Acquisitions Editor

Sage • Washington, DC

5d • $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 recruiting coauthors, and ensuring existing projects are regularly revised on optimal schedules. As the market expert, you will demonstrate your knowledge of the subject area, course market dynamics, the competitive landscape, curriculum, and subject area trends to chart a vision and strategy for your field.
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.
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.
• Prior experience delivering presentations in person and virtually.

Responsibilities

• Market intelligence—be the expert on our external customers, both instructors and students. Know who are they, how they make decisions, and understand their key adoption/purchasing criteria. Interact with customers as much as possible—on campus, at conference/customer engagement events, both in-person and virtually.
• The competitive landscape—understand the competition in each course market you oversee, including content/coverage requirements, technology use, instructor resource expectations. Stay on top of who’s innovating and how, from pedagogy and authorship to competing courseware platforms and nontraditional publishers.
• Curriculum expertise—understand each course market’s needs when it comes to content/coverage, pedagogy, instructional design, learning outcomes, professional standards/accreditation, and use of technology and translate this knowledge into the products you sign, revise, develop, and publish to reflect evolving market trends. Understand how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) needs to be included in each course market.
• Author management—understand ideal author profiles for new signings; develop and maintain relationships with potential and existing authors; establish guidelines for working with authors, educating them on industry trends, challenges, and changes. Manage conflict, negotiate contract terms, and be able to navigate difficult conversations with authors.
• New acquisitions —focused on priority signing targets, recruit author talent, develop quality proposals, draft clear and persuasive contract proposals, present new projects to the Publishing Committee, negotiate contract terms, and provide updates to key collaborators in Publishing Decision discussions for select key first editions.
• List management—arrange revisions, strategically set schedules, drive efficiencies, provide author care, and take a comprehensive view of the entire list to ensure optimal cycling, profitability, and product differentiation.
• Market research—design surveys, reviews, focus groups, and 1x1 interviews in key markets to vet the accuracy and depth of content and determine projects unique valuable proposition. Collaborate with the content development team and freelancers to set strategy on market research across products and platforms; analyze feedback and data from dashboards and reports to inform decision-making.
• Marketing communication—provide product and content information for titles promoted via marketing communication activities.
• Content development—work closely with content development editors to resolve schedules, establish development achievements, hone unique value propositions, and agree upon digital resources and courseware content needs.
• New product launches—work closely with product specialists and go-to-market specialists to launch key frontlist titles. Present product information in-person and virtual at national sales meetings.
• Thought leader—demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the higher ed publishing industry and its key functional areas – editorial, production, marketing, sales, and product management. Articulate Sage’s strategy, mission, and values.

Benefits

• PPO medical, dental, and vision care benefits package with SAGE covering most of the premium costs.
• Company-sponsored anniversary trip every 5 years.
• 401(k)-matching program of 100% up to 5% of pay.
• Financial support for bachelor's and graduate-level degree programs.
• Learning for personal interest.
• Hybrid or remote work.

What This Job Offers

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