Job Description

Overview

The Spanish Publishing team is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and highly values diverse backgrounds and insights that fuel our innovation.

Working with the VP and Publisher for Spanish, the Associate Publisher serves as a key leader for the division bymanaging different product lines within the Spanish publishing program, and supporting the mission and values, revenue goals and strategies. Day-to-day responsibilities include author acquisitions, vision-casting and cooperation with sales and marketing, publishing schedule development, financial oversight and staff management and development. The Associate Publisher assists the Publisher in developing, overseeing and managing the editorial process, creating ancillary products, and managing the brand. The Associate Publisher leads special projects and represents the Publisher in key meetings internally and externally.

Specifically, the Associate Publisher will lead the publishing program for Spanish Books as well as reference and academic works through:

* Strategically acquiring and developing authors and titles for Vida and Grupo Nelson with viable content for products that will stimulate consumers engagement and study through print and electronic formats.
* Managing the relationship with CLIE (content development partner) for the development and distribution of reference, reflective and academic works.

* Lead and manage the editorial team in all aspects of their work.

* Work collaboratively with Creative, Editorial, Marketing and Sales staff to support titles through the publication process as appropriate and required for product development.

* Maintain awareness of the editorial needs of the end consumer by reviewing current books, Bibles and other sources of content including online and print; by attending appropriate conferences and conventions; by developing contacts at the consumer level; and by cooperating with other Thomas Nelson and Zondervan divisions in the gathering and interpretation of formal and informal market research.

* Maintain awareness of market conditions, consumer buying patterns, publishing trends, social media engagement, and breakthroughs in digital product innovation.

Responsibilities

* Author Acquisition and retention/Product Development: Evaluates new product ideas for marketability, financial viability, Biblical and doctrinal soundness, and editorial excellence. Identifies and pursues potential author targets or brands; creates book concepts for target authors as needed; makes initial contacts and sets meetings; prepares proposals and makes presentations at Ed Board and Pub Board meetings; manages APL approval process for his/her projects; negotiates terms through signed deal memo and prepares contract request forms. Plans for derivative products and backlist re-releases to maximize intellectual property.Builds strong, long-term relationships with agents and prospective authors. Personally acquires,develops, edits, and leads author management for8-12 high-profile acquisitions per year.
* Publisher Support: Meets regularly with Publisher to monitorkey business metrics and other various day-to-day needs and builds rapport for the Gift team and with leadership.Participates with Publisher and VP of Marketing regarding pipeline review; analyzes fiscal year financial impact combining frontlist and backlist titles, ensuring we are publishing to revenue goals; analyzes sales conference line up, pipeline by editor, and annual title performance lookback; tracks progress to budget throughout the year.Maintains the profile of the department by joining key meetings or representing the Publisher: Author Meetings, Editorial Pub Board, Sales Pub Board, Marketing Staff Meetings, Business Review, Publishers Forum; helps implement and stress department mission statement, revise mission statement document as needed under supervision of Publisher. Helps make the brand known in the industry. Assist Publisher in special departmental initiatives to analyze, strengthen, and grow the business. Manage day-to-day partnership with CLIE as a delegate for the publisher.

* Department Planning: Participates in leadership team meetings with publisher and head of marketing regarding pipeline review; analyzes fiscal year financial impact combining frontlist and backlist titles, ensuring we are publishing to revenue goals; analyzes sales conference line up, pipeline by editor and marketer, and annual title performance lookback; join in review of department overhead and marketing budgets; monitors current sales and tracks progress to budget throughout the year.

* List/ Program Management: Collaborates with Publisher on list planningto acquire authors and develop proprietary productsand oversight of the editorial schedule.Assures products are coordinated with other divisions, scheduled for best sales success, and contracted in time for annual planning and presentation to sales accounts. Ensures we are publishing to our target categories and stated revenue goals.

* Optimizing Processes: Oversees key aspects of the product development process, including titling meetings, catalog process, and back cover copy. Collaborates closely with the audio, video curriculum, and custom publishing teams to optimize Spanish content in a variety of formats.Constantly evaluates processes to ensure we implement the most efficient, streamlined processes and procedures.

* Strategic Planning and Financial Analysis: Collaborates with Publisherin future business planning as it relates to annual budgeting, content and acquisitions, and measuring finanical obectives.

* Editorial Team Leadership: Leads and coaches the editorial team, including quality control and capacity analyis and management.Manages the editorial staff to ensure on-time delivery of book projects to production and printer. Holds regular one-on-one meetings and helps editorial staff as necessary; conducts annual employee alignment meetings and reviews; hires and trains new employees. Oversees editorial work at various stages of manuscript editing as well as the use of freelance vendors.Creates a positive work environment

* SEO: responsible to work with editors, marketers and company leaders to ensure our SEO is current and increasing sales of front list and backlist books and reference titles

* Industry Trends: Maintains awareness of market conditions, consumer buying patterns, and publishing trends. Has an ongoing commitment to develop expertise in the publishing process, internal systems and procedures, works with production to find the newest product development trends.

Qualifications

Work Experience: 8 years Christian publishing experience and/or content development experience including Bible publishing or marketing, academic, ministry or digital publishing contexts. At least 2 years of editorial development experience.

Target. 10 years in publishing with 2 or more years in a leadership role

Education: BA in English or Spanish, Communications, Journalism, business administration, marketing, or related fields. MDiv or MA in Theology or Biblical Studies or demonstrated self-teaching in these areas and additional training in business management is a plus.

Knowledge: Knowledge of Spanish grammar, spelling, and punctuation, Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, etc., Knowledge of the Bible, including major and minor Bible translations and paraphrases on the market, attuned to doctrinal landscape of the Christian market with a solid grasp of the orthodox evangelical theology and thinking.

Industry Knowledge: Knowledge of competitive books, Bibles and Bible study resources, Knowledge of the major distribution channels, including CBA, ABA, Mass, church/ministry, international, Awareness of trends within the Spanish church worldwide

Skills:

* Bilingual (Spanish/English); fully proficient in both written and oral communication;
* Management, leadership, and professional development skills;

* Business acumen to understand and use financial data

* Organization and administrative ability

* Excellent communication skills including strong presentation skills

* Excellent interpersonal skills that facilitate team building and cross-functional work in organizations

* Ability to understand and negotiate publishing contracts

* Ability to work effectively with authors and agents

* Ability to maintain and work within a budget

* Excellent time and project management skills

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Locations US-TN-Nashville

Category Publishing

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. EEO/AA/M/F/Disabled/Vets