Working/Functional Title

Senior Acquisitions Editor

Position Summary

Michigan State University Press seeks an experienced and energetic Senior Acquisitions Editor who will acquire approximately 20 books per year in Rhetoric and Communication Studies, Indigenous Studies, Environmental Studies, African Studies, History, and related fields in the social sciences and humanities. For over 76 years, MSU Press has been an award-winning publisher in the humanities and social sciences, with particular strengths in regional publishing and area studies.

The MSU Press and Libraries values diversity of thought, perspective and experience and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. The candidate will partner with others to develop our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.   

Characteristic Duties – Responsibilities

Reporting to the Press Director, the Senior Editor

• Actively solicits submissions; works with authors in developing their manuscripts; manages the peer review process; works with series editors to identify and acquire appropriate series titles; negotiates contracts; guides authors toward delivering their completed manuscripts in a timely fashion; provides guidance on the proper preparation of a manuscript for production, and transmits the manuscripts to production and marketing.
• Helps to create and sustain an environment conducive to the acquisition of excellent books by building author and reviewer networks, working with the marketing department on the creation and implementation of marketing strategies; and attending key academic conferences.
• Estimates costs and revenues for projects under consideration; identifies funding and grant sources to subvent publishing costs; identifies potential OA publishing funding sources and opportunities for Press books.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Journalism, English, Communications, Public Relations, or related Liberal Arts program; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in academic organization and procedures, editing a variety of formats, such as news releases, research papers, and feature articles; and knowledge of design and printing techniques; word processing, desktop publishing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software; may require experience in supervision and experience with web site design, maintenance and communication; may require the ability to read, write, and translate one or more foreign languages; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

Master’s Degree, preferably in English, History, Political Science, or related Liberal Arts programs; familiarity with all phases of the publishing process; ability to collaborate well with others and help to foster a welcoming environment; strong communication and networking skills; strong organizational skills; the ability to meet deadlines; and the ability to work independently and solve problems. A minimum of three to five years’ experience as an acquiring editor; demonstrated success in acquiring books and list building; experience that emphasizes the skills necessary to develop scholarly, peer reviewed book and or journal length manuscript into finished academic publications; excellent organizational skills with a proven track record of effectively managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously; knowledge of copyright, fair use, and publishing contracts; may require software specific to the area of employment; proven ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with a wide range of audiences; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Interested applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and three references (2 must be present/past supervisors). Cover letters may be addressed to: Elizabeth Sherburn Demers, Director Michigan State University Press 1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste 110 East Lansing, MI 48823-5245

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

www.msupress.org

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends April 30, 11:55 PM