Senior Editor

Center for Responsive Schools•Turners Falls, MA

About The Position

Working under the supervision of the Chief Publications Officer, the senior editor is responsible for ensuring that CRS’s publishing house acquires and develops content for maintaining a robust publications pipeline. This position collaborates with the Chief to ensure that the publishing house products match CRS’ overall direction, program and service needs, and customer needs and interest; it is responsible for ensuring that the print and digital products are high-quality and are profitable. This position works closely with the Chief Publications Officer on managing multiple projects simultaneously for the lifetime of projects. Projects may be multi-year and multi-component, or small in scale (for example, new books, reprints, workshop products, articles, new or replacement lessons, lesson components and products, small guides, research reports, and marketing collateral). Finished products will publish in both print and digital formats. It also ensures that the publishing house is able to meet CRS’ general internal publishing needs. The ideal candidate is a team player, a self-starter, and a lifelong learner. They will have developmental-level editing skills, excellent command of editorial processes and styles, and show evidence of ability to project manage in multiphase projects with multiple components.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communication, English or journalism or closely related field, background in education a plus.
At least 4 years of experience in writing and editing, preferably in book publishing and preferably in an office setting.
A high level of professional judgment to organize, plan, and manage multiple priorities.
Deadline-oriented with the ability to juggle myriad details while maintaining a big-picture strategic view, calm and perspective
Ability to make sound editorial decisions.
General knowledge of copyright law and publishing processes and procedures including project planning and production scheduling.
General knowledge of book conceptualization and development practices, editing standards, and publishing contract terms and negotiation strategies.
Ability to set and meet project milestones and work under aggressive deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills to negotiate complex editorial issues with authors, illustrators and other roles related to publishing.
Highly organized, excellent attention to detail, strong oral and written communication.
High accountability for performance, able to receive and apply feedback.
Disposition is consistently professional, cooperative, and collegial as evidenced by workplace maturity, composure, perspective, transparency, reliability, integrity, and trustworthiness.
Caring for and, committed to the vision, mission, and welfare of CRS.
Respects and values diversity; represents CRS positively and professionally in interactions with clients, vendors, and the community at large in both real and virtual interactions.
Able to work and thrive in an open-suite, highly collaborative environment.
Prompt, regular and reliable attendance.
Must be able to show proof of COVID-19 primary vaccinations or submit a medical or religious exemption.

Nice To Haves

Experience with a publisher specializing in K–12 education and multimedia projects is highly desirable.
K–12 education experience in professional development or as a teacher, administrator, or leader is a plus.

Responsibilities

Content and Author Acquisition
Works closely with the Chief Publications Officer on planning for publishing pipeline of 5-8 books for educators and 4-8 children’s books each year and managing the slush pile.
Collaborates with Chief, in conjunction with relevant program and research stakeholders to identify potential topics and authors for the publishing pipeline.
Ensures that the content acquired for print and digital projects is appropriate for CRS’s audience, programmatically accurate, written to high standards of quality, and completed within a specified time frame and budget.
Cultivates relationships with potential authors and solicits proposals designed to meet member and customer needs.
Works closely with the Chief Publications Officer to negotiate contracts with authors.
Identify, source and build a pool of freelancers with relevant skills for the diverse titles produced (including translators, copy-editors, designers, illustrators, proofreaders).
Works closely with the Chief Publications Officer to research trends in the educational marketplace.
Establishes and maintains professional relationships with program experts and practitioners who contribute content to CRS.
Collaborates with colleagues in other departments.
Contributes to the concept development and content review for other CRS programs, products, and services as required.
Proposal Development, Solicitations and Review
Works closely with the Chief Publications Officer on proposal development and author (and illustrator) acquisition for publishing pipeline of book titles and retail products that CRS identifies as important for the publishing pipeline.
Prepares for quarterly meetings to review proposals, ensures there is a well-designed review process that engages team discussions and provides clear feedback to prospective authors.
Responsible for implementing a well-designed proposal review process.
Implements and manages a peer review process that ensures manuscripts are original, research-based, practical, specific, and conversational in tone.
Evaluates completed manuscripts for quality, reviews permissions, and makes recommendations for copyediting and production.
Works closely with the Chief to plan and/or attend CRS-sponsored events to identify potential authors, to seek potential authors, and raise awareness of author opportunities among diverse
Makes presentations, organizes conference exhibits, and shares information gathered on-site.
Project and Production Management
Works closely with project editors and authors whose projects are under contract, and provides guidance and support during the writing phase.
Provides guidance that ensures content is shaped and organized in line with the expectations of the proposal.
Chases work prior to agreed delivery dates, assessing work when it is delivered to ensure that it is complete and in accordance with the proposal and review feedback before passing to production.
In collaboration with the Chief Publications Officer and project editors, monitors and draws up schedules for projects, ensuring that all deadlines are met; keeps the Chief Publications Officer informed of any changes to deliverables schedules.
Collaborates with the Chief Publications Officer to develop proposal project budgets for all parts of a project; monitors costs during the duration of the project and keeps the Chief Publications Officer informed of any budgetary problems.
Demonstrates and uses understanding of the significance of the relationship between the reasonableness of the project budget and a profitable, viable product; adheres to project budgets and timelines.
Records all details relevant to the accurate costing and invoicing of a project.
General Administration and Internal Publishing Needs
Supports Chief Publications Officer in managing and monitoring product titles in line with CRS guidelines for (front list, back list, sunset, and revision).
Prepare text of completed projects for website, marketing sales or other as required.
Supports all work units in achieving their editorial, print, videography, photography, graphic design, illustration and production goals.
Assists with general publications tasks as needed.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor.