Senior Director, ALA Publishing & Media

ALA Brand • Chicago, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The American Library Association (ALA) seeks an innovative and strategic leader to serve as Senior Director, ALA Publishing & Media. This pivotal role provides strategic direction for ALA’s Publishing & Media department while leading the transformation into an integrated, centralized publishing model that will strengthen ALA’s position as the trusted publishing voice for the library profession. The Senior Director will ensure timely and relevant content is delivered to the library community across multiple platforms and formats, managing approximately $9M in annual revenue. This position also directly manages the advertising, marketing, production, and fulfillment functions of Booklist Publications to promote ALA expertise in readers’ advisory and collection development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; preferred areas include liberal arts, journalism, business, or library science
• Minimum 10-12 years of progressively responsible experience in publishing or media management
• At least 7 years of magazine or digital publishing management experience, preferably in the library, education, or association market
• Demonstrated track record of success in editorial oversight, advertising sales, new product development, and managing staff in a deadline-driven environment
• Minimum 5-7 years of staff supervision experience, including managing managers
• Proven experience developing and managing budgets of $5M+ with accountability for both revenue generation and expense control
• Ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable operational plans while balancing short-term execution with long-term transformation
• Systems thinking to identify structural constraints and design solutions that enable rather than constrain
• Strong change management skills with ability to communicate transparently about direction, priorities, and tradeoffs
• Deep knowledge of publishing best practices, especially digital approaches and content lifecycle management
• Understanding of current and emerging trends in library science, readers’ advisory, and collection development
• Expertise in balancing print and digital products to maximize revenue, control costs, and meet audience needs where they consume content
• Proven ability to develop realistic budgets, accurate revenue projections, and cost-control strategies
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to build trust through transparent communication.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for working effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Strong presentation skills for reporting to executive leadership, boards, and member committees

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), journalism, business, or related field
• Experience leading organizational transformation or centralization initiatives in publishing or media organizations
• Background in both print and digital publishing with expertise in content strategy and lifecycle management
• Experience implementing shared services models or enterprise-wide systems in decentralized organizations
• Knowledge of the library field, including current challenges, priorities, and environmental factors
• Familiarity with modern content management systems, digital analytics platforms, and audience intelligence tools
• Previous work in association or nonprofit publishing environments

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Transformation Lead the implementation of ALA’s centralized publishing business model focusing on enterprise content strategy, integrated digital infrastructure, and shared administrative services.
• Develop, implement, and measure the department’s strategic plan to keep ALA products aligned with evolving content and delivery needs of the library industry.
• Design and implement shared capabilities that enable publishing units to operate more effectively as a connected team while preserving editorial independence and subject-matter expertise.
• Champion change management initiatives to strengthen cross-divisional collaboration.
• Lead 10 direct reports and a total team of approximately 30 through organizational transition, providing clarity around priorities and roles.
• Publishing Operations & Product Development Based on active market research, oversee conception and development of new products and sunset existing products to meet the expressed needs of advertisers and customers.
• Oversee editorial quality and development of print and digital media and content for all unit publications, ensuring content meets the needs of core audiences consuming content in multiple formats.
• Maximize product, subscription, and advertising revenue by ensuring ALA publishing products remain relevant, timely, and keep pace with industry trends.
• Champion investment in integrated digital and data infrastructure, including shared content management systems, analytics dashboards, and audience insight capabilities.
• Financial & Operational Management Develop and manage the Publishing & Media department’s annual budget of approximately $9M in revenue.
• Deliver realistic, accurate projections and estimates based on research and history while seeking cost efficiencies and controlling costs.
• Negotiate contracts and licensing terms with vendors, advertisers, and content providers.
• Provide regular financial reports to ALA management and member leader committees including the ALA Publishing Committee.

Benefits

• flexible work schedules
• medical and dental coverage
• generous paid vacation
• retirement annuity
• a 35-hour work week
• Employees may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director