Assistant Editor

$48,500 - $49,958/Yr

Columbia University - New York, NY

Full-time

New York, NY

Educational Services

About the position

Columbia University Press, a leading academic publisher affiliated with Columbia University, is seeking an Assistant Editor to join its team. This full-time position is integral to the editorial process, providing essential support to the Senior Editor for Science and the Editor for Business and Finance. The Assistant Editor will play a crucial role in the acquisition, development, transmittal, and publication of scholarly works, ensuring that the Press continues to fulfill its mission of disseminating important academic research and literature. In this role, the Assistant Editor will be responsible for reading and evaluating book proposals, drafting and editing new idea memos, and collaborating with the Marketing team to prepare for book launches. The position requires soliciting endorsements for book jackets, drafting jacket descriptions and author bios, and distributing published books to various stakeholders, including authors, agents, peer reviewers, and blurbers. The Assistant Editor will also track the initial peer review process of selected proposals and manuscripts, manage payments of honoraria, and oversee the secondary review of manuscripts under contract. Additionally, the Assistant Editor will assist in the final preparation of manuscripts for release, ensuring that all copyediting is completed to the highest standard. This role involves serving as a liaison between authors and the production editor, managing permissions, author contracts, and payments in a timely manner. The Assistant Editor will draft and edit book descriptions for internal and external communications, maintain and update book data in the Press's title management system, and prepare profit-and-loss statements for memos and contracts. Regular meetings with editors will be conducted to discuss projects under review and in production, addressing any progress or issues with specific titles. The Assistant Editor will also be responsible for hiring, training, and supervising interns each semester, applying for and managing publication and translation grants, securing permissions for previously published materials, and representing the Press at conferences in relevant subject areas. This position is a unique opportunity to contribute to the academic publishing field while working in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Responsibilities

• Read and evaluate book proposals.
• Draft and edit new idea memos.
• Work with CU's Marketing team to prepare for a book's launch.
• Solicit endorsements for the book jacket, draft jacket descriptions and author bios.
• Distribute published books to authors, agents, peer reviewers, and blurbers.
• Track initial peer review of selected proposals and manuscripts and manage payment of honoraria.
• Manage secondary review of manuscripts under contract.
• Assist in the final preparation of manuscripts and their release; oversee copyediting.
• Secure endorsement quotes and follow up with authors throughout the publication process.
• Serve as the liaison between the author and the production editor, and as the principal contact person for questions from marketing, production, and finance departments.
• Manage permissions, author contracts, and author payments in a timely manner.
• Draft and/or edit book descriptions and other book and author information for internal and external memos in consultation with the editor.
• When appropriate, initiate correspondence with authors, reviewers, and advisors.
• Maintain and update book data in Biblio, the Press’s title management system.
• Prepare profit-and-loss statements for memos and contracts.
• Liaise with marketing, production, rights, and accounting departments.
• Conduct regular meetings with editors to discuss projects under review and in production, and to report on progress and possible problems with particular titles.
• Hire, train, and supervise interns each semester.
• Apply for and manage publication and translation grants for individual books, where necessary.
• Secure permissions for previously published text and art, where necessary.
• Attend conferences in subject areas from time to time as a representative of the Press.
• Take incoming book orders and answer questions at the Press exhibit booth.

Requirements

• Two years related experience
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience working in an office setting.

Nice-to-haves

• At least one year book publishing experience.
• Bachelors or equivalent.
• Highly organized and detail oriented, and can work independently and proactively.
• Knowledge of MS Office, G Suite, Filemaker Pro, and a basic understanding of relational databases.
• Some publishing experience and/or a demonstrated knowledge of publishing process and financials.