Journals Division Director
Description: (View Short Job Description)
JOB SUMMARY
The Journal Division Director (JDD) is responsible for all aspects of the division's activities including strategic planning, personnel management, contract administration, marketing and sales, and financial performance. The JDD is responsible for maintaining and building journal publishing partnerships, identifying and creating new journals, managing 8 staff, and overseeing all publishing operations. The JDD also is responsible for researching and developing plans for new periodicals.
DUTIES
1. Evaluate the business potential of adding new journals to the existing HK journal product line and prepare proposals for doing so as warranted. 25%
a. Identifies market segments with the best potential for supporting the launch of new journals; performs feasibility analyses of such launches; develops business plans for those launches deemed feasible.
B. Identifies existing journals that might be acquired by HK; determines if such acquisitions are feasible; develops business plans for those acquisitions deemed feasible.
C. Nurture existing relationships with professional and scholarly associations to determine if publishing program might be expanded, i.e. publishing an existing journal more frequently, development of new periodicals, and identification of other information opportunities with other HK divisions including books and continuing education courses.
D. Identify and build relationships with associations with whom HK does not have a publishing relationship. Explore information needs of these scholarly and professional associations to determine if any publication opportunities exist, and if so to develop acquisition plans that are presented to the HK Acquisition Committee.
E. Maintain relationships with existing association partners through frequent and thorough communications responding quickly and effectively to any inquiries.
2. Negotiate and administer all contractual agreements of the division. 10%
a. Negotiates and prepares contracts for any new journals to be published by HK for other organizations.
B. Negotiates and prepares contracts to renew agreements with associations for whom HK already publishes journals.
C. Negotiates and prepares contracts for special projects and/or supplements of journals.
D. Negotiates and prepares agreements with journal aggregators and other electronic vendors of online journal content.
3. Guide the development of new HK journals. 10%
a. Select the editor, and with the editor, develop the initial mission statement, editorial structure, and content sections of the journal.
B. Negotiate the stipends paid to editors.
C. In consultation with appropriate HK departments, develops a marketing plan.
4. Guide the development of existing HK journals. 20%
a. Reviews and revises as appropriate the mission statement, editorial structure, and content sections of each journal.
B. Replaces editors as necessary and negotiates stipends to be paid.
C. Seeks out opportunities to improve the content and distribution of the journal.
D. Meets with editors and editorial boards periodically and prepares an annual report for HK, the editor, and board.
E. Registers journals with all appropriate indexing services.
F. Develops (and implements as warranted) plans to create digital versions of, or enhancements to, print journals appropriate for electronic distribution.
5. Monitor and manage activities directly related to the performance of the
division. 15%
a. Develops and coordinates implementation of strategic plans for the division, working with the CEO.
B. Formulates operational policies and reviews with CEO.
C. Monitors financial performance through divisional budgets, cash flow, and journal quarterly reports.
D. Oversees marketing, circulation, and editorial and production operations of the division.
E. Provides the President and CEO with a bi-monthly report of divisional activity.
F. Determines journal pricing and disseminates up-to-date pricing information to all parties involved with our journals.
7. Manage journal division staff. 10%
a. Hires and terminates employees as outlined in the HK personnel handbook.
B. Coordinates the training of all divisional staff.
C. Evaluates staff performance and recommend compensation as outlined in the evaluation procedures.
8. Coordinate marketing, special issue sales, advertising space sales and sponsorship program sales for the journals. 10%
a. Work closely with marketing staff to coordinate all individual marketing efforts for each journal approving specific plans.
B. Annually revisit the marketing and sales plan for each journal and coordinate new marketing efforts.
C. Assists the appropriate HK staff in developing plans and materials to sell advertising space in HK journals and to solicit sponsorships of journals.
D. Monitors the sale of advertising in the journals and provides analysis of sales efforts to the appropriate staff.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Journal Division Director is responsible for the supervision of all division staff. This responsibility includes all coordinator functions as specified in the HK Personnel Handbook.
SKILLS
Interpersonal
The journal division director must have excellent written and oral communication skills. S/he must communicate knowledgeably in an efficient and courteous manner with in-house and out-of-house personnel, including organization representatives, editors, authors, freelance workers, customers, and vendors. The director must be able to work effectively with a wide range of individuals to instill a team concept even in the face of highly individualized tasks. S/he must be able to find ways to bring out each individual's strengths and improve upon weaknesses in a supportive and positive environment.
Cognitive
The journal division director must be able to read, write, and comprehend scholarly, scientific, technical, and business-related material. The director must be able to understand business math and basic accounting as they apply to the financial obligations and ramifications of all decisions. S/he must be able to analyze and apply financial and survey data in decision making. S/he must be able to think creatively, solve problems and make decisions in an efficient manner as well as have the judgment to know when such problems and decisions require the input and expertise of others. The director must have well-developed supervisory skills and be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, keep all tasks on schedule, delegate tasks effectively, and adapt to change easily. S/he must be able to appropriately assign priorities to tasks and work independently. The director must be able to think under pressure and to respond to questions during presentations. S/he must also have negotiation and presentation skills. S/he must be able to concentrate for extended periods of time.
Physical
The journal division director must be able to sit and stand for long periods of time and have the manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, telephone, facsimile, calculator, and other basic office equipment. S/he must also have the visual acuity to read materials created in standard formats. The director must have the physical strength to set-up and break-down a tabletop display. This task involves packing, unpacking, and moving boxes of varying sizes. This position is moderately stressful and may become highly stressful during busy times of the year or periods of significant growth or change.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Conditions
The journal division director works in a typical office environment in a non-smoking, temperature-controlled environment. This position involves frequent travel.
Equipment
The journal division director routinely uses a computer, telephone, facsimile, and calculator. S/he may also be called upon to drive a company vehicle.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education
Advanced degree in sport and exercise sciences
Qualifications
Ten years management experience in publishing or a field related to HK’s journal business.
Proficiency in the use of computers running word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
Knowledgeable in Internet-related publishing technologies and applications.
Proven capability developing strong relationships with organizations.
Ability to identify trends and adjust our journal publishing program accordingly.
