• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $70,000-$90,000

Position Summary

The Editor is responsible for all written material and communications for the Institute. The incumbent reports to the Institute Director and Executive Director of the Harriman Institute. The incumbent oversees Institute publications and other written content. S/he will work with staff and faculty to increase the Institute’s academic and research profiles and manage the production and workflow of all marketing communications and their related aspects.

The Harriman Institute at Columbia University is one of the world’s leading academic institutions for the study of Russia, Eurasia, and East Central Europe. Our mission is to serve our community at the university and beyond by supporting research, instruction, and dialogue and sponsoring vibrant and multidisciplinary events that bring together our extraordinary resources of faculty, students, and alumni. We are committed to training the next generation of regional specialists to play leadership roles in setting the academic and scholarly agenda, making policy, and challenging accepted truths about how we study our rapidly changing world.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Publications Committee to oversee “Studies of the Harriman Institute,” Faculty Publication Grants, and First Book Subvention Awards. Commission reports from outside readers for recent PhDs and junior faculty.
• Correspond with authors, read manuscripts, and contact editors and reviewers for the distribution of manuscripts to them.
• Circulate reviews, work with editorial personnel at the presses for the Studies of the Harriman Institute book series and promote the series.
• Oversee data collection, write-up, editing, photography, publication, and circulation of the Annual Report and related publications.
• Allocate and oversee the Harriman Institute’s annual publications budget.
• Provide support to the Institute Director in all aspects of publishing the Harriman Library of Contemporary Fiction, from reading sample texts submitted by members of the Advisory Board to judging the suitability of the text and quality of the translation to arranging publicity and book launch events.
• Be knowledgeable of the translation field and be able to work with prospective translators to identify suitable projects for the series.
• Work closely with the translators in putting together their book proposal and editing the sample translation, which will be submitted to Columbia University Press for peer review before the book can be approved for the series.
• Correspond with donors who have pledged support for a particular volume, and gather all material required for the transaction of the grant.
• Have editorial oversight and be responsible for the content and design of the Institute’s website and other public interfaces, including display boxes, noticeboards, and appropriate representation in scholarly and professional directories and journals.
• Responsible for the production/writing and distribution of press releases, news articles, and publicity materials relating to all aspects of the Institute’s programming.
• Participate in planning and implementation with faculty and staff to ensure that programs and projects are appropriately represented in the public domain, including Columbia University Library’s Academic Commons.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining a strong network of translators and publishing contacts.
• Organize, develop, and maintain the Institute’s historical archives, including the editing and appropriate storage of documents, images, photographs, articles, and materials of historical value pertaining to the Institute and its work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of related experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in the Russian language.
• Prior experience in the publishing industry and familiarity with copyright regulations.
• Demonstrated expertise in academic publishing.
• Master's Degree or PhD desirable.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills. Work well in an interactive team environment.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Familiarity with guide styles, Chicago Manual of Style, AP, MLA, etc.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.