Managing Director, Publishing

The Organisation
CABI is an international intergovernmental not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives by applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. We have over 450 staff based in 16 countries, with offices in Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, the UK, the USA and Zambia.

CABI’s publishing business blends the core STM publishing portfolio, focused on the academic sector, with donor-funded knowledge management projects which include the award-winning Plantwise Knowledge Bank programme. This unique combination enables CABI to operate as a commercial publisher whilst also supporting the overall CABI mission.

The publishing portfolio includes database products, books, multimedia compendia and online reference works. The databases include CAB Abstracts (the world’s premier research database covering agriculture and all related disciplines) and Global Health secondary databases (abstracting and indexing products which also deliver substantial collections of 3rd party licensed full-text content).The larger databases are sold through vendors such as Ovid and EBSCO, while CABI also has its own online platform, CAB Direct, for the delivery of all products. The CABI book programme, with approximately 65 new titles per year, covers the full range of agricultural sciences, as well as a highly successful leisure & tourism list. CABI also publishes a range of online “Compendia”, which are in-depth encyclopaedic resources; these have recently migrated to a new platform, positioning them for future growth and enhancement.

The knowledge management programme generates some 25% of the overall net revenue, and includes major initiatives such as the Plantwise Knowledge Bank, the Open Access Invasive Species Compendium and the GODAN Secretariat.

The Role
The Managing Director, Publishing will be a key member of the Executive Management Team, driving CABI’s publishing strategy with a focus on revenue growth, innovation and new product development. She or he will be responsible for content creation, production, sales and marketing.

Key accountabilities will include:

• providing leadership and strategic vision for the publishing business;
• delivering annual revenue and profit targets;
• championing the case for investment and taking accountability for delivery;
• setting annual targets and objectives;
• developing a long-term content and product strategy;
• creating an editorial vision that supports the strategy;
• overseeing the editorial, product management and innovation process;
• leading major knowledge-based projects and programmes;
• managing members of the senior management group within the publishing business;
• developing a team of business development and marketing professionals to achieve income and profit growth;
• being an active member of the executive management team;
• representing CABI at key internal and external events;
• ensuring consistent adherence to CABI policies and procedures.

The Person

The person appointed will be likely to:

• have a proven track record in leading a publishing businesses through change;
• have active involvement and credibility in the publishing industry;
• have a strong appreciation for the application of technology in the delivery of innovative products;
• have a record of successful P&L responsibility;
• have proven line management experience of both operational and commercial functions and the ability to provide leadership to large, globally-dispersed teams;
• have a track record in delivering product innovation through product or platform management and the proactive management of change;
• have experience in identifying opportunities to capture new business across a range of activities and markets;
• have the creativity and the capacity to think outside the box in the delivery of business strategies, new product and service concepts;
• have a degree, ideally in a relevant subject discipline, and possibly a business qualification;
• have presence and gravitas appropriate to a senior leader;
• have the ambition to lead the growth and development of a global publishing culture;
• be a team player, corporate thinker and self-motivated with excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills;
• be a strategic thinker with a sharp analytical skill set and intellectual capability, able to focus on complex business transformation;
• have well-developed presentational and media skills to suit all situations;
• be robust with the operational grip to handle a demanding work load;
• have strong personal organisational and business skills with the ability to set and revise priorities, and to address problems and issues in a systematic and structured way;
• have the ability to deal with cultural differences of colleagues, customers and partners globally;
• have a willingness to travel widely, including to developing countries, to further CABI’s development and to represent the organisation as a whole.

Please email a CV and covering letter to our retained professional search consultant Mark Carden at Mosaic Search & Selection: markcarden@mosaicss.com No Agencies.