Associate Acquisitions Editor at North Atlantic Books in Berkeley, California

Job Description:

North Atlantic Books (NAB) is a leading independent nonprofit publisher in Berkeley, CA. We're seeking an Associate Acquisitions Editor to join the Associate Director of Acquisitions in gathering data and information about NAB's publishing categories, including health and wellness, social justice, trauma and somatics, and herbalism; and to acquire and manage a select number of titles each year.

NAB benefits from being an independent press with Penguin Random House (PRH) distribution. We're a nonprofit with a conscience: our publishing program is mission driven, and through our partnership with PRH we connect with readers on a global scale. We endeavor to walk the talk of our mission in interactions among staff, authors, readers, booksellers, and the community at large. As an independent publisher, we aim to publish books with longevity rather than books that only speak to the current moment.

North Atlantic Books is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.

The Associate Acquisitions Editor is comfortable with editorial processes and project management and has deep familiarity with the categories that NAB publishes into. Their primary responsibilities are to aid the acquisitions team in researching new authors and emerging topics, develop new book projects based on our backlist, and edit and acquire new titles.

This position is 40 hours a week and remote/hybrid-optional. The ideal candidate is US-based and can generally be available during 9am-5pm Pacific time. Although we have a small office in Berkeley, CA, most of our staff works remotely and candidates do not need to reside in the Bay Area. Annual salary is $57,783. We have an excellent benefits package: full health, vision, and dental plan; 401k; paid sabbatical; and flexible spending plan. In addition to PTO, we offer all employees one paid volunteer day, five grief/bereavement days to grieve any impactful event, and twenty-four paid holidays per year, including International Workers' Day, Juneteenth, and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Responsibilities:

• Research and analyze emerging trends within NAB's key publishing categories and identify new leads and opportunities for publishing, which may include attending conferences, reviewing literary and research hubs, following social media accounts, and more

• Manage the submissions inbox and respond to or escalate queries as appropriate

• Vet potential leads, which could include reviewing portfolios and proposals or conducting initial conversations with authors

• Contribute to the short and long-term growth of the publishing program by soliciting, acquiring, and developing three-nine titles per year in conjunction with the Associate Director of Acquisitions and other department heads

• Evaluate proposals and manuscripts and provide authors with editorial feedback/development

• Assess competitive publications and titles and create P&Ls, sales sheets, and acquisitions pitches as needed

• Participate in weekly leads meetings, seasonal launches with our sales reps, and other meetings as needed

• Develop and maintain strong agent and author relationships

• Work with authors and others in-house to develop title, subtitle, and other book specs

• Hand off final manuscript and art files to the production editor with directions for copyediting, permissions status for artwork, etc.

• If desired, participate in the racial equity committees or other committees

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience

• Prior experience working in the publishing industry or working with authors and content creators; editorial experience preferred

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Zoom

• Familiarity with current social media platforms

• Interest and proficiency in research, trend spotting, and exploring ideas in a team environment

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to multitask and prioritize within a deadline-oriented environment

• Project management experience

• Excellent verbal and communication skills

• Interest and experience in amplifying diverse voices

• Experience with and/or affinity for the subject areas we publish, specifically psychology, health and wellness, and social justice

• Familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style a plus

To apply:

Please review our website for the types of books we publish, and in your cover letter tell us about three NAB books that resonate with you and why. We will not be reviewing applications that do not include a cover letter. Email your resume and cover letter to the Associate Director of Acquisitions, Shayna Keyles (jobs@northatlanticbooks.com) with the subject "Associate Acquisitions Editor." No phone calls, please. We look forward to hearing from you!

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