Senior Editor

The Feminist Press is seeking a full-time Senior Editor to work closely with the Executive Director and Publisher and other editorial staff to shape the list of this 54-year-old independent nonprofit intersectional feminist book publisher. The ideal candidate is passionate and knowledgeable about feminist writing and independent publishing. The Senior Editor will be responsible for acquiring and editing fiction and nonfiction books, overseeing the editorial and production department, and leading the Press’s rights program. This is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively with a passionate team dedicated to serving the Press’s mission of publishing groundbreaking works of intersectional feminist literature.

This hybrid role requires at least two days per week of in-person work at the Feminist Press office at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, New York.

Applications are due by Monday, February 19, but they will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Editorial:

Evaluate manuscripts in accordance with FP’s mission and acquire six to eight books a year (fiction and nonfiction)

Edit manuscripts (developmental and line editing) with authors and translators and commission supplementary content as needed

Develop and maintain relationships with literary agents who understand FP’s mission

Work with authors, FP team members, and freelance cover designers to develop aesthetic vision for books

Draft title information and catalog and jacket copy in coordination with marketing department

Oversee FP’s editorial and production department, including managing the assistant editor, managing editor, and art director

Lead biweekly acquisitions meetings and compile all relevant materials for staff

Handle all relevant negotiations, contracts, and invoicing, and draft all book-related contracts and MOUs for FP, including author agreements, cover design agreements, and freelance editor agreements

Oversee editorial and production department budget in conversation with Executive Director

As relevant, apply for translation grants and support FP’s other grant applications

Subsidiary and foreign rights:

Manage foreign and audio licensing of FP titles, including pitching, negotiations, contract review, and payment tracking

Update and create foreign rights materials such as catalogs and brochures

Attend London and Frankfurt rights fairs to buy and sell titles and meet with publishers, subagents, translators, and literary agents

Qualities for candidates:

Keen editorial eye and demonstrated ability to collaborate with writers to produce the best possible manuscripts

Widely read and familiar with current intersectional feminist conversations, writers, and thinkers

Strong connections within the book publishing field, including literary agents

Vision for the future of intersectional feminist literature, bolstered by an activist approach to publishing from the margins and centering leftist values

Demonstrated ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously while ensuring that the work is done to a high standard and with great attention to detail

Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experienced in pitching and presenting titles at internal and external meetings, events, and conferences

Open to being a team player and pitching in across departments at a small nonprofit

Approaches work with a spirit of curiosity, humility, and collaboration

Skills/experience:

Required:

Minimum 5 years of experience in book editing with positions of increasing responsibility

Experience acquiring and editing book manuscripts and steering them through to publication

Experience managing at least one person

Strong ability to negotiate deals and knowledge of standard publishing contracts

Expert in Chicago Manual of Style and book publishing norms and standards

Nice to have:

Familiarity with writing and editing contracts

Experience with subsidiary rights such as audio or foreign rights

Experience with creating and managing a budget

Experience managing and overseeing an editorial team

Experience in independent publishing world

Experience commissioning cover designs and collaborating with artists and designers

Record of fostering careers of debut authors and a strong commitment to author care

Interest in feminist theory, gender studies, or feminist activism

Mission:

The Feminist Press publishes books that ignite movements and social transformation. Celebrating our legacy, we lift up insurgent and marginalized voices from around the world to build a more just future.

The Feminist Press is an equal employment opportunity organization and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of sex, race, age, creed, ethnicity, disability, marital or parenting status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We actively seek to create and support a diverse staff.

How to Apply:

Please email your cover letter, resume, and one writing sample (preferably an anonymized editorial letter or reader’s report) as PDFs to jobs[at]feministpress.org. Subject line should read: Senior Editor – Your Full Name. Applications are due by February 19. No phone calls, please.

Compensation for this full-time senior role is $58,000–$63,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave, Summer Fridays off, an annual stipend for education and professional development, health, vision, and dental coverage, a work laptop, and retirement contributions after two years. Applicants must have the ability to work in the United States and be able to work as needed, at least two days a week, in the Feminist Press office at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, New York.