Executive Director Of The Press

Description:

The Pennsylvania State University Press , established in 1956 as the publishing arm of the Pennsylvania State University and located in beautiful central Pennsylvania, seeks an Executive Director to lead its award-winning university press.

The Press publishes rigorously reviewed, high-quality scholarly books and journals in the arts, humanities, and social sciences in both print and digital formats. Its publications advance scholarship by presenting new information, interpretations, and analysis that influence the shape of these fields. The Press also publishes books for general readers aligning with the strengths of its scholarly list areas. Its best-selling and award-winning publications include Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice , Fiel d Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic , The Kabbalistic Tree , Menopause: A Comic Treatment , and Strange Beauty: Issues in the Making and Meaning of Reliquaries, 400 –c irca 1204 , as well as the journals : Comparative Literature Studies , The Chaucer Review , and Philosophy & Rhetoric .

As a vital component of the University community, the Press reflects many of the University’s academic strengths in the liberal arts. Overall, the Press publishes 90 books and 80 journal titles (approximately 175 issues) annually. Under the PSU Press imprint, these include academic publications by researchers around the world in a number of fields and disciplines for a global readership. Under the Eisenbrauns imprint, these include academic books about the languages, archaeology, and history of the ancient Near East. The Graphic Mundi imprint includes graphic novels for popular audiences that speak to social, environmental, and contemporary cultural issues. The Press also recognizes its special responsibility to develop publications about Pennsylvania, both scholarly and popular, that enhance interest in the region and spread awareness of the state's history, culture, and environment. Total income for the Press is around $4.8 million annually.

Responsibilities: The Executive Director will work with staff members of the Press, and the university faculty advisory board, to establish an overall vision for the Press and a long-term commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. They will oversee the financial management of the Press and will work with other members of the Press’s leadership team to develop a strong strategic plan and a workable budget. The Executive Director will be responsible for keeping staff informed about current trends in publishing and for motivating colleagues to navigate change. Additionally, the Executive Director will be responsible for fostering key strategic relationships within the university and in the broader academic publishing world. They will travel to industry and academic events to develop and maintain these relationships.

Organization. The Executive Director reports to the Dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications and works closely with an associate director, an assistant director and editor-in-chief, and four other departmental heads (IT; sales and marketing; journals; and business, finance, and warehouse). They oversee a dedicated staff of approximately 30 working both remotely and on site. Offices are located on the north edge of campus, about three-fourths of a mile from the central campus. This is an on-site position. Relocation assistance is available to the successful candidate, based on eligibility provisions under University Policy .

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and substantial experience in university press or commercial academic publishing
• Organizational management experience with growth over time
• Articulation of a strong academic vision and business plan to advance the books and journals publishing programs
• Track record of engaging effectively with publishing stakeholders both within and outside the university, and an understanding of the international landscape of academic publishing
• Extensive knowledge of acquisitions, sales, and marketing in scholarly publishing
• Experience overseeing complicated budgets; demonstrated success in financial planning
• Knowledge of copyright law, rights and permissions, and content licensing
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and foster a collaborative work environment
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges facing academic publishing today, and the ability to think creatively and strategically about possible solutions
• Experience with digital publishing, including sustainable models for Open Access
• Demonstrated success in organizational fundraising

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in scholarly publishing, and 5+ years of supervisory experience
• Advanced degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience