Talent Director

Who We Are:

Kevin Anderson & Associates (KAA) is a fast-growing and industry-leading editorial services company that specializes in book-writing, ghostwriting, editing, cultural accuracy reading, and publishing consultation. We occupy a unique role in the publishing industry, bringing together authors, publishers, agents, marketers, publicists, designers, and other industry professionals in the unified goal of producing a successful and powerful book. Our dynamic staff of former Big-5 editors, New York Times bestselling authors, ghostwriters, publishing insiders, and editors has been developing manuscripts for nearly 15 years. Our services are customized to the needs of each client and have produced numerous bestselling books.

Who You Are:

Join our talented team and work alongside some of the publishing industry’s most exciting and influential figures. Flexible hours, the ability to work from home, and working with leading authors, agents, editors, and publishers are just a few of the many perks of this position.

We are looking for a well-connected, dedicated talent director who is self-sufficient, performs well in a busy environment, and works from home efficiently and effectively. This position is responsible for (a) managing and facilitating the author-pairing process between our clients, authors, agents, and publishers; (b) managing and nurturing our firm’s relationship with our contract writers; (c) networking with authors and agents and maintaining industry relationships; (d) liaising with current writers to understand and address various issues; and (e) talent recruitment in a range of genres.

The Talent Director will also be responsible for fostering our virtual freelancer community and building camaraderie among KAA-affiliated writers and hosting various virtual (and in-person, when possible) gatherings among KAA writers and editors.

We work with clients who are high-profile, high-net-worth, and/or innovators in their respective industries and professions. It is very important that the candidate feels comfortable working with such clients and is able to do so with the utmost professionalism.

What You'll Do:

• Identify, source, and match collaborators for various book-writing assignments.
• Coordinate writer selection and interview process with sales team, project managers, clients, and freelance writer.
• Sustain and grow relationships with literary agents and other writing agencies/associations to optimize KAA’s connections to viable talent.
• Create and distribute KAA’s monthly newsletter to the freelance writers and editors.
• Plan and host KAA’s freelance town hall and other social events.
• Strengthen KAA’s relationship with its freelance writers and editors through social channels, one-on-one conversations, organizing virtual and in-person events, and periodic newsletters and town halls.
• Manage and build KAA’s talent pool via our freelance management network.
• Target, recruit, and interview experienced freelance writers and editors, as well as identify and strengthen our talent pool by reaching out to writing programs and conferences.
• Cultivate industry relationships and assess other positional needs within KAA to ensure the firm has access to the best talent in the industry.

What You Bring:

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Must have 5 years’ experience in a relevant role at a literary agency (ideally) or publisher
• Strong understanding and awareness of the general publishing marketplace and relevant market segments within the publishing industry
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong industry connections among literary agents and writers
• A quiet place to work where audio and video calls can be attended without background noise or interruptions, as this is a remote position
• Ideally located within the Greater NYC Area, though we will seriously consider any highly qualified clients

Skills and Competencies

• Self-motivated, hands-on, and creative problem solver
• Persuasive and goal-oriented
• Committed and conscientious colleague who follows through and enjoys a busy work environment
• Strong networking and social skills
• Work effectively both independently and with a team
• Excellent conversation and presentation skills, with an ability to quickly establish rapport and react effectively in dynamic, fluid, customer-facing situations

What We Offer:

Benefits 

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k 

Please note, a cover letter must be submitted with your resume in order to be considered for this role.

Effective 09/17/2023 NYC passed a Pay Transparency Law which requires NYC based hiring to include a compensation range on each job posting. This compensation range is presented in good faith for candidates that are hired in these roles will be presented a salary within the range stated on the job posting. 

Salary Range: $65,000-$85,000

KAA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of gender, sex, race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, military service, or other non-merit factor.