[ENSEMBLE] is a new kind of book business, both new-to-market (launching in Q1 2025) and changing the way great books are published and sold, backed by individual investors with unparalleled accomplishments in finance and international publishing. We are looking for a Managing Editor, who will be charged with a range of operational responsibilities, including taking a finished manuscript and bringing it to the stage of finished product (hardcover, paperback, e-book) and managing the ecommerce site, ensuring that our own books are launched and ready to sell. This is a rare and fascinating opportunity to be a part of a lean, high-performing, collaborative team that will get well-written books into the lives of more people by realizing a strategy and using tools well beyond the limits of the traditional publishing and book-retail industries.
A strong candidate will have 3+ years of experience in a similar role. This person doesn’t have to have startup experience, but they should have an entrepreneurial mindset, where they enjoy learning and solving problems. Because this is a hybrid role that works not only on the publishing side but also on the retail/ecommerce side of this company (involving inventory and digital assets), we expect that the person in this role will have to learn some of the responsibilities with which they are charged. You should also enjoy reading and be excited about the mission of helping to build a business that will create more scale and opportunities for high-quality books.
Ensemble does not discriminate against candidates or employees because of their sex, race, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, veteran status or any other protected status under the law. We encourage applications from women and minorities.
Responsibilities:
• Own the full process and related relationships needed to bring a book from finished manuscripts to final sellable product (ebook, hardcover, paperback in various formats), including but not limited to ensuring timely proofreading and copy editing, book layout and design, production of advanced reader copies, production of sellable inventory and deliver to fulfillment center
• Build books and other products into CMS (content management system) in order to sell them on our ecommerce site, ensuring full and properly formatted writing of copy, backend tagging, and photography of products
• Manage inventory, including reporting on sales and current inventory levels to the rest of the team
• Communicate with the fulfillment center and customer service about delivery of goods and any other status updates needed in order to maintain smooth sales
• Work with marketing team and designer to ensure that features and promotions on the website are planned, that necessary design assets are created, and that banners and copy are uploaded and removed to the CMS per the marketing calendar
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in publishing, with at least 2 years as a managing editor at a publishing house
• Significant experience collaborating with team members and freelancers
• A demonstrated attention to detail and very strong copy editing and proofreading skills, as well as ability to collaborate on development of a stylebook
• Proven ability to hit deadlines and balance multiple tasks at once. Must have experience working in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment