Editor in Chief

The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) leads the acquisitions team (currently two other staff) and serves as a key member of the Press’ management team. The EiC meets regularly with the director and the other Press team leads to develop and implement overall Press strategy, and designs an acquisitions strategy in line with the larger plan. The Editor-in-Chief manages the acquisitions team budget, supervises acquisitions staff, interacts with series editors and SU faculty, and is the primary liaison with the Press Editorial Advisory Board. The Editor-in-Chief also serves as an acquisitions editor and acquires or develops approximately twenty new book projects annually for the Press to publish.

*This position involves up to 15% – 20% travel.

Qualifications

Graduate degree required; PhD preferred.
Minimum of 8 years of academic or professional publishing experience.
Some supervisory or management experience.

Job Specific Qualifications

Academic background and experience sufficient to facilitate constructive interaction with scholars, colleagues, and university stakeholders.
Acquisitions experience in one or more of the fields in which the Press currently publishes.
Budgeting and forecasting experience.
Experience with digital and online publishing technologies.
Strong understanding of trends in the publishing industry, including active participation in AUPresses (the professional organization for university presses).
Strong discernment and judgment in managing a unit/department.
Creativity, flexibility, and ability to adapt to change.
Strong verbal, written and persuasive communication skills.

Acquiring book projects:

Generate ideas for book projects, and solicit, acquire, and review prospective manuscripts for publication by SU Press.
Ascertain market interest in subject matter to determine if interest warrants publication; prepare acquisition proposals based on positive reviews of manuscripts and estimated sales potential.
Present recommendations to Press Editorial Advisory Board for approval.
Follow up on questions and suggestions by the Board.
Work with authors to address manuscript revision and preparation for submission to the Press.
Prepare and review contracts, modifying as appropriate, for signature by author and SU Comptroller.

Managing internal and external relationships:

Manage series editor contracts, ensuring that series are productive and renewing them or allowing them to lapse in consultation with the acquisitions team and the director.
Act as primary liaison to the Press Editorial Advisory Board.
Work collaboratively with staff in Editorial & Production an

Responsibilities

Strategic planning and management:

Participate in Press-wide planning efforts to analyze performance of the Press’s editorial list.
Represent the acquisitions department at meetings with other Press departments.
Develop and implement policies and procedures for the acquisition, handling, and transmittal of manuscripts.
Provide information about manuscripts to production, marketing, business, and other Press departments and administration.

Managing the acquisitions team:

Supervise and mentor other acquisitions editors, ensuring that they meet annual targets for contracting, approval by the Editorial Advisory Board, and transmitting projects to Editorial & Production.
Advising them on the selection and management of peer reviewers and authors; and providing them with professional development opportunities.

Building external networks and identifying new opportunities:

Identify opportunities for collaboration for new product possibilities and other synergies.
Build and maintain networks with other university presses, authors, and reviewers in relevant academic fields and scholarly publishing.
Regularly assess the Press’ acquisitions program in light of best practices and emerging opportunities.