Job: Publisher, Room Magazine – FILLED

Room magazine is seeking to hire a new publisher. The ideal candidate will have previous work experience in literary, grassroots, scholarly, or academic magazine or book publishing, especially in areas of finance, grant writing, and circulation. Working as part of a small team, the publisher manages all financial and infrastructural aspects of the magazine, which is published four times a year. This is a permanent, full-time, work-from-home position that commences May 1st, 2022. The successful candidate will receive 4 weeks of paid training before fully transitioning into the role on June 1st.

The publisher may reside anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area. This is a work-from-home position, with an office in Mount Pleasant. The publisher must attend all meetings, which are held online. The compensation is $20/hour for 38 hours per week, with health benefits.

This job complements the managing editor, who is responsible for the overall artistic direction and creative output of the Room collective. We are seeking someone who is able to operate comfortably within our unique collective and collaborative creative process. The successful applicant will have experience in creating and maintaining a budget, managing large data sets, communicating with vendors and customers, and facilitating community programming. The candidate will demonstrate an ability to work both independently and in a team setting. A strong commitment to anti-oppressive practices in publishing, which adheres to Room’s mandate, is a requirement. Knowledge of the Canadian literary community is expected and familiarity with CanLit journal publishing is an asset.

This position is open to women, trans men, Two Spirit, and nonbinary folks. BIPOC applicants will be prioritized. Please forward your resume and cover letter to the current publisher, Molly Cross-Blanchard, at publisher@roommagazine.com. Applications for the position must be received by March 31st, 2022, and interviews will take place throughout April.

A more detailed job description is available below.

Publisher Job Description

Experience

The publisher has previous work experience in literary, grassroots, scholarly, or academic magazine or book publishing, especially in circulation and finance.

Brief Summary of Responsibilities

The publisher is responsible for overseeing all aspects of circulation and finance at the magazine, including processing orders, managing the subscriber database, liaising with the printer and distributors, creating and managing the organizational budget, reconciling accounts, applying for grants, and activating membership programs such as Patreon. The publisher collaborates with the managing editor on special projects, preparing budgets, supporting part-time staff, and making major operational decisions.

Location

The publisher may reside anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area. This is a work-from-home position, with the option to work from our office in Mount Pleasant, which is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. The position requires the successful applicant to visit Canada Post, Vancity, and our distributor in Richmond on a regular basis. The publisher must attend all meetings, which are held online, including weekly check-ins with the managing editor, monthly staff meetings, monthly board meetings, and quarterly editorial meetings.

Compensation

The pay rate is $20/hour for 38 hours per week, salaried, with full health benefits after 3 months, including vision, major dental, and parahealth. The publisher is entitled to 2 weeks paid vacation each year. Payment is made bi-monthly by direct deposit.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain an active presence and foster relationships in the literary community across Canada and internationally.
• Establish and oversee standards for production and manage any initiatives to change production standards.
• Track circulation statistics.
• Track inventory.
• Liaise with the printer and distributors.
• Process and mail all orders that come through the Room webstore and Submittable.
• Apply for core and project grants to fund all Room activities.
• Work with the managing editor and treasurer to create and manage the organizational budget.
• Manage and reconcile chequing, credit, and PayPal accounts.
• File GST.
• Prepare finances for accountant in preparation for fiscal year-end.
• Facilitate the Mentor-in-Residence program.
• Manage the Patreon membership program.
• Submit pieces published in Room to major awards, and facilitate the Room Emerging Writer Award.
• Proofread each issue of Room.
• Pick up and sort mail.
• Check and respond to emails in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain the Room brand in collaboration with the managing editor.
• Work in conjunction with the managing editor, part-time staff, and collective for all activities outside the publishing aspect, including, but not limited to: launches, fundraising, special events, and conferences.
• Oversee special projects in collaboration with the managing editor, including by not limited to: Indigenous Brilliance podcast, BIPOC Art Ecosystem, Community partnerships and collaborations, and Donation campaigns.

Traits of a Successful Applicant

• Experience in magazine production, with a preference for literary magazine experience, including circulation and finance.
• Software skills in: text editing, accounting, and spreadsheets.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong communication, organizational, time management, scheduling, and project management skills.
• An ability to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with internal and external partners.
• Strong commitment to Room’s anti-oppressive mandate.
• Familiarity with some or all of the following software programs: Submittable, Slack, Trello, Quickbooks, Canva, Adobe, Box, Zoom, PayPal, CADAC, WordPress.
• Experience in human resources, collectives, feminist publications, and nonprofit societies is an asset.

Contact Molly Cross-Blanchard (publisher@roommagazine.com) with any further questions about the position.