Managing Editor, Book Publishing

Atlas Obscura, in conjunction with two national publishing houses, produces a line of all-ages and children’s non-fiction travel books that include three New York Times bestselling titles and the recently published national bestseller, Wild Life. As we increase the number of titles we publish each year, we are looking for a managing editor to help oversee the book creation and production process. This position reports to the publishing director and is on our Entertainment Team, a division that also produces our podcasts, video, and television content.

The ideal candidate is detail oriented, schedule driven, and has prior experience with book editing and print production. The managing editor will be responsible for creating and maintaining schedules for print projects, identifying author candidates, assigning writing tasks, editing material as needed, and working across departments to ensure that the needs of our publisher and brand partners are met.  

Atlas Obscura is a remote-first company, so you can live and work from anywhere in the continental United States or Canada. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you do not meet every qualification listed below, do not hesitate to reach out and tell us what makes you the right candidate for this position. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and we will begin reaching out to selected candidates immediately.

Responsibilities

• Project Management
  • Collaborate with the Publishing Director to create and maintain editorial schedules, key milestones, and deadlines for each print project.
  • Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure all stages of production, from concept to final manuscript, are on track and within deadlines and budget.
  • Prepare project progress reports.
• Creative Development
  • Work closely with the publishing director, creative director, and company stakeholders to ensure the creative vision of each print project is realized.
  • Facilitate brainstorming sessions and contribute ideas that enhance the project's content.
• Editorial Support
  • Assist in the hiring and management of freelance writers, editors, and other editorial staff as necessary.
  • Provide editorial direction and feedback on manuscript drafts.
• Administrative Support
  • Serve as a liaison between the Publishing Director, authors, and external teams (design, marketing, production) to ensure smooth communication.
  • Create, deliver, and track contracts for freelance writers and editors.
  • Manage invoices for freelance writers and editors.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years of full-time experience in print publishing, with a background in editing and book production.
• Proven experience managing book projects from inception to finished book.
• Ability to work across departments (marketing, product, editorial etc.) as well as with our partners to execute projects from start to finish.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with overlapping deadlines in a remote-first environment; experience with project management tools (i.e. Airtable, Asana, Trello, Notion).
• Familiarity with Google Workspace (particularly Docs, Sheets, and Slides) and Microsoft Office.

Compensation
The expected base salary range for this position is between $80,000 and $90,000, plus equity. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education. Benefits for full-time employees include contributions toward health, dental, and vision for both employee and family; a remote working stipend; and resources to set up a home office.
 

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