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Publishing Researcher

The Department of Publishing and Brand Licensing is responsible for managing IWM’s Publishing and Brand Licensing programmes. It produces its own publications in-house and works with external partners to produce a wide range of books and products.
 

The main focus of the work of the Publishing Researcher is supporting the Publishing Programme, both by providing administrative support to the team and researching material in IWM’s collections suitable for commercial publications.
 

You will be expected to work well independently as well as across different teams in order to contribute to and deliver the priorities of IWM – using your knowledge, skills, talent and potential to the best of your ability.
 

You will focus at all times on delivering excellent customer service, ensure value for money at all times while being professional, courteous and demonstrating the behaviours and attributes expected of all IWM employees. You will also adhere to all corporate standards, and use corporate systems as directed to ensure consistency of service, brand and operational standards.
 

Key duties

  • You will be expected to work across departments effectively, working with individuals, partners and, where appropriate, volunteers.
  • You will be expected to identify and implement learning and development needs for both yourself and your team, including volunteers, if appropriate.
  • You will be expected to comply with corporate standards, and use corporate systems, processes and procedures– and undertake any necessary training as directed.
  • You must be aware of and abide by IWM’s information security, data protection and health and safety policies regarding the handling of all sensitive and personal data.
     

In addition, your duties will include:
 

Research & Product Development

  • Researching material in the IWM collections or ideas based on IWM's terms of reference suitable for use in commercial books
  • Working closely with the Publishing team to assist with image research and ordering
  • Identifying the copyright status of material and researching and clearing copyrights as necessary
  • Working closely both with the rest of the team and also independently, to keep apprised of research needs within the Publishing Programme and ensure projects run to schedule
  • Liaising with Collections staff and historians to identify commercially exploitable material
  • Generating ideas for commercial publications based on the collections, exhibitions or anniversaries
  • Building up good relationships and regularly liaising with other departments in the Museum to capitalise on research, knowledge and digitisation programmes
  • Attending meetings with the Publishing and Brand Licensing teams and with third parties to discuss research needs
  • Ensuring that products bearing the IWM name are checked for historical accuracy and that the IWM name and logo are used appropriately
  • Assisting with the production of publishing proposals and AIs, sample page spreads, synopses or mood boards and assisting with the presentation of material and proposals to third parties
  • Liaising with publishers, authors and IWM departments to discuss research needs and ensure that production moves forward on schedule
  • Placing orders for material from the collections and organising new photography
  • Assisting with the production of in-house publications such as guidebooks and exhibition books as necessary
  • Occasionally seeking material in other organisations or held by private individuals, and making initial approaches to them. Clearing copyright as appropriate.
  • Keeping abreast of industry and product trends in the wider market
     

Finance and Administration

  • Raising purchase orders and invoices and keeping accurate records
  • Producing reports and spreadsheets as required
  • General support for the department which might include office administration, co-ordinating meetings and taking minutes, organising IWM’s representation at trade fairs, researching mailing lists, gathering data from publishers and licensees and maintaining schedules.

Editing, proof-checking and copy writing

  • Gathering information and drafting text as necessary for internal and external purposes including books, guidebooks, sales and marketing material and copy for the website and intranet
  • Editing and proof-checking material so that it is literate and accurate and conforms to IWM house style and tone of voice. Material may include image captions, book blurbs and AIs, marketing and promotional print.

This job description is not all encompassing. Over time the emphasis of the job may change without changing the general character of the job. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes. You may be asked, on occasion, to support other aspects of the commercial division’s work. Occasional evening and weekend work is expected.
 

Minimum Qualifications  
Degree in History, English or other relevant arts subject
 

Skills and Experience required  

  • Strong historical knowledge of twentieth and twenty-first century history and culture
  • Good working knowledge and appreciation of the breadth of IWM’s collections
  • Relevant experience of undertaking research to build up expert knowledge quickly and reliably, including the use of libraries, archives, collections databases and the Internet
  • Commercial acumen with the ability to identify commercially strong material and generate commercial ideas
  • Experience of working on commercial projects with tight deadlines
  • High level of literacy: able to write clearly and concisely
  • Creative lateral thinker: demonstrates initiative and imagination

To Apply
Apply via our online application form. Click apply at the bottom left of this page.

Please note we do not accept CV’s, you will be required to fill in an online application form.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 30 August 2017.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 12 and/or Wednesday 13 September 2017.

Please note that the interview date has been specifically chosen according to the availability of the panel. You are advised to keep this date free if you are interested in this vacancy. We are unable to reschedule interviews.
We regret that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application, in this instance, has been unsuccessful.

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.

Publishing Researcher

Imperial War Museums, London
Part-time, Permanent
Publisher
Publishing Support, Research

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