will not directly manage all participating teams but must be able to create momentum, influence effectively, and hold stakeholders accountable for agreed deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the integrated program plan, including milestones, responsibilities, dependencies, budget, risks, and decision points.
• Translate an early-stage concept into a clear, executable customer offering.
• Coordinate work across marketing, product, technology, editorial, operations, customer service, fulfillment, and finance.
• Design and document the end-to-end customer experience.
• Define the business, operational, and technology requirements needed for launch.
• Lead customer research, concept testing, pricing analysis, and launch-readiness reviews.
• Coordinate the development of required e-commerce, customer-management, and reporting capabilities.
• Manage external agencies, vendors, and operating partners where appropriate.
• Establish performance measures and maintain a clear program dashboard.
• Identify risks and operational issues early and drive them to resolution.
• Provide concise and regular progress updates to senior leadership.
• Document the operating model, results, and lessons learned.
• Prepare a final recommendation regarding continuation, modification, further investment, or expansion.

Required Experience

• At least seven years of relevant experience in program management, product launches, e-commerce, consumer businesses, subscription services, publishing, education, retail, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading a complex cross-functional initiative from concept through launch.
• Strong program and project-management capabilities.
• Experience coordinating marketing, technology, operations, finance, and customer-facing teams.
• Strong commercial judgment and financial literacy.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, forecasts, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Experience working with external agencies, vendors, or technology partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.
• Comfort operating with incomplete information, evolving priorities, and tight deadlines.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with consumer subscriptions, gifting, educational products, family-oriented services, books, or physical-product delivery.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, customer acquisition, and conversion analytics.
• Experience with fulfillment, shipping, inventory, or recurring-delivery operations.
• Experience launching a pilot or new business initiative within an established organization.
• Experience working effectively in a matrixed environment.

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate will be:

• Highly organized and execution-oriented
• Resourceful and pragmatic
• Commercially minded
• Customer-focused
• Comfortable moving between strategy and operational detail
• Skilled at influencing without direct authority
• Decisive and accountable
• Calm under pressure
• Able to simplify complex issues
• Persistent in driving work through to completion

Compensation

Compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, location, availability, and the final engagement structure.

Definition of Success

Success will be measured by the Senior Program Manager’s ability to:

• Move the initiative from concept to launch
• Establish clear accountability across all workstreams
• Deliver the pilot on schedule and within budget
• Create a strong and consistent customer experience
• Establish reliable operating, customer, and financial data
• Identify and resolve the principal barriers to implementation and scale
• Provide management with a clear, evidence-based recommendation regarding the initiative’s future

To Apply

Please submit in the attachment upload section a résumé and a cover letter outlining:

• Relevant experience launching a new consumer, e-commerce, subscription, or physical-product initiative
• Availability to begin the assignment
• Compensation expectations for the initial six-month period

Media Source LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.