Acquisitions Editor

Publishing House of the Evangelical Lutheran Churc•Minneapolis, MN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Broadleaf Books is an imprint of Augsburg Fortress Publishers, and a home for timely and substantive books at the intersection between religion and culture. We are the publisher of award-winning nonfiction, including the Religion News Association’s top two books of 2026. If you have a passion for books that foster a more open, just, and compassionate world, come join us! Augsburg Fortress Publishers (AFP) is a multimedia publishing ministry of the ELCA, composed of five imprints: Augsburg Fortress, Sparkhouse, Fortress Press, Beaming Books, and Broadleaf Books. We publish resources that support Christian worship, faith formation, spiritual growth, and academic study, and professional development. AFP strives to create an environment of inclusiveness, equity, and respect for all regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, nation of origin, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Individuals who are committed to contributing meaningfully to diversity and inclusion in publishing are encouraged to apply. The Acquisitions Editor for the Broadleaf Books editorial department is responsible for acquiring 12-15 adult trade nonfiction book manuscripts annually in areas that include but are not limited to spirituality, religion, politics, culture, and personal growth, intended for a broad, general-interest readership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
2–3 years of experience in adult trade acquisitions
Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate and build positive, productive relationships with authors, agents, and internal staff
Excellent editorial skills and judgement, and ability to identify books that will meet financial targets
Demonstrated experience in spirituality and religious publishing, with strong awareness of trends in adult nonfiction trade publishing
Ability to manage multiple tasks, set priorities and work independently while maintaining a steady pipeline of projects
Ability to negotiate with authors, agents, and internal staff
Excellent analytical, critical thinking, project management, and problem resolution skills
Demonstrated track record of successful editorial acquisitions work
Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat)
Familiarity with basic financial statements and reporting
Experience using social media for networking and marketing purposes
Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, seeking continuous improvement

Nice To Haves

Master's or other advanced degree in the humanities or social sciences preferred

Responsibilities

Soliciting and evaluating proposals and manuscripts
Preparing supportive materials and presenting new proposals to internal teams and approval committee
Advising and guiding authors through substantive revisions
Developing and maintaining a broad and diverse network among authors and agents in their publishing categories
Staying abreast of publishing and market trends
Meeting established financial thresholds to be a collaborative team member in driving growth for the imprint
Preparing final manuscripts for production, drafting book metadata, and participating in staff meetings about list planning, production, and marketing