UW Press Acquisitions Specialist – Editorial Assistant
UW CODE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP
23516 (NE S 5 SEIU 925 Libraries Non Supv)
CLASS SERIES CONCEPT
Within University of Washington Press (UW Press), work with authors to acquire book-length manuscripts for publication.
BASIC FUNCTION
Provide 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.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Reporting to the Editorial Director in UW Press Acquisitions, assist the editorial director and 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 UW Press standards for publication.
TYPICAL WORK
Assist editorial director and other acquisitions editors with evaluation of book manuscripts;
Assist editors in assessing projects’ suitability for publication, 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; and
Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of experience in publishing or related field
OR
Equivalent combination of education and experience.
CLASS SERVICE EXEMPTION
Public Information.
CLASSIFICATION HISTORY
- New to SEIU 925 02-01-2022 per PERC Case No. 133181-E-20.
- Prior to 02-01-2023, this work in University Press was in professional staff job code 19735, Public Information Specialist (NE S 5).