Job Description
UW Press has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Acquisitions Editor to build upon and expand the press’s successful Pacific Northwest nonfiction regional trade publishing program. This program includes books that showcase the histories, cultures, and natural history of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho with the possibility of expanding the list with titles about Northern California and the Mountain West. The Senior Acquisitions Editor may also have an opportunity acquire select academic and crossover titles, depending on experience and interest. The editor will be responsible for acquiring and transmitting 15-20 high-quality trade manuscripts each year, a mix of narrative nonfiction and illustrated books, for regional and national audiences.
Responsibilities will include collaborating with writers, journalists, faculty, agents, regional organizations and others to evaluate and commission projects for the press; traveling throughout the region to scout new projects; providing developmental guidance on book concepts and manuscripts; managing peer review and presenting proposed books to the faculty press committee; and preparing financial information on all prospective titles and negotiating contracts.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESAcquisitions outreach and recruitment:
Acquire and transmit 15-20 new manuscripts per fiscal year. Actively and strategically recruit new book proposals and manuscripts by contacting prospective authors. Develop and sustain a strong network of press authors, prospective authors, agents, community contacts and other advisers. Attend select conferences, and travel regionally to scout new projects. Correspond with prospective authors to answer questions about the publication process. Solicit and evaluate book proposals and manuscripts, assess market potential, and determine suitability for publication.
Working with manuscripts:
Provide developmental support and feedback to authors. Identify and engage outside readers to provide peer review. Recommend revisions to authors of manuscripts under review; work with authors on implementing revisions. Participate in weekly acquisitions and biweekly interdepartmental editorial meetings to review proposals and manuscripts, and recommend further review, rejection, or presentation to the press committee for formal approval. Prepare materials for presentation to the faculty press committee. Attend press committee meetings. Work with authors on revisions and preparing final manuscripts and illustration programs for copyediting.
Collaborative interdepartmental responsibilities:
Negotiate contracts in consultation with Director and Editorial Director. Prepare budgets for manuscripts proposed for publication. Collaborate with press grant-writing and development staff to seek underwriting as needed; Work collaboratively with authors and other press colleagues to develop appropriate and effective packaging, publishing, and marketing plans for titles acquired.
Other duties as assigned
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSBachelor’s Degree in humanities or social sciences, or a discipline related to assigned acquisitions areas, and 3 or more years of publishing experience OR Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and effectively both in writing and verbally.
- Excellent organizational skills, plus proven ability to efficiently handle multiple long-term projects simultaneously.
- Ability and desire to work both independently and cooperatively in a highly collaborative environment.
- Commitment to using an understanding of the diversity of human experiences in in supporting the press’s editorial program.
- Sensitivity to language relating to race, gender, sexuality, and ability/disability.
- Demonstrated success in list building.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONSProven track record of working successfully with trade authors.
Graduate work or advanced degree.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENTPosition requires travel over weekends and attendance at publication events outside normal working hours.
Job Tags
Full time, New year, Weekend work,