Publishing Manager

This role will manage the Publishing team, providing commissioning, project management and editorial expertise. This role will be responsible for strategically planning the Museum’s publishing programme, seeking new opportunities to publish and deliver high quality titles in-house, under licence, in association with third-party publishers or via digital platforms.

The post holder will need to have a flexible and adaptable approach to their projects and work with colleagues across the Museum.

Reporting to: Senior Manager: Publishing, Photography and Licensing

Job purpose:

To commission, manage and deliver high-quality academic, illustrated non-fiction and children’s titles on the Museum’s core subject areas and provide editorial advice and support for the Museum.

Main Duties:

Publishing

• Commission titles in line with the Museum’s Publishing Strategy as per targets agreed with the Senior Manager.
• Work closely with the Senior Manager to set strategy, annual budgets and publishing schedules.
• Assess proposals to establish viability and profitability for publishing under RMG imprints, under licence or in third-party publishing partnerships.
• Negotiate contractual terms with third parties, ensuring optimal terms are agreed.
• Manage project schedules, budgets and production for the publishing programme.
• Devise appropriate marketing strategies for each title in consultation with internal and external PR and Marketing teams.
• Project management of individual publishing projects.
• Line manage the Publishing and Licensing Executive, assigning projects and duties as appropriate. Manage performance to outlined objectives through mentoring and regular 1:1s.
• Work closely with RMG authors and experts as well as external authors, publishers, licensees, designers and printers.
• Ensure content is checked for factual accuracy and for the appropriate use of the Museum’s name and brand.
• Liaise with Image Licensing and Photo Studio colleagues about images, commissioning new photography as needed.
• Ensure images are copyright cleared and accurate records of rights and permissions are kept.
• Research material in the collections or ideas suitable for translation into commercial books and proposals.
• Present new proposals at Publishing Strategy Group board meetings.
• Regularly meet with the Retail team to discuss the publishing programme, stock levels, pricing and formats.
• Work directly with our sales and distribution agent, holding monthly meetings, communicating new titles, producing AI sheets and overseeing twice-yearly catalogue production.

Editorial

• Provide editorial advice and support for the Museum, ensuring that all external communications, such as exhibition text and marketing leaflets, are checked for accessibility and accuracy and adhere to house style and brand guidelines.
• Copyedit text to be published in-house; proofread text before submission to publishers or licensees.

• Run house-style training sessions for staff.

Financial & Support

• Liaise with Senior Manager regarding annual budgets and relevant phasing of income and expenditure.
• Cost in-house titles to establish commercial viability and manage budgets for project income and expenditure.
• Responsible for checking accuracy of monthly accounts.
• Arrange royalty advances and payments to authors.
• Oversee stock transfers to/from our distributor or co-publishers, monitor stock levels and sales figures and ensure that reprints are planned in good time.
• Work closely with other teams to identify and deliver titles that support the Museum’s Content Strategy
• Other duties as requested by line manager.

Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Proven experience of commissioning and project managing illustrated books.
• Experienced editor, copywriter and proof-reader with an excellent standard of written English, with the ability to shape content for different audiences.
• Knowledge of book production process, experience of working directly with printers, identifying economic printing formats and the correct set-up of files.
• Sound copyright knowledge.
• Good commercial awareness.
• Organised and able to prioritise a varied and demanding workload.
• Numerate with excellent attention to detail.
• A clear, assertive communicator at all levels.
• Knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Knowledge of databases, archives or DAMS.

Desirable

• Educated to degree level in a related field.
• Knowledge of digital imaging programmes (Photoshop).
• Interest in the cultural heritage sector.

Terms and Conditions:

Net working hours (i.e. excluding 1 hour per day in rest breaks) will be 36 hours per week, core hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm with an additional hour to be worked in agreement with line management.

Occasional overtime, often at short notice, will be required.

Salary: £32,000-£37,000 per annum

Closing Date: End of the day 5th May

To apply please visit our website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/about-us/jobs-opportunities/vacancies