Acquisitions Editor - Business Discipline

Sage • Washington, DC

21d • $90,000 - $105,000 • Remote

About The Position

As Acquisitions Editor for Business and Management, you are responsible for strategically filling the pipeline with new content as well as expertly managing your list of active titles within the Business and Management field. This role plays a crucial role in acquiring, developing, and launching new product for the Business and Management curriculum within Sage US College. You will be responsible for signing new authors for textbook projects as well as succession planning, recruiting coauthors, and ensuring existing projects are revised on optimal schedules. As the market expert, you will demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the Business discipline, Business course market dynamics, Business instructor profiles, the Business competitive landscape, Business curriculum, and Business trends to chart a vision and strategy for your portfolio.
In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with product management, content development, marketing communications, sales, sales enablement, and other departments within US College. You act as an ambassador for Sage externally, working closely and frequently with authors and customers through a variety of mediums (phone, email, videoconference, in person). You will present at the biannual sales meetings on your list’s new products as well as travel to academic conferences and campuses to learn about the trends in your subject area and network with potential authors and contributors. You will also provide leadership at the field level, bringing alignment and clarity to our highly collaborative, cross-functional work. You will focus on meeting key performance indicators (benchmarks) related to acquiring, developing, and launching new products for your fields. You will also manage lists and maintain efficient revision schedules.
You embrace technology, systems, and digital content. You have a growth mindset and can iterate, adapt, and thrive through change. You are sales-driven and commercially minded.
This position is fully remote. US candidates are eligible to apply.

Requirements

• At least 3-4 years of book acquisition, content development, marketing, and/or sales experience, preferably in higher education textbook publishing.
• Some prior experience working in the Business discipline.
• Prior experience delivering presentations in person and virtually.

Nice To Haves

• Travel of approximately 20 days per year, with travel on college campuses, attending conferences and participating in sales meetings encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Be the expert on the Business discipline, demonstrating a deep understanding of external customers, including both instructors and students.
• Develop a nuanced understanding of who they are, how they make decisions, and the academic, professional, and institutional drivers that influence their adoption and purchasing criteria.
• Actively engage with Business faculty through campus visits, conference attendance, and customer engagement activities both in-person and virtually to stay closely connected to evolving Business market needs.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge of the competitive landscape in Business, analyzing competitive offerings with a focus on author profiles, topical coverage, pedagogical approach, technological requirements, and Business instructor resource expectations.
• Monitor how competitors are innovating in Business education, from pedagogy and authorship to competing courseware platforms and nontraditional publishing models.
• Demonstrate deep expertise in Business curricula across all assigned course markets, understanding course-specific dynamics, including instructor profiles, market segments, instructor pain points, student challenges, course objectives, adoption decision dynamics, content and pedagogical needs, and alignment with accreditation standards.
• Apply this knowledge to shape the products you sign, revise, develop, and publish to reflect evolving Business market trends.
• Address issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as appropriate.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with top Business professors with strong academic, professional, and industry credentials.
• Define ideal author profiles for new signings.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with potential and existing authors, providing guidance on Business education trends, challenges, and changes.
• Manage conflict, negotiate contract terms, and navigate difficult and complex conversations with authors.
• Pursue new Business signings based on priority signing areas.
• Proactively recruit high-potential authors and develop compelling, market-aligned proposals.
• Draft clear, persuasive contract proposals and present projects to the Publishing Committee, demonstrating how new projects align with overall list strategy.
• Collaborate with product team members to guide high-level development and provide key stakeholders with regular updates at retrospective meetings.
• Demonstrate a strategic, data-informed approach to managing the Business portfolio.
• Plan and arrange revisions, optimize publishing schedules, and manage internal resources efficiently.
• Maintain a comprehensive, long-term view of the entire list to ensure optimal cycling, profitability, and product differentiation.
• Lead and design market research in Business, including surveys, review questionnaires, focus groups, and 1x1 interviews.
• Validate market readiness, uncover unmet needs, and test marketing messages.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making.
• Use AI tools to enhance your effectiveness.
• Partner with product team members to apply research findings to projects.
• Partner with content development team members to ensure product is aligned to Business market expectations.
• Help set project direction, resolve schedule issues, refine unique value propositions, and shape digital resources and courseware plans to be competitive in Business.
• Partner with product specialists and go-to-market specialists to successfully launch new Business titles.
• Help guide pre-selling plans, activities, and sales tools.
• Plan and deliver compelling product presentations at national sales meetings.
• Effectively demo product and courseware functionality in live and virtual settings.
• Provide product and course market information for all titles promoted via marketing communication activities.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the higher education publishing industry in Business, including its key functional areas – editorial, production, sales, sales enablement, and product management.
• Serve as an ambassador of Sage by articulating the Sage story in Business alongside Sage’s strategy, mission, and values.

Benefits

• Highly competitive and comprehensive PPO medical, dental, and vision care benefits package with SAGE covering most of the premium costs.
• Unique program benefits that support a healthy life.
• Company-sponsored anniversary trip every 5 years.
• 401(k)-matching program of 100% up to 5% of pay.
• Other significant meaningful benefits.
• Financial support for bachelor's and graduate-level degree programs.
• Financial support for learning for personal interest.
• Freedom and autonomy in day-to-day work.
• Hybrid or remote work, depending on the role.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed