employment
Join the Sesame Workshop team to maximize your personal and professional potential.
Available Positions
Digital Marketing Director
Marketing
As an essential member of the Marketing Services group at Sesame Workshop, the Digital Marketing Director is responsible for providing:
- The marketing and promotion of our organization’s digital content - videos, games, apps, podcasts etc, on a variety of platforms such as SesameStreet.org, iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube and Microsoft Kinect
- Strategic guidance and creative POV in support of our DVD marketing plans and Publishing Departments’ promotional efforts
- Trade marketing & trade show support for Consumer Products and Content Distribution
- Marketing support for specific product areas when requested and maintaining an on-going relationship with our Consumer Products Department
- Project management and promotional support for The Electric Company team’s in school and outreach efforts
In this role the Director will report to the AVP, Marketing and will service the needs of the Content Distribution, Home Video, Publishing, Consumer Products, & The Electric Company departments of Sesame Workshop and work closely with other internal departments critical to the success of these efforts, such as the PR/Social media department. Within the Marketing Department, the Director will work closely with all other team members to explore synergies with marketing efforts insude our organization as well as leverage existing brand and consumer research insights.
The Director will develop and implement marketing plans to support these efforts. He/She will also support the product development process ie. ensure our content meets brand standards and consumer expectations, and act as the designated brand and marketing liaison for external partners involved in the creation, distribution or promotion of our content.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Communicate clear promotional guidelines
- Provide thought leadership on what digital content/products can be promoted, and in what way, given Sesame Street brand standards, our organization’s non-profit status, and relevant industry guidelines such as CARU.
- Review planned promotional efforts against the guidelines and propose constructive solutions for efforts that may not initially meet them. Work with internal teams and external partners in order to arrive at solutions that meet the needs of all involved.
- Ensure guidelines keep pace with industry developments and proactively propose revisions and additions when needed.
Coordination of partner marketing activities
- Serve as the marketing point person for our partners’ marketing teams to support their promotional efforts. This includes conversations to understand their needs, internal planning and coordination, and aligning the various marketing calendars.
- Provide partners with the Sesame Street assets required to execute their promotions. Work with the various internal departments to select assets that meet partner needs, delight Sesame street audiences, and satisfy Sesame Street guidelines. Ensure all assets are cleared by the necessary internal parties.
Leverage synergies with other Sesame Workshop efforts - incl. Social Media
- Pro-actively identify and propose opportunities for connecting promotional efforts for our content with other marketing activities within our organization, paying special attention to social media.
- Partner with PR/Social Media to obtain commitments around timing of new content/product announcements. Communicate announcements with all supported teams
- Leverage existing consumer research insights to benefit the marketing and promotion of our content and products. Conversely, infuse the Workshop’s consumer research efforts with relevant learnings from various projects.
Support product and asset development for digital content
- Work with the digital content development team to conceive, develop, and review, assets that are critical to the successful marketing and branding of our digital content, eg. product copy, landing pages, icons, etc. Make sure these assets adhere to brand standards, engage and attract our audience...and ultimately drive sales.
Develop and implement marketing plans for new ventures
- Work with internal business teams to develop and execute marketing plans for new initiatives.
- Coordinate with the various internal teams involved, such as PR/Social media, Marketing and Market Research.
Project & account management
- Manage calendars and budgets to ensure deliverables are on time and on budget.
- Proactively ‘connect the dots’ for all involved, make sure everyone has timely information and relevant data at the ready.
- Proactively suggest processes and tools to make projects run smoothly.
- Ensure both internal clients and external partners feel well ‘serviced’.
Desired Skills & Experience
- BA/BS required
- 5+ years experience in marketing and communications, most recently within a leading commercial organization in the digital field or within a digital advertising agency. Non-profit experience is not required.
- A thorough understanding of the latest developments in the world of digital media, content and products from a business, marketing as well technical perspective.
- Track record of developing and implementing successful marketing plans and promotions.
- Well-developed diplomacy and client-service skills; able to build strong partner relationships and networks throughout the organization.
- Articulate and able to express him or herself well in writing.
Accounting Clerk
Finance
-
Report gathering
- Access partner web sites to download royalty reports.
- Monitor Royalty Reporting e-mail address for relevant reports.
- Follow-up with partners – as directed – for missing statements or discrepancies in provided statements.
-
Report management
- Maintain log of received reports and status of those reports.
-
Work with Senior Accountant to review appropriateness of reports.
- Compare revenue detail against partner agreement for accuracy and completeness (e.g., item sold, units sold, authorized deductions, etc.).
- Prepare report for input for Revenue Management database.
- Upload data into Revenue Management system.
- Maintain report filing as appropriate.
- Assist Senior Accountant in preparing cash application in rights management system.
- Update cash receipts log to indicate status of actual cash receipts.
- Create journal entries for cash transactions as directed.
- Input manual invoice data into Revenue Management system.
- Update exchange rate table in Revenue Management system.
- Input new contracts into Revenue Management system with a particular emphasis on financial terms and accuracy of input.
- Input changes / modifications to contracts in Revenue Management system based on final contracts / contract modifications.
- Maintain contract log indicting status of deal memos and contracts.
- Maintain contract filing as appropriate.
- Maintain journal entry log and filing for quick retrieval of journals when requested by auditor.
- Provide outside auditor with all contracts and financial information to prepare auditor for review of outside partner reports.
- Run reports from financial systems as appropriate.
- Input journal entries as directed.
- Provide back-up support to other finance teams as appropriate.
- Miscellaneous projects as required.
Educational Content Specialist: Zhima Jie (Sesame Street China)
Global Research
- Oversees all administrative aspects of educational development for Zhima Jie.
- Supports Sesame Workshop China Office in administrative tasks.
- Identifies and supervises educational consultants when needed.
- Establishes and maintains a relationship with producers to ensure effective communication and exchange of ideas.
- Maintains effective communication with Sesame Workshop NY staff.
- Cooperates with Sesame Workshop to manage the educational content portions of the project budget.
- Assist with other tasks as assigned.
- Oversees the development (and/or updating) of project’s Statement of Educational Objectives and related curriculum materials, and helps ensure that all members of the production team understand the project’s educational messages and ways to promote them in a culturally sensitive and age-appropriate fashion.
- Reviews scripts and other project materials for television, radio, outreach, print, products, etc. as they are developed to assure that they maintain the educational integrity of the project’s educational objectives.
- Helps develop educational resources, such as guidelines around specific topical areas for use by the production team.
- Develops staff understanding of the Sesame Workshop model.
- Assists in the organization of seminars, workshops and meetings to help develop educational content for the project, and works with Sesame Workshop to ensure the smooth operation of these events.
- Attends shoots for studio and live action films to ensure that educational objectives in scripts are realized in their execution.
- Assist with curriculum development/adaptation and planning for other Zhima Jie initiatives, including outreach projects and partnerships with formal educational settings (such as kindergartens and schools).
- At the beginning of the season, works with the Production team to develop the themes for each episode.
- Represents a good cross-section of material;
- Sustains viewers’ interest and attention;
- To ensure record of material actually used in each episode is accurate and complete;
- To determine if new material works well with repeated materials;
- To become more familiar with material to assist in selecting future material.
- Native-level fluency in Mandarin, fluency in English required
- Must legally be allowed to work in China
- Advanced degree in Developmental Psychology, International Education, Education, Social Sciences or related field
- Background knowledge of early childhood education required
- Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with children
- Experience in curriculum development
- Team player
- Ability to work under tight timelines
- Facility with basic software (PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Excel)
Coordinator, International Media Distribution
Media Distribution
Provide support and assist in the day-to-day administrative duties (faxing, filing, order supplies, mail/shipping, copying, etc.) for VP International Media Distribution
- Prepare travel arrangements
- Liaise with Legal to ensure all contract are fully executed by year end and have monthly contract update meetings. Maintain contacts for International TV Distribution team
- Prepare all expense reports for the International Media Distribution
- Responsible for setting up meetings, travel and assist in agenda development
- Answer and screen calls for VP International Media Distribution
- Responsible for ordering and organizing supplies for International Media Distribution team
- Assist International Media Distribution team in preparing for trade shows (i.e. scheduling. shipment, etc.)
- Maintain the Sales inventory of publicity materials (press kits, sell sheets, giveaways, etc.) and screeners
- Process and track department time sheets
- Provide support to the International Media Distribution team to oversee sales, and coordinate all business aspects relating to selling Sesame Workshop programming and Sesame Street co-productions
- Prepare deal memos for International TV
- General coding and paying invoices
- Prepare for meetings with outside partners or just internal meetings by creating agendas, PowerPoint presentations, updating content material, coordinating catering and technical/AV needs
- Prepare registration for NATPE and KIDSCREEN
- Assist in special projects as requested (including Client overview reports)
- Generate sales reports using Jaguar on a monthly basis or as needed
Support Needs for Worldwide Television Conferences and Trade Shows:
- Coordinate marketing, content and logistical needs for various trade shows, conferences and individual market sales trips
- Coordinate gift premiums for events—this includes overseeing the process of producing new premium item and ordering items in bulk.
- Ensure all invoices are paid relating to event charges. Update contract for MIPCOM receptionist in France.
- Assist in follow up after trade shows including sending follow-up letters and screeners
List of conferences and trade shows for International Media Distribution
- MIP Jr. & MIPCOM, NATPE, DISCOP, Asia Television Forum and Kidscreen
- Individual Market sales trips: VP's and Assistant Director of Media Distribution make frequent trips to individual markets throughout the year—to visit international broadcasters. The Coordinator will perform some of the duties listed above for these trips as well.
Senior Director, Curriculum and Professional Development Initiatives
Sesame Learning
OVERALL PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF POSITION:
The role of the Senior Director, Professional Development Initiatives & Special Project is to provide enlightened and inspired editorial and client-services leadership of a growing initiative and business dedicated to the effective use and development of learning supports and resources in order to meet the educational needs of children in formal learning situations by providing a focused attention to advancing the curriculum, instruction, and professional development of early childhood educators at all levels of service and experience or training. One of the primary functions of the Senior Director, Curriculum and Professional Development Initiatives is to coordinate and oversee the development and implementation of the curriculum, instruction, and professional development, including but not limited to product development of the lessons, trainings, and all features of the Teacher App. Other functions include help conduct training and serve as one of the main contacts for designated childcare providers participating in Sesame Learning research and activities. Another principal function of this role is to help create and maintain an atmosphere where staff and others associated with the initiative can excel, gain increased skills and competencies, and produce work they are proud of and where individuals become a part of a high-performing, inclusive team.
There are three major aspects of this role: (1) to ensure that the content, organization, and style of each “manuscript” to be published for the Teacher App and professional development of classroom teachers, their coaches, and administrators meets Sesame Workshop’s editorial standards for developmental appropriateness, accuracy, clarity, creativity, inclusion, and accessibility. This role leads development of the professional development resources – digital, print, training, and other services that will be used and validated during the research phase as well as distributed, maintained, and refreshed according to evolving business parameters; (2) to help cultivate and maintain academic advisors and to represent the Sesame Learning initiative to key stakeholders and to give presentations, keynotes, and trainings when necessary; (3) to support special projects as assigned by the VP & Educational Publisher or the Chief Strategy Officer.
This position reports to the VP and Education Publisher, who also acts as the Editor-in-Chief for the project, but works closely with the Chief Strategy Officer. This role works hand-in-glove with the Senior Director, Family & Community Engagement; the Director, Student Engagement; Director of Curriculum & Implementation Management; and the heads of technology and production. This role also works closely with marketing, development, and other members of the teaching and learning content team. Just as importantly, this role works collaboratively with the Education, Research, and Outreach department and related groups of Sesame Workshop.
POSITION PROFILE:
Product Development:
- Help develop the professional development voice of Sesame Learning
- Direct learning design and content development for all lessons, curriculum, and professional development components.
- Develop all Teacher App prototypes, and sees the Teacher App (for classroom teachers, coaches, and administrators) through completion and quality control.
- Help assure content and developmental accuracy for all curriculum and content associated with the initiative.
- Capture, refine, and document professional development design.
- Help develop style guide of curriculum, instruction, and professional development content
- Analyze content needs based on curriculum, instruction, and professional development design.
- Help map content plan for new and existing assets.
- Review product specs for fidelity to teaching and learning goals.
- Review content integration for fidelity to curriculum, instruction, and professional development goals.
- Plan staged implementation of professional development design over time, for ongoing evolution of product.
- Capture and share issues and solutions related to content and instructional design.
- Help manage project employees, freelance staff, and vendors as needed or assigned.
- Interface as needed with consultants, advisors, and subject-matter experts.
- Ensure brand adherence
Client Services
- Help develop the curriculum, instruction, and professional development posture and service plan for Sesame Learning
- Develop and oversee implementation of professional development trainings and workshops.
- Develop professional development guidelines for schools.
- Help inform effectiveness research and rubrics.
CRITICAL POSITION BEHAVIORS:
- Establish clear and attainable mission for each fiscal year or publishing endeavor
- Manage the day-to-day content development cycle and associated staff
- Define and deliver against strategic product development plans
- Ensure editorial content is high-quality and research-based
- Ensure creative and timely execution of each product and product line
- Recruit and coordinate creative and academic authors and their work; help establish and contribute to the author-care program
- Infuse knowledge and respect for the customer into product design
- Support foundational understanding of the research – academic, formative, and market
- Coordinate effective and efficient work processes
- Ensure commitment to the Workshop and product brand(s) and imprints
- Develop talents and skill sets of the content-development team
- Works in cross-functional teams — especially with other content teams, Design/Production/Copyediting, Marketing/Communications/Sales, and Finance — to develop high-quality, research-based offerings for children
Strategic Development and Management:
- Works with Chief Strategy Officer and the VP & Education Publisher to establish publishing and client-service plans with Marketing/Sales and other teams, including but not limited to other areas and departments of the Workshop writ large
- Ensures timely delivery of products
- Establishes and ensures delivery against budgets
- Recruits, hires, and develops diverse staff, employees-with-end-dates, and freelancers/consultants
- Helps recruit and hire creative and academic authors
- Establishes policies and procedures for working with outside personnel
- Helps Marketing analyze market trends and customer needs, as well as status of established products
- Presents product lines to key Board or Trustees and other selected reviewers
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS:
- Master’s in education or child development preferred
- 12 years minimum of editorial work, including educational and substantive editing
- Five years minimum of publishing experience in a management role
- High energy, initiative driven with “can-do” attitude.
- The personal traits and desire to excel.
- Flexibility to work in a dynamic environment.
- Commitment to high standards and performance.
- Mastery of all Microsoft computer programs particularly: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Veteran Fellowships at Sesame Workshop
Education and Research
About Fellowships at Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop, a not-for-profit educational organization, creates innovative and engaging content to help all children reach their highest potential. For more than 40 years, the Workshop has been a global pioneer in educating and entertaining children through multiple media. The organization grounds its work in research to understand how media helps children learn, develop and grow. Sesame Workshop is best known as the creator of Sesame Street, The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo.
About The Mission Continues
The Mission Continues challenges veterans to serve and lead in communities across America. Through The Mission Continues’ Fellowship Program, veterans serve for 20 hours/week at a nonprofit organization addressing key educational, social and environmental issues. Each Fellow works to achieve one of three objectives at the conclusion of their fellowship: full-time employment, pursuit of higher education, or a permanent role of service. Eligibility is determined by:
- Service in the United States Military after September 11, 2001
- No longer on Active/Guard/Reserve status (IRR/ING status is acceptable) and having attained an honorable discharge
- A minimum of 24 months of time in service, unless serious injury was sustained preventing further service.
The following fellowships are available:
Content Distribution and Product Licensing Finance
Content Distribution and Produce Licensing finance teams are responsible for helping operational areas forecast their revenue and direct expenses, and performing providing supporting analysis and documentation for the annual audit.
Responsibilities include: preparing an audit, database input in an accounting environment, business forecasting, and assessing how for-profit businesses can support the goals for non-profit organizations
Qualifications include: a demonstrated interest (preferably a degree) in Finance, Accounting or Systems; working computer skills (Excel is a must, others can be taught), and an interest in media or product licensing
Educational Outreach
The Education Outreach Department is seeking a Fellow to provide project support for several initiatives currently under way or in development within the department.
Responsibilities include: conduct research to help the team expand its distribution and reach, participate in creative brainstorm sessions, assist Project Managers with timeline maintenance, respond to viewer email inquiries, and provide administrative and organizational support as needed.
Qualifications include: excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, be team oriented and cooperative, show initiative and be proactive and anticipating potential issues
Home Video, Outreach and Series Production
Responsibilities include: provide administrative support to the producers, shadow individual producers on a rotating basis, research clips from the Sesame Street Library for use in home video production and summarize in documents and presentation, online research as needed, assist the Production Coordinator in obtaining and delivering assets to post production, create tracking documents, and provide administrative support as needed.
Qualifications include: excellent organizational skills, ability to communication effectively, knowledge of video production (recommended), and ability to work independently and by deadline.
Education and Research
The duties of Education and Research include: to assess the comprehension and appeal and to understand how to effectively position, market and measure the performance of Sesame Street products and programs, and develop, clarify and provide information about a production’s particular curriculum area.
Responsibilities include: library research, stimuli development, interviewing children, collecting/coding/verification of data, and screening show segments
Qualifications include: major or coursework in psychology, education child development and communications; experience with children; and prior research experience
Please forward all resumes to Human.Resources@sesame.org, Subject line: The Missions Continues
ONGOING: Administrative Temporary Program
All Departments
Sesame Workshop is continuously seeking candidates for our temporary administrative assistant program to work on contract in all departments.
Our positions require that candidates have administrative experience supporting executives. In addition, the candidate should be extremely organized, detailed oriented, proactive, efficient and have the ability to juggle various job duties and every day work pressures.
General Functions:
Perform various administrative functions of a routine nature as well as:
- Data Entry
- Screening incoming telephone calls
- Scheduling appointments
- Drafting and completing memorandums and letters
- PowerPoint presentations
- Arranging domestic and international travel arrangements
- Ability to work on projects with little supervision
- Filing, faxing, copying etc.
Desired Qualifications:
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Must be a team player
ONGOING: Internship Program
All Departments
Internship opportunities at Sesame Workshop provide full-time matriculated college students with hands-on learning directly related to their current academic studies.
Students will engage in everyday business tasks under the guidance of an assigned supervisor. The internship program will allow Sesame Workshop to support students in their career path, as well as help us to build strong relationships with neighboring colleges and universities. Students must show proof of enrollment to be considered, and they may receive school credit for their internships at Sesame Workshop. Students should also be able to commit to a minimum of 3 work days, unless otherwise noted. Interns will not be paid hourly wages or a salary, but are provided a travel/lunch stipend.
Internship Sessions
If possible, students should send resume and cover letter with areas of interest at least one month before the session they are applying for begins. Please also state which session you are interested in within the subject line.
Spring (January – April)
Summer (May – August)
Fall (September – December)
apply for this positionSesame Workshop is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment, without regard to race, gender, color, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled or Military Veteran.
join our team
Resumes and cover letters for opportunities at Sesame Workshop can be emailed to:
human.resources@sesame.org
