Teacher Created Materials is a 40+ year old, award-winning educational publishing company.  Come join our team!  Teacher Created Materials offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off plus Company Holidays
• Generous 401(K) program with Match
• Generous Childcare and Wellness Programs
• Flexible work schedules
• Plus more!

Position Summary:

The Acquisitions Editor Trade role is responsible for identifying and acquiring manuscripts for children and youth for the Free Spirit Publishing and Shell Education imprints of Teacher Created Materials that fulfill the mission and goals defined by the Free Spirit Publishing model and that meet stringent quality standards and are commercially successful. Position involves close collaboration with publisher and editorial, sales/marketing, and creative teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in planning, developing, and implementing a publishing strategy to ensure the overall success of Free Spirit Publishing and Shell Education
• Network and source qualified authors, agents, and contacts for acquisitions.
• Monitor industry trends and issues and share them with editorial and sales/marketing.
• Conceptualize new product lines, research new subject matters, conduct ongoing competition analysis, and source acquisitions related to company mission and goals.
• Collaborate in the management of the acquisitions process, including review of unsolicited manuscripts and author solicitations, and the criteria for evaluating them.
• Work with new and existing authors to develop book and series proposals.
• In coordination with Publisher, assess potential value of projects and prepare proposals for review by editorial team and owners.
• Coordinate feasibility process for new projects, including market research and analysis, suggestions for product makeup, target market audience, P&L projections, and other input as required to make the publishing decision.
• Make initial offer on approved projects, and support preparation of author contracts and negotiation of contracts to completion.
• Upon signing of contract, coordinate organized hand-off to editor.
• Complete developmental edits of contracted titles, as needed.
• In coordination with Publisher, ensure timely management of product lifecycles including revisions, updates, ancillary products, new formats, and discontinuation.
• Represent Free Spirit and Teacher Created Materials at industry conferences and events.
• Other duties may be assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in trade acquisitions, development, or editing.
• Bachelor’s Degree in English, education, or related field. Master’s Degree and/or teaching or writing experience a plus.
• Knowledge of publishing industry policies and practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to clearly and concisely communicate and effectively express concepts.
• Experience working collaboratively with authors and providing constructive feedback.
• Commitment to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in youth literature.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal with a variety of personalities in a professional and service-driven manner.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to guide numerous ongoing projects simultaneously.
• Travel required.
• Passion for children’s books desired!

Physical Requirements:

• Sit for extended periods of time; including at a computer.
• Occasional lifting up to 15 lbs.
• Repetitive hand and wrist movements for frequent use of computer keyboard and mouse.

Work Conditions:

• General office environment.

Teacher Created Materials is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.