Product Operations Specialist

Mheducation; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical benefits

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

McGraw Hill is seeking a Product Operations Specialist to help our Product organization operate efficiently in a hybrid role based in Chicago. You will coordinate planning activities, maintain systems, and prepare reports while collaborating with Product leaders and cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and eager to learn new tools and AI-driven processes to improve productivity and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with attention to detail.
• Strong curiosity, initiative, and eagerness to learn new systems and technologies.
• Interest in using AI and automation to improve productivity.
• Experience with tools like Microsoft Office, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Productboard or similar platforms.
• Ability to create organized reports, presentations, or dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate calendars, meetings, and planning sessions for Product leadership, preparing agendas and capturing action items.
• Support governance and planning rhythms by organizing materials and maintaining documentation.
• Prepare executive presentations, reports, dashboards, and communications for visibility into priorities and milestones.
• Maintain operational systems, roadmaps, and planning artifacts; keep information accurate and up to date.
• Assist with onboarding, team communications, travel coordination, meeting logistics, and admin tasks for the Product organization.
• Leverage AI tools to streamline routine work and improve reporting.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Curiosity and initiative

AI and automation interest

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jira

Confluence

Smartsheet

Productboard

Job description

Overview

Make an Impact! At McGraw Hill we create best-in-class, next-generation learning platforms that are used by millions of students and educators worldwide from kindergarten through graduate school. Our goal is to accelerate student success through intuitive and effective learning tools and content that maximize a teacher's time and a student's learning experience. We do all of this in a supportive, collaborative environment where you can grow your career in a way that fits into your life.

How can you make an impact? McGraw Hill, the leading provider of digital and print educational resources, is looking for a Product Operations Specialist to help our Product organization operate effectively and efficiently. This hybrid role combines operational coordination with administrative support, providing an excellent opportunity for someone early in their career to gain exposure to Product Management, Program Management, and Product Operations.

Working closely with Product leaders and cross-functional teams, you'll help coordinate planning activities, maintain operational systems and documentation, prepare reports and communications, organize meetings and events, and improve the processes that keep the organization running smoothly. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, naturally curious, and excited to leverage AI and modern productivity tools to make work simpler, faster, and more effective. Success in this role comes from taking initiative, learning quickly, building strong relationships, and continuously looking for ways to improve how work gets done.

This is a hybrid position based out of our Chicago office, with an expected on-site presence of 1-2 days per week.

What you will be doing:

• Coordinate calendars, meetings, workshops, and planning sessions for Product leadership, preparing agendas, capturing action items, and following up on key decisions.
• Support quarterly planning, roadmap reviews, governance meetings, and other operational rhythms by organizing materials, maintaining documentation, and ensuring information flows efficiently across teams.
• Prepare executive presentations, reports, dashboards, and communications that provide leaders with clear visibility into priorities, milestones, and organizational health.
• Maintain operational systems, documentation, roadmaps, and planning artifacts, ensuring information is accurate, organized, and up to date.
• Assist with onboarding activities, team communications, purchasing requests, travel coordination, meeting logistics, and other administrative needs that support the Product organization.
• Leverage AI tools and automation to streamline routine work, improve reporting, organize information, and increase team efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows and improve operational processes, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, UX, PMO, and business teams to support successful planning, coordination, and execution across the organization.

We're looking for someone with:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Strong curiosity, initiative, and a desire to learn new systems, processes, and technologies.
• Interest in using AI and automation tools to improve productivity and simplify repetitive work.
• Experience through internships, coursework, or professional roles using tools such as Microsoft Office, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, Productboard, or similar collaboration and planning platforms.
• Ability to create organized reports, presentations, documentation, or dashboards that communicate information clearly.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset, with the confidence to identify opportunities to make processes more efficient.
• Ability to build positive working relationships across Product, Engineering, UX, PMO, and other cross-functional teams while providing exceptional operational and administrative support.

Why work for us?

The work you do at McGraw Hill will be work that matters. We are collectively designing content that will build the future of education. Play your part and experience a sense of fulfilment that will inspire you to even greater heights.

The pay range for this position is between $54,500 - $63,000 annually. However, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location. An annual bonus plan may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical and/or other benefits, depending on the position offered.