Director, American University in Cairo Press and Bookstores Cairo, Egypt

The American University in Cairo (AUC) has exclusively engaged Jack Farrell  & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the next Director of AUC Press and Bookstores. Interested candidates should please email Fiona Foley Croft (fiona@jackfarrell.com) for more information. 

Profile:

The American University in Cairo Press www.aucpress.com (AUCP), the leading English-language academic publisher in the Middle East, is seeking a Director for the executive management of the global publishing programs and the bookselling services of the AUC Press in Egypt.

Located in central Cairo, AUCP has a distinguished 60-year history of publishing leading-edge scholarship and high-quality trade publications on the region. It currently offers a backlist of some 800 publications and annually publishes 60-80 academic texts and general interest books on ancient and modern Egypt, the wider Middle East, and North Africa. AUCP is also well-known also for its influential Arabic literature in translation imprint, Hoopoe Fiction, and as the publisher of the Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. 

AUC attracts scholars and leaders from throughout the region and the world, and the Press plays a vital role in its intellectual life as a major forum for the exchange of ideas about the Middle East at this critical time in history. The Director will work to sustain the areas of excellence while working in concert with ambitious university-wide initiatives to make full use of the new media in representing the teaching and research interests of the university. 

Thus, the AUC Press Director who reports to the President of the American University in Cairo will possess the unique opportunity to both transform an established and respected publishing business to meet the needs of 21st-century research, education, and cultural exchange, and to be the thought leader for publishing and disseminating vital information about the region to the English-speaking world. The position is based in Cairo, Egypt and relocation assistance is available. 

Key Responsibilities:

·       Provide leadership to the Press in a period of rapid change in the region and in the publishing industry worldwide.

·       Develop and implement the strategic plan for the Press publishing programs and bookselling services with a special focus on the transition to digital formats and online accessibility.

·       Provide leadership and management direction to a dedicated team of senior managers and approximately 50 staff at the Press and in its bookstores, warehouse, and distribution operations.

·       Develop and implement innovative publishing services in both print and electronic formats.

·       Oversee all editorial development and publishing programs of AUC Press.

·       Prepare annual operating plans and budgets in accordance with university policies and reporting requirements.

·       Direct both worldwide sales and marketing activities, particularly in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and through the bookstores in Cairo.

·       Represent the vision and mission of the Press within AUC and at local and international professional publishing and bookselling events.

·       Collaborate with the AUC Press International Academic Research Board, as well as the University financial, planning, and administrative procedures and protocols.

Qualifications:

·       BA/BSc minimum; graduate education desirable; background in Middle Eastern Studies, Egyptology, or Near Eastern Archaeology 

·       10 years of successful executive management in international publishing.

·       Demonstrated ability to develop new products and services that increase the relevance of the Press’ activities to the scholarly community and the interested general public.

·       Demonstrated ability to communicate passionately, clearly, and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

·       Experience leading, developing, and working with an Advisory Board and others in a university setting.

·       Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with and inspire constituencies from diverse backgrounds and from different sectors; ability to work with groups of diverse personalities and interests.

·       Record of success in setting priorities for an organization in a time of rapid change; must be adept at balancing an organization’s internal management requirements with external opportunities, pressures, and constraints.

·       Must be knowledgeable of new trends in technology and social media, especially as relevant to the publishing industry.

·       Possess a lively intelligence, passionate curiosity, resilience, and a good sense of humor.

NOTE: The American University of Cairo has exclusively engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the winning candidate for this position. Interested candidates should provide a resume by email to Fiona Foley Croft (fiona@jackfarrell.com). Thank you.