Columbia Global Reports

Position Summay:
The Publisher of Columbia Global Reports (CGR) is in charge of the business side of a small, high-quality, high-impact journalistic book publishing company at Columbia University. The Publisher oversees all aspects of the design, production, distribution, publicity, marketing, and sales of our books, and has supervisory authority over the budget. We are a small house where everyone works together closely on all decisions, including editorial ones, which come under the direct authority of our director.

The Publisher has a multi-faceted role overseeing the many steps from manuscript to a published book, including negotiating author contracts, setting a publication schedule, making sure deadlines are met, and executing a strategy for publicity and promotion at publication.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain CGR’s high standards for editorial, design and promotion, both in-house and among our production and design teams.

• Handle all revenue-producing decisions, including book pricing, negotiating terms with authors and working closely with our rights agency on audiobook and foreign rights sales, among others.

• Oversee, along with the Director, the budget and economic strategy for CGR. The Publisher also tracks royalties and issues royalty statements yearly.

• Work closely with CGR’s distributor, PGW/Ingram, to maximize sales, minimize returns, manage inventory and distribution. The Publisher presents the CGR list at seasonal sales conferences.

• Arrange author events and publicity for each title, including book reviews, excerpts, media appearances, and journalistic coverage.

• Oversee and work closely with our various partners and freelancers, including our designers, production team, audiobook publisher, and freelance publicists when involved.

• Attend bookselling conferences, such as Winter Institute and regional shows. Meet regularly with independent booksellers around the country to build relationships.

• Contribute to the achievement of annual revenue goals through strategic donor cultivation and engagement in partnership with CGR’s development team.

• Work with CGR’s Development Director and Columbia University alumni/development to manage board and donor relationships. Act as a thought partner in designing and executing proposals, reports, and fundraising events, and accompany Development Director on prospect and donor visits when applicable to strengthen the case for support.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 7-9 years of related experience.
• Must be a team leader and a team player in working with a small, but dedicated staff.
• Must have extensive publishing experience and contacts.
• Confidentiality and discretion are required.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree desirable; with 10+ years of related experience.

 

Salary Range: $140,000 - $160,000 annually

Columbia Global Reports is a nonprofit publishing imprint within the Columbia Journalism School that commissions authors to produce short works of original thinking and on-site reporting from all over the world, on a wide range of topics.

CGR was founded in 2015 by Columbia University president emeritus Lee C. Bollinger, and dean emeritus of Columbia Journalism School Nicholas Lemann, who continues as CGR’s Director, with a mission to increase coverage of important, globally-focused stories often neglected by under-funded and under-staffed newsrooms.