The Guardian Careers :: Production Assistant

Guardian News & Media (GNM) is the publisher of the US news website www.theguardian.com/us, the Guardian and Observer newspapers and www.theguardian.com website in the UK. We're a highly regarded global news brand, owned by the Scott Trust — an arrangement that guarantees its independent voice in perpetuity.

Headquartered in New York City, Guardian US, is an entirely digital operation that seeks to engage US readers by combining the Guardian's internationalist, online journalism with US voices and expertise.

We are now seeking a Production Assistant to join our editorial team in our New York Headquarters.

Department: Editorial

Reports to: Managing Editor (US), Central Production Manager (UK)

Normal location: New York, NY

Terms and conditions: Full-time, 12-month fixed term contract working over a seven-day roster (ordinarily including at least one weekend day) with early starts and/or late finishes

Purpose of role

To monitor sites and work with colleagues to ensure the highest editorial, technical, production and design standards are maintained across the network.

Key responsibilities & accountabilities

To deal with the daily flow of production requests and queries from editorial and project teams across the Guardian’s global production offices.
To troubleshoot technical problems that impact on editorial production; escalate these when necessary; and to manage communication about production issues across the organization.
To assist and advise on digital best practices across the Guardian's platforms, supporting production desks internationally in upholding editorial standards.
To work closely with digital development and product teams to help improve the production system and editorial tools.
To complete local production tasks for Guardian US as directed by Guardian US editors.
To assist each global news desk with production tasks associated with major breaking news stories.
To assist with the creation of visual materials including videos, podcasts, quizzes, galleries, polls, competitions, charts, cartoons, graphics, maps and bespoke multimedia pieces.
To assist with quality assurance and testing of Guardian interactive projects, including page weighting, bugs and general user experience.
To assist with delivery of content via Guardian social media platforms.
To run those areas of the network not assigned to individual teams, and to edit section fronts at times when the section editors are not available.
To assist with the packaging and arrangement of Guardian stories and features.
To coordinate the correct tagging of content on theguardian.com.
To curate the Guardian’s premium content series.
To respond to concerns from the readers' editor, the legal team, managing editors and the syndication department.
To process takedowns and corrections in a timely and transparent manner, and to maintain the integrity of the Guardian's digital archive.
To advise on the production of advertising features and sponsored material, and to liaise between commercial and editorial departments so as to ensure consistent best practice.
To work with IT departments and third parties to diagnose and respond to technical issues.
To assist with the creation and delivery of Guardian newsletters and other off-platform material.
To provide production training for production personnel and to maintain user documentation on tools, the front end and external platforms.
To represent the Central Production team and build effective working relationships with colleagues globally.
To build effective working relationships with colleagues across relevant departments within Guardian News and Media.

Key contacts & relationships (internal and external)

Head of central production, managing editors, production staff in local offices, editorial desks, technical teams, Guardian and Observer readers' editors.

Knowledge & experience

Journalistic experience in a print or online environment.
Understanding and enthusiasm for The Guardian’s editorial values.
Demonstrable enthusiasm for and interest in web journalism and editorial production.
Experience of working in a changing and pressurised environment.
Knowledge of web production and design.
Experience with content management systems

Skills & behaviors

Delivery focused and ability to find creative solutions to problems.
Able to remain calm working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Able to do routine work consistently and efficiently.
Efficient, organized and good at managing priorities.
Excellent attention to detail.
Computer skills, including CMS.
Web design skills desirable, including basic Photoshop and Illustrator.
Strong interpersonal and effective communication skills, with an ability to build effective working relationships with people at all levels and in multiple time zones.
Ability to give difficult feedback to senior members of staff.
Organized, tactful, able to work on own and as part of a team.
Determination and willingness to go the extra mile.

All candidates interested in applying should upload a resume and cover letter as one document. All candidates must have the right to work and live in the United States and be located, or prepared to relocate to the Greater New York City Area.

Guardian News & Media is an equal employment opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, national origin or citizenship.

This job description is a guide to the work you will initially be required to undertake. It summarizes the main aspects of the job but does not cover all the duties that the job holder may have to perform. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances. It does not form part of your contract of employment and as your experience grows, you will be expected to broaden your tasks, suggest improvements, solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the role.