Acquisitions Editor

Position: Acquisitions Editor
Reports to: Acquisitions Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Company: New Harbinger Publications

About New Harbinger Publications (NHP):
Throughout our nearly fifty-year history, New Harbinger Publications has honed a reputation as the preeminent publisher of self-help mental health resources through books, and more recently, continuing education trainings, online courses, and innovative media. From the outset our aim has been to publish books that are accessible, substantive, evidence-based, and, above all, useful. Working for New Harbinger Publications, you will enjoy a positive working environment and a staff that thrives on teamwork, company values, and dedication. We are an employee-owned company and offer a generous benefits program.

At NHP, we believe:

• That people who live with mental illness are full and valued members of the human family, and that we must end the stigma against mental illness
• That health care and mental health care are human rights
• In science and proven-effective evidence-based treatments that help alleviate suffering and promote personal growth, joy, and well-being
• In the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment and of knowledge that deepens our sense of meaning, love, and compassion
• In the power of a healthy, diverse community
• In equal rights and equal treatment for:
• All genders
• All religious or spiritual traditions
• All ethnicities, cultures, and races
• LGBTQIA and gender queer communities
• All levels of mental and physical ability

• In equal pay for equal work among all genders and races
• In a commitment to truth, integrity, and avoiding harm to others
• In equal access to education, knowledge, and self-improvement, regardless of socioeconomic level
• In taking responsibility for our environmental impact—we are committed to a sustainable future

Position Summary: The New Harbinger Acquisitions Editor (AE) is responsible for identifying, acquiring, and developing approximately 15 books a year for New Harbinger and its imprints, including developing both new books and repurposed books using existing content. The AE is responsible for prospecting and developing a set quota of viable books that will succeed in our niche of evidence-based mental health. This involves constantly generating and actively pursuing new book ideas using in-house data and following developments and trends in related fields. The job involves skillfully crafting and presenting book pitches that display marketing savvy and knowledge of how the book fits in the marketplace. The Acquisitions Editor also serves as primary contact for the author. You’ll work directly with authors to contract, manage the schedule of, and, in tandem with the Editorial department, developmentally edit each book you acquire.

The ideal candidate is a creative, curious, and innovative thinker. You are highly skilled at writing and editing and have a deep interest in psychology with a boundless curiosity about the book publishing process. You are independently driven to complete tasks, but responsive to direction and guidance from supervisor and team. Your ability to maintain clear boundaries and professional, diplomatic communication allows you to support authors, agents, and New Harbinger Publications at every stage of the publication process. You have honed project and time management skills—you know how to move from idea to project on a schedule without analysis paralysis. You are confident in group settings, including in engaging with new authors and routinely proposing new books to your colleagues at New Harbinger Publications. In this role, you have the opportunity to shape the direction of the self-help publishing community and publications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Efficiently identify, acquire, and develop the required number of innovative and profitable new titles per year within the publisher’s niche
• Identify and pursue new authors and spot trends in the book industry, behavioral sciences, clinical psychology (including evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ACT, DBT, and mindfulness-based therapies), and general self-help
• Conduct ongoing research and review of market trends affecting self-help psychology, including displaying knowledge of competitive titles in our category
• Conceptualize repurposed book products based on existing titles by finding a fresh marketing hook for existing content, including selecting the topic and appropriate books, drafting a table of contents, selecting the content to be used, and writing brief sections of new content to tie the repurposed material together
• Routinely and skillfully pitch proposed titles to NHP’s Publication Committee
• Skillfully negotiate contracts with authors and agents
• Act as author liaison, balancing author requests with the publisher’s goals
• Work collaboratively with the Editorial department to develop content to match book concept
• Manage all relevant details of the book project from contract to publication, displaying ability to work on multiple projects at different stages of development
• Develop initial marketing copy for Sales and Marketing teams
• Cultivate collaborative and professional relationships with authors, agents, industry organizations, and NHP colleagues
• Travel to national conferences a few times a year (pandemic permitting) to network, conduct research, and prospect new authors
• Analyze and make inferences from data in various databases to determine new books to pursue
• Maintain an active wishlist of viable projects to pursue based on market research

Qualifications: The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to excel in this role.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum three years’ experience as an Acquisitions Editor in the nonfiction market or related role
• BA in English, Communications, Journalism, Psychology or related field
• Genuine interest in psychology and demonstrated ability to read and understand scientific research and methodology

Language Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Demonstrated developmental editing skills
• Strong presentation skills

Project Management Abilities:

• Creative thinker
• Self-directed while taking direction and guidance from supervisor and team
• Strong organizational and time management skills and attention to detail
• Skillful problem-solving, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Competitive, results-oriented, driven approach to your work
• Ability to manage projects in parallel, pivot with time-sensitive situations, and handle essential workload
• Comfortable with contract negotiations with authors and agents (or willing to learn)

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to review and make inferences from data in various databases and programs (NPD Bookscan, Microsoft’s Power Business Intelligence dashboard, Excel, etc.)

Computer Skills:

• Mastery of Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to navigate industry-related platforms such as Amazon and Bookscan and use data gathered to inform new acquisitions
• Comfort with product databases and contact management systems (Acumen, Firebrand’s Title Management)

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

This position is either remote-hybrid, based in Oakland, CA, or offsite remotely inside the 48 contiguous states. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability, let’s discuss the accommodations that we may be able to provide.

How to Apply

New Harbinger is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. New Harbinger believes that the publishing industry and field of psychology should center more LGBTQIA and voices of color and we encourage people with these identities to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We offer an excellent working environment and great benefits including health, dental, vision, paid time off, matching 401k, profit sharing, and more! The compensation range for this position will be $65,000 annually.

Please email your cover letter and resume with “Acquisitions Editor” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please describe how you see yourself contributing to New Harbinger’s mission, the perceived needs of our audience, what types of books you could see yourself acquiring for us, and what specifically interests you about joining the Acquisitions team at New Harbinger. No phone calls please. No recruiters.

Below is a commitment of what New Harbinger will provide to you as an employee and what you will provide to New Harbinger as an employee.

New Harbinger provides employees with:

As an employee of New Harbinger, you will provide:

Information & Learning

New Harbinger provides reasonable access to information, such as company performance indicators, projections that show how decisions affect the company’s financial health, and the company’s strategic direction.

The company provides employee owners with learning activities that will help improve New Harbinger’s business practices and employee capabilities.

As a New Harbinger employee owner, you will take responsibility for learning about the company and what drives its success, and to teach yourself about your personal and departmental roles in the company’s success.

The company expects employee owners to participate in learning activities about New Harbinger’s business practices.

New Harbinger employees will actively participate in organization-led trainings.

Organizational Fairness

New Harbinger provides fair compensation for the work of employee owners and full participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) as outlined in the plan.

New Harbinger provides fair treatment for all employee owners under the company’s stated policies and in alignment with EEO regulations.

New Harbinger employee owners will work hard at their jobs, follow company rules, and not take advantage of the company.

As an employee owner, you will take an ownership perspective in how you invest your time and energy, keeping the company’s best interests in mind.

Employee Ownership Culture

New Harbinger provides employees with opportunities to constructively express ideas and opinions, ask questions, and make suggestions about company endeavors.

New Harbinger provides employee owners with opportunities to optimize growth in their jobs and to seek out education that furthers their job performance.

New Harbinger provides a supportive work environment for all employees with a great work/life balance.

As a New Harbinger employee owner, you will speak up about problems as they occur and will commit to knowing and following procedures for handling problems and complaints.

As a New Harbinger employee owner, you will take responsibility for finding solutions rather than just pointing out problems.

As a New Harbinger employee owner, you will support your coworkers and the core mission of the business.

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

New Harbinger Publications provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

COVID-19 considerations:
Employees working in office are required to provide proof of vaccination and are currently required to wear masks

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Writers & Editors: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oakland, CA 94609