Senior Editor, Publications

SFMOMA•San Francisco, CA

149d•$90,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is seeking a Senior Editor, Publications to oversee and implement the planning, editing, and production of Museum publications. This role is crucial for ensuring high standards across various materials, including exhibition catalogues, permanent collection books, and digital publications. The Senior Editor will work closely with curators to conceptualize projects, manage their production, and coordinate with internal and external teams. Key milestones in the first year include understanding projects and procedures, contributing to project volume and scale, and independently managing multiple projects while refining workflows and mentoring staff.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or related subject, with major course work in art history (including twentieth-century art) desirable.
Minimum of seven (7) years of related experience, with at least five years editing and managing the production of complex illustrated books, or equivalent combination of training and experience.
Previous copyediting, proofreading, and publications-specific project management experience required.
Demonstrated history of bringing complex projects to successful completion.
Strong organizational, editorial, and production skills.
Experience with an emphasis in attention to detail, editorial consistency, and accuracy in factual information, spelling, and grammar.
Working knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style.
Familiarity with twentieth-century art history and art terminology.
Proven competence as a publishing project manager with ability to set priorities, maintain budgets, and meet stringent deadlines for multiple simultaneous projects.
Proven ability to deal effectively and tactfully with writers, Museum staff, freelancers, and vendors while undertaking a variety of simultaneous projects.
Understanding of design, pre-press and international manufacturing processes for illustrated books and experience soliciting and interpreting manufacturing estimates and negotiating terms.
Project management and leadership skills and the ability to create a positive and productive team environment.
Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of colleagues, collaborators, and vendors both inside and outside the organization.
Experience with color management, including imaging standards, color separation and image proofing for complex art book projects.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan and project-manage select book-length publications (both analog and digital) to successfully meet the Museum’s schedule, budget, quality, and content requirements.
Coordinate with curators, guest authors, graphic designers, production managers, editors, photographers, printers, and vendors; oversee the work of and ensure clear communication with contributors throughout the project.
Solicit bids and prepare contracts for freelance contributors.
Develop and maintain schedules. Develop detailed publication budgets, manage expenses, and maintain accurate records of all transactions.
Write promotional texts, distribution bid proposals, and assorted other materials necessary to secure and fulfill co-publishing/distribution agreements for titles in the Senior Editor’s purview.
Support Publications staff assigned to obtain reproductions and permissions for inclusion in museum publications, helping arrange photo shoots both on- and off-site, trafficking digital scans and transparencies, compiling related paperwork, and processing invoices for projects in the Senior Editor’s purview.
Check page proofs, bluelines (or digital equivalent), and jacket proofs for correctness and compliance with design, printing, and binding specifications, collaborating with Publications staff and trafficking these materials among other team members or outside partners as necessary, and obtaining approvals in a timely fashion.
On all of the above and a variety of other projects, edit for readability and style, write and rewrite as necessary, help maintain the Museum’s standards of for content, editing, design, and print-production quality.
Supervise the work of any Publications staff assigned to the Senior Editor’s projects.