Wesleyan University Press Poetry Series Fellowship

Wesleyan Assurance Society • Middletown, CT

23h • $19 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

The Wesleyan University Press Poetry Series Fellowship is a one-year, full-time post-baccalaureate position based at Wesleyan University Press. The fellow works closely with the Press Director and authors in the Wesleyan Poetry Series and contributes to all aspects of the series, including editorial evaluation, acquisitions support, production, and marketing initiatives. The position offers experience in literary publishing and an opportunity to work with distinguished poets, agents, and industry partners, including literary arts organizations and book review media. Consideration for this role is limited to a graduating Wesleyan Student or Wesleyan Alum. This is a term limited position starting approximately July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2027. The position is scheduled to work 37.5 hours per week when scheduled to work. This position is required to work on campus. (Relocation assistance to CT is available for those who qualify).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated strong writing, editing, and critical reading skills, particularly with complex and creative texts.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze written materials and communicate insights clearly in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities with strong attention to detail and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement and initiative within established process.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with authors, readers, and publishing partners.
• Demonstrated ability to support or contribute to events, projects or programs including coordinating details and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to learn editorial and submission management systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact collegially with individuals of different backgrounds.
• Ability to work some evening and weekend hours.

Nice To Haves

• Previous editorial, publishing, literary arts, or related academic settings (coursework, internship, or student publications acceptable).
• Experience reviewing or providing feedback on written work in an academic, editorial, or workshop setting.
• Familiarity with contemporary poetry or literary publishing.
• Experience contributing to student led events, literary programming, or campus based initiatives.
• Experience contributing to digital content or promotional efforts (e.g., social media, newsletters, literary magazines).
• Demonstrated interest in literary publishing, arts administration, or cultural programming.
• Experience working with or coordinating among multiple contributors (e.g., group projects, student orgs, publications).
• Leadership experience or demonstrated initiative in academic, extracurricular, or early professional contexts.

Responsibilities

• Submissions Management: The fellow will oversee all incoming submissions to the Wesleyan University Press poetry program, including those received through Submittable and those submitted directly to the Press. They will manage the editorial pipeline, including maintaining submission records to ensure an efficient and consistent review process.
• Manuscript Review and Reporting: The fellow will read and evaluate higher-level submissions that advance through the review process, preparing analytical reports and assessments that contribute to editorial decision-making.
• Reader Coordination: The fellow will research, identify, and engage appropriate external readers for submissions, manage outreach and correspondence with readers, and monitor the progress of external reviews to support timely completion. They will maintain strong working relationships with readers and follow up as needed to keep the review process on track.
• Editorial Board Support: The fellow will prepare editorial board dockets and supporting materials for editorial board review, synthesizing submission information, reader reports, and assessments to facilitate board discussions and decisions.
• Collaborating with Press Staff: The fellow will work closely with Wesleyan University Press staff, including those based off campus at Hopkins Fulfillment Services (HFS) and Barbara Williams & Associates (BWA,) to contribute to ongoing workflow and operations of the poetry program. The fellow will attend staff meetings and contribute to discussions around marketing and publicity plans for poetry titles and will contribute to the development and execution of social media campaigns to promote new and forthcoming poetry publications.
• Other related professional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.
• Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees