Text Publishing is looking for an experienced Publicity Manager to lead its busy, highly effective publicity team. 

The successful applicant will demonstrate a passion for books, exceptional communication and time-management skills, and the ability to strategise and lead a small, hard-working team. Experience in a similar role within the publishing industry is essential.

Applications must include a response to selection criteria, and must be received at applications@textpublishing.com.au by 9am on Monday 18 April 2016.

Position description—Publicity Manager, Text Publishing

Text Publishing’s publicity department is strongly author-focused, with an emphasis on excellent relationships with the media and book trade. The team works energetically across front and backlist titles, and has a great reputation for its prominent publicity campaigns and proactive and supportive approach to authors.

Selection Criteria

• A love of books and reading
• Experience in a similar role in the publishing industry
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to initiate and maintain relationships across a wide range of contacts
• Excellent organisational capabilities and the ability to manage time, multitask and prioritise for maximum efficiency
• Ability to strategise and lead a team to deliver outstanding publicity campaigns
• Computing skills: Word, InDesign, databases (FilemakerPro).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Publicity duties:

• Generating coverage of new releases through print, radio, television and online media in Australia and New Zealand
• Expanding Text’s national profile through constant media analysis, exploring new avenues, maintaining and constantly expanding up-to-date media and community interest databases
• Arranging, publicising and attending author events and launches, with budgeting responsibilities for same
• Performing caretaking duties for Australian and international authors on tour, including literary festivals in Australia and New Zealand, and managing touring budgets
• Writing copy for press materials, catalogues, flyers, bound proofs and invitations
• Preparing sales materials on schedule for our distributor’s (PRH) sales teams in Australia and New Zealand

Management duties:

• Managing the publicity team: running meetings, allocating titles, balancing workload, coordinating staff for festivals and events, authorising publicity-related expenses, etc
• Developing and overseeing publicity strategies across all titles; discussing those strategies at monthly PERM meetings (Publicity, Editorial, Rights and Marketing)
• Managing the publicity budget and tracking ongoing expenses
• Conducting annual performance reviews with publicity staff
• Representing publicity at acquisitions and cover meetings as required; reading manuscripts on submission and providing advice about acquisition of new titles
• Liaising with national and international directors of literary festivals: creating strategies, pitching authors, doing follow up mailings etc. Planning and securing funding for tours for international authors and forthcoming titles
• Working closely with the Sales and Marketing Director to coordinate all aspects of promotional activities

Terms:               This is a full-time, ongoing position based in Melbourne

Reporting:        To the Sales & Marketing Director

Salary:               To be negotiated with the successful applicant