How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Summary
The University of Michigan Press is looking for an Editor to help grow and develop the Press’s prestigious and long-standing list in interdisciplinary fields including: Asian Studies, African Studies, and related areas. The Editor is responsible for a variety of editorial and project management tasks supporting the acquisition and promotion of book-length scholarly monographs as well as related text and trade titles as needed. The position works iteratively and in a collegial way with university academic centers, authors, editorial assistants, freelancers, and internal production and marketing staff to project manage the creation of high quality digital and print products in the Press’s core nonfiction subject categories.
As a member of the University of Michigan Press Acquisitions unit, the Acquiring Editor reports to the Editorial Director, under the direction of the AUL of the Publishing Division of U-M Library. The position may oversee graduate students and undergraduate student assistants.
The Library is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work. See our Diversity Strategic Plan .
Why Work at Michigan?
The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package including
health, dental, and vision insurance, generous time off (24 vacation days per year,
and 15 sick leave a year), matched retirement contributions with immediate
vesting, professional development opportunities, and more. TIAA and Fidelity
Investments’ retirement benefits are available.
The person in this position would need to be able to navigate the facility using short flights of stairs. For questions about this posting or to request accommodations, please contact libraryjobs@umich.edu .
Responsibilities*
Acquisitions 50%
- Sign a product mix of at least 25 new titles per year, in line with a coherent, intellectually robust, growth-oriented plan for the Press’s lists in scholarly monographs, building on the strong foundation and fields that have made these lists a success. Work closely with series editors to ensure that series continue to foster innovative work that is respected in the field.
- Solicit reviews from external referees and instructors, keeping review schedules on track and ensuring a diverse pool of reviewers.
- Develop and maintain productive and collegial working relationships with key faculty both locally and at other campuses, as well as series editors.
- Remain current with publishing trends and developments in relevant disciplines in order to incubate new publishing ideas and contribute to the development of long-term Press strategy.
- Work with authors and funders to pursue subventions that support open access and monograph publication
- Present projects to the Press’s Executive Committee, making the case for their final acceptance for publication.
Editorial 30%
- Manage all necessary editorial aspects of the publishing process while working closely, collaboratively and collegially with the acquisitions, sales and marketing, production, technology, and finance departments.
- Work with the Editorial Assistants/Associates to interface between author and production team, ensuring good communication and that deadlines are met.
- Take responsibility for transmitting at least 20 manuscripts a year into production.
- Coordinate the schedules of titles under contract to ensure that authors meet agreed-upon deadlines to facilitate timely publication.
- Create time-sensitive schedules for moving manuscripts to production in conjunction with the transmittal work done by Editorial Assistants/Associates.
- Work closely with Editorial Assistants/Associates to ensure timely invoicing of subventions and payments to stakeholders.
Marketing and Outreach 20%
- Travel as needed to staff exhibits (handle onsite sales, provide product information) and represent the Press.
- Work with marketing to create promotional (catalog, postcard, website, cover) copy
- Work with Editorial Assistants/Associates to manage product content and metadata in the press database to ensure accurate, current information is fed to publishing partners.
- Assist in creation of and implementation of product marketing plans as needed.
- Work with marketing to seek endorsements (blurbs) from experts in the field, seeking a diversity of perspectives.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Two years of publishing experience.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and familiarity working with databases, as well as touch-typing.
- Understands and values diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Work Schedule
40 hours/week; typically Monday – Friday, day-time shifts. This position is onsite in Ann Arbor with the possibility of working a hybrid weekly remote work arrangement.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and the selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Job Detail
Job Opening ID
241087
Working Title
Acquiring Editor, Asian Studies & Related Interdisciplinary Fields
Job Title
Acquisitions Editor Inter
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Univ Library
Department
Mich Publishing-Acquisitions
Posting Begin/End Date
10/20/2023 – 11/12/2023
Salary
$50,000.00 – $55,000.00
Career Interest
Communications & Marketing
Libraries & Museums