Executive Editor, History

Oxford University Press•New York, NY

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Oxford University Press is seeking an exceptional Executive Editor to lead the growth of its acclaimed trade and academic history publishing program. This position offers a rare opportunity to drive strategy for OUP’s list, identify and develop books that influence public conversations, earn critical recognition, and reach readers around the world. Working with established historians, emerging scholars, leading public intellectuals, journalists, and literary agents, you will acquire 20-25 books per year and publish ambitious, market-aware books that combine intellectual rigor with broad appeal. Along the way, you will work in collaboration with a high performance team across Editorial and in the wider business, including Marketing, Publicity, Sales, Design, and Rights & Translations. As part of OUP's award-winning publishing team, you will play a central role in shaping the future of history publishing while advancing the Press's mission to bring exceptional ideas to the widest possible audience.

Requirements

Passionate about the importance of serious trade non-fiction and its capacity to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, and reveal how the past continues to shape the present.
Record of acquiring standout books that have earned critical acclaim and delivered strong commercial results.
Experience leading individuals or teams.
Experience mentoring colleagues.
Experience building the next generation of editorial talent.
Experience guiding projects from acquisition to publication.
Experience shaping manuscripts while keeping projects on schedule.
Compelling communicator, equally comfortable pitching ideas, building relationships, and presenting with confidence to colleagues, authors, and external partners.
Value airtight data infrastructure and tools that enable smarter decisions.
Energized by the evolving serious non-fiction landscape and curious about the trends, audiences, platforms, and ideas shaping its future.

Nice To Haves

Built a vibrant network of authors, agents, academics, and thought leaders.

Responsibilities

Acquire 20-25 books per year.
Publish ambitious, market-aware books that combine intellectual rigor with broad appeal.
Work in collaboration with a high-performance team across Editorial and in the wider business, including Marketing, Publicity, Sales, Design, and Rights & Translations.
Play a central role in shaping the future of history publishing.
Advance the Press's mission to bring exceptional ideas to the widest possible audience.
Acquire standout books that have earned critical acclaim and delivered strong commercial results.
Take ownership of your publishing program, combining ambition and sound judgment to deliver outstanding editorial and commercial results.
Turn relationships into books that resonate with readers.
Lead individuals or teams and mentor colleagues.
Build the next generation of editorial talent.
Guide projects from acquisition to publication.
Shape manuscripts while keeping your projects on schedule.
Pitch ideas, build relationships, and present with confidence to colleagues, authors, and external partners.

Benefits

15 days’ vacation time that rises with service
10 sick days
Floating holidays
Personal days
Volunteering days
Company holidays
35-hour working week
Active employee networks and societies
Health insurance plans for full-time employees
Dental insurance plans for full-time employees
Vision insurance plans for full-time employees
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Non-elective contribution of 7% of salary to retirement plan
Matching contribution to retirement plan of 50% on the first 6% of employee contributions on based earnings