Job: Publishing Project Manager | Mattering Press

Mattering Press is a small scholarly press that publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed open-access books within relational research on science, technology and society. We work with a production model based on cooperation and shared scholarship, while ensuring the high quality of the resulting work through systematic peer review.

As an open access publisher, we are dedicated to make empirically grounded monographs and edited collections widely and freely available. At the same time, we are committed to producing books that can travel as physical entities. All Mattering books are therefore available freely as ebooks and as printed books to purchase. 

The press was founded in 2012 and established as a UK registered charity in 2013. We are founding members of ScholarLed, an association of scholar-led presses, and are involved in the Open Book Collective, as well as supporting projects and initiatives such as Thoth Open Metadata and the Copim Open Book Futures project. 

As a small scholar-led press we are looking for a publishing professional who can help us to consolidate our ways of working, from the practicalities of book ordering and distribution, to the promotion of our titles, to broader strategic and business decisions.

About the team 

We are a small, global team of scholars and editors interested in alternative forms of publishing and thinking about writing. Currently, all the Press’ editors work on a volunteer basis in a non-hierarchical structure to deliver the editorial functions of the Press. In part, as a result of new income streams being delivered via our collaboration with the Open Book Collective, we are now looking to bring a paid Publishing Project Manager to join the team. 

Job purpose

The Publishing Project Manager will be responsible for setting up processes for the management of book production cycles, from the point of proposal through to delivery, ensuring that authors receive high-quality support on time and within budget. As well as bringing professional experience of book production, they will contribute strategic thought to the direction and future of the Press. The Publishing Project Manager will also contribute to other work within the press, as required. 

• Hours: Part time (1 day a week; 0.2FTE), flexible working pattern
• Start date: Flexible
• Duration: For an initial term of 1 year, with the possibility of extension 
• Salary: £32,000 per annum (£6,400 pro rata)
• Location: Remote; based within timezone compatible with regular UK/EU meetings

Key responsibilities 

Acting as Press’ ‘front door’ contact point and manager 

• Responding to enquiries from authors, customers, partners
• Processing book orders
• Managing requests for review copies of books 

Project management 

• Contributing to developing and updating the Press’ project management processes
• Working with partners on book production, metadata management and archiving 
• Acting a liaison point between point editors and authors 

Business development 

• Maintaining an overview of budgets (inc. book pricing and other revenue flows) 

Promotion

• Contributing to digital promotion of the Press’ work, especially via social media

Other ad hoc tasks, as required

Selection criteria 

Essential

• An interest in scholarly publishing and/or Open Access
• Experience in project management
• Good verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to manage multiple ongoing projects simultaneously 
• Confidence in digital promotion 
• Ability to learn how to use a range of publishing tools
• Experience in using spreadsheets 

Desirable

• Experience in publishing project management
• Experience in academic publishing 
• Experience in digital promotion
• Experience in open-access advocacy/work
• Experience managing budgets/finances

Application process

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining how you meet the selection criteria to editors@matteringpress.org by 5pm CET on 17th February. We expect interviews to take place in March. Please use the same address for any questions you might have in advance of application.