EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Established in 1920, the University of Washington Press supports the university’s research, education, and outreach missions by publishing important new work for an international community of scholars, students, and intellectually curious readers. As one of the largest book publishers in the Pacific Northwest, the press also offers a broad selection of regional books for general readers, often produced in partnership with museums, cultural organizations, and local Indigenous communities.

The UW Press has an outstanding opportunity for an Editorial Assistant!

The press is currently expanding its publishing program and, with this growth, is eager to bring new ideas, new enthusiasm, and the opportunity for a new Editorial Assistant to join a terrific team of publishing professionals. Based in Seattle, the press is part of a vibrant book culture, with independent bookstores, museums, libraries, cultural centers, and book supporters throughout the region.

The Editorial Assistant provides administrative and editorial support for the acquisitions department, from the initial stages of book proposal review to the submission of final, revised manuscripts for transmittal to production. The Editorial Assistant assists the editorial director and three senior acquisitions editors in coordinating manuscript peer review, researching readers, and gathering sales and other data used in assessing projects’ suitability for publication. Responsibilities also include working with authors in the preparation of final manuscripts; providing guidance on image quality, formatting, and permissions; and ensuring that all submitted manuscripts and their related materials meet our standards for publication.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist editorial director and other acquisitions editors with evaluation of book manuscripts. Responsibilities include assisting editors in assessing projects' suitability for publication, assisting with manuscript review procedures and peer review processes, and communicating directly with authors. Research readers as directed. Gather sales data as requested for use in evaluating manuscripts.
• Prepare materials for weekly acquisitions department meetings, biweekly editorial project review meetings and bimonthly Press Committee meetings. Manage database of hundreds of active and thousands of archived manuscript projects, and manage associated texts and illustrations. Arrange other meetings as requested and manage various schedules.
• Evaluate preparation of final manuscripts including permissions for quotations used in text, copyrighted illustrations, illustration quality, and any reprinted material. Work with authors to resolve permission or illustration issues.
• Draft advance book information, including descriptive copy. Prepare materials for transmittal of final manuscripts to copyediting. Request contracts, production estimates and draft publication proposals as requested.
• Process readers' honoraria and complementary book copies for acquisitions department. Create, update, and organize paper files and electronic records. Log in, copy, and send out manuscripts and other materials. Acknowledge receipt and decline proposals and manuscripts as directed.
• Perform other acquisitions department support tasks as assigned by editorial director.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of experience in publishing or related field.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office.
• Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and effectively both in writing and verbally.
• Excellent organizational skills, plus proven ability to efficiently handle multiple long-term projects simultaneously.
• Ability and desire to work both independently and cooperatively in a highly collaborative environment
• Commitment to using an understanding of the diversity of human experiences in in supporting the press’s editorial program.
• Sensitivity to language relating to race, gender, and sexuality.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• One or more years of experience with a scholarly publisher
• Graduate work or advanced degree in humanities, social sciences or field related to the press’s core acquisitions areas
• Demonstrated interest in equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Knowledge of Adobe In-Design or Photoshop
• Familiarity with Filemaker Pro database management

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The person in this position will be working in an open office environment. Press staff are currently working partially remotely, but this position is planned as full-time in-office once conditions permit.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.