Create Alert
Apply now »
Job Req ID:  115543

Acquisitions Editor

Johns Hopkins University Press seeks an Acquisitions Editor responsible for acquiring trade and professional books in the Sciences in a proactive and entrepreneurial way. The Acquisitions Editor will join a team of exceptional professionals committed to bringing the benefits of discovery to the world by providing global access, impact, and influence for the scholarship that we publish and distribute. The Editor commissions book projects, reviews book proposals and manuscripts, and selects projects for publication in conjunction with the Press's editorial committees. This position will help to ensure that the Press is a leader in connecting people to the most trusted knowledge from global researchers, scholars, and educators.


The Press is committed to honoring every person’s inherent dignity as human beings and making that the foundation of our organizational culture. We proactively find ways to ensure opportunities that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and access. We strive to publish courageously, giving voice to groundbreaking ideas. We support each other and our stakeholders and envision a future where knowledge enriches the lives of every person. The successful candidate will join a welcoming community that is inclusive and values the contributions and perspectives of individuals from all backgrounds.


This Acquisitions Editor will be an experienced publishing professional responsible for the selection, review, and publication of excellent books within that editor’s field of interest, and also may take responsibility for special programs or projects of the Acquisitions Department. They report to the Editorial Director. 


Specific Duties & Responsibilities

  • Is the Press’s content expert within their field and endeavors to be a resource for authors, scholars, and students.
  • Supports the Press’s objective of publishing books that will reflect high intellectual quality and realistic profitability, as well as helping inform the Press’s evolution within the industry.
  • Represents the needs of readers and authors within the field, as they build a coherent list of titles for a range of readers across professional, classroom, and general readerships.
  • Performs periodic data-driven competitive analyses of their field.
  • Commissions and develops works of significant interest to the Press, rather than just reactively acquiring books.
  • Establishes and tends key series in the field and works with series editors to extend the Press’s reach into new subfields.
  • In consultation with the Editorial Director, negotiates contracts with authors, agents, translators, foreign rights agents, developmental editors, and illustrators to produce the best possible book projects.
  • Takes the initiative to seek out grant funding for projects, establish relationships with scholarly associations, and launch new initiatives in consultation with the Editorial Director.
  • Works collaboratively with staff in Manuscript Editing, Design and Production, Marketing, and Finance to ensure that books are published to the highest appropriate standards.
  • Participates in professional communities associated with the editor’s field, in the university community of Johns Hopkins, and among the community of scholarly publishers.
  • Mentors other editors, acquisitions assistants, interns, and student workers as appropriate.
  • Is supported by an Acquisitions Assistant.
  • Represents the Press at academic meetings and book exhibits.
  • Incorporates diversity, equity, inclusion and access principles into all aspects of the work.


*The starting salary range for this position is $73,300 to $100,800. Actual salary is based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level.



Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree required.
  • Five (5) years of related publishing experience required.
  • Additional education may substitute for experience in accordance with the JHU equivalency formula.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience acquiring trade, professional, and scholarly books for publication and building book lists of national reputation.
  • Outstanding research, writing, speaking, and presentation skills. Exceptional editorial, business, and negotiation skills. Knowledge of publishing arrangements, contracts, peer review, and copyright. The position requires deep engagement with academic and medical communities and a sophisticated and lively involvement with current research agendas and literature in the fields acquired, along with the ability to forge strong and positive relationships with prospective and current authors and series editors in those fields.
  • Extensive communication and collaboration are required with academics, authors, series editors, press colleagues, and other stakeholders. Deals with confidential information and/or issues (including peer reviews and publishing agreements) using discretion and judgment.
  • Further, an Acquisitions Editor has a consistent pattern of signing excellent books (demonstrated by reviews, awards, sales records, and other measures) and building a list of national renown.

 

 

Classified Title: Acquisitions Editor 
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE  
Starting Salary Range: $73,300 - $100,800 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Remote Optional 
Department name: Books Acquisitions 
Personnel area: Academic and Business Centers 

 

 

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
Remote Optional

Apply now »