Position Summary

The publisher is responsible for overseeing Room’s finances, grant writing, circulation, distribution, sales, and event programming. Alongside the managing editor, the publisher makes major operational decisions and co-leads Room’s small team of staff and contractors.

This position is primarily work-from-home, but requires weekly visits to Vancouver locations such as Room’s office in Mount Pleasant, a P.O. box in South Granville, and Vancity and Canada Post locations. The publisher must attend regular online meetings. The compensation is $22.37/hour for 34 hours per week, with comprehensive benefits after three months.

This permanent, full-time position commences July 8th, 2024. The successful candidate will receive two weeks of paid, full-time training before fully transitioning into the role on July 19th.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about Room’s mandate, which is to serve writers, editors, and artists of marginalized genders, including cis and trans women, trans men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people, with a special focus on the voices of 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled writers, editors, and artists. A strong commitment to anti-oppressive practices in publishing is a requirement. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the Canadian literary scene, familiarity with Canadian arts nonprofits, and previous work experience in finance, grant writing, and/or circulation.

Please forward your resume and cover letter to the current publisher, Nara Monteiro, at publisher@roommagazine.com. Applications for the position must be received by June 25th, 2024, and interviews will take place in early July.

A more detailed job description is available below.

Publisher Job Description

Experience

The ideal candidate will be passionate about Room’s mandate, which is to serve writers, editors, and artists of marginalized genders, including cis and trans women, trans men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people, with a special focus on the voices of 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled writers, editors, and artists. A strong commitment to anti-oppressive practices in publishing is a requirement. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the Canadian literary scene, familiarity with Canadian arts nonprofits, and previous work experience in finance, grant writing, and/or circulation.

Applicants must be self-starters comfortable with self-directed work and taking initiative. Room is seeking someone who has experience in creating and maintaining a budget, managing large data sets, communicating with vendors and customers, and facilitating community programming and events. Knowledge of the Canadian literary community is expected, and familiarity with CanLit journal publishing is an asset.

Room emphasizes robust training, resources, and circular mentorship. “We encourage applicants not to self-reject for not meeting all qualifications, and to consider their transferable skills when applying.” The publisher works closely with the managing editor, the treasurer, and the rest of the board, and the outgoing publisher will remain on the Growing Room Collective and provide transitional support.

Brief Summary of Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include overseeing standards for production, proofreading, managing sales and subscriber database, tracking statistics and inventory, liaising with the printer and distributors; creating and managing the organizational budget, applying for grants, managing and reconciling accounts; maintaining and fostering relationships in the literary community, with the managing editor, co-managing Room’s small team; managing launch events and promotional activities, facilitating special programming, managing the Patreon membership program.

Location

This position is primarily work-from-home, but requires weekly visits to Vancouver locations such as Room’s office in Mount Pleasant, a P.O. box in South Granville, and Vancity and Canada Post locations. The office has desks and a kitchenette for optional office work. The publisher must attend regular online meetings, including weekly check-ins with the managing editor, bi-monthly staff meetings, monthly board meetings, and quarterly editorial meetings. This position also has some in-person, Vancouver-based event duties.

Compensation

The pay rate is $22.37/hour for 34 hours per week, with comprehensive benefits after 3 months, including vision, major dental, and parahealth. Working hours are flexible. The vacation policy and remote work policy is highly flexible. Room offers professional development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Production, Circulation, Distribution, and Sales

• Oversee standards for production and collaborate with the managing editor on initiatives to update production schedules and practices
• Proofread each issue of Room
• Manage web sales and submittable sales
• Manage Room’s subscriber database
• Track circulation statistics
• Communicate sales and circulation insights regularly with the Marketing Lead to maintain overall sales health
• Track inventory
• Liaise with the printer and distributors
• Mail out all back issue and anthology orders that come through the Room webstore and Submittable
• Pick up and sort mail

Finances & Grants

• Create and manage the organizational budget, with input from the board and managing editor
• Apply for core and project grants to fund Room activities
• Manage and reconcile chequing, credit, and PayPal accounts monthly
• File GST quarterly
• Prepare finances for accountant in preparation for fiscal year-end
• Occasionally: manage fundraising efforts

Leadership

• Maintain an active presence and foster relationships in the literary community across Canada
• Check and respond to emails in a timely manner
• Develop and maintain the Room brand in collaboration with the managing editor and marketing lead
• With the managing editor, co-manage Room’s small team of part-time staff/contractors
• Collaborate with fellow leaders in Room’s partner organizations (see Indigenous Brilliance, Unbound Reading Series, and Hush Harbour)

Project Management & Events

• Manage Room launch events and/or alternative issue launch promotional activities
• Facilitate Room special programming (past examples of special programming include: Mentor-in-Residence program, 40th anniversary anthology, workshop series)
• Manage the Patreon membership program
• Table at markets in Vancouver throughout the summer and fall, such as Word Vancouver, Vancouver Dyke March, Car Free Days events, Made in the 604 markets, and events from our partners
• Manage a small group of event volunteers

Traits of a Successful Applicant

• Experience with self-directed work and project management, and demonstrated ability to take initiative
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Strong organizational, time management, scheduling, and project management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with internal and external partners
• Strong grasp of Excel and Google Sheets
• Experience with organizational budgets and accounting
• Strong commitment to Room’s anti-oppressive mandate
• Strong knowledge of the Canadian literary and publishing scenes

Nice-to-haves

• Strong asset: experience on grant assessment committees
• Experience in magazine production, with a preference for literary magazine experience, including circulation and finance
• Experience in Canadian arts nonprofits
• Driver’s license for use of the company Modo account
• Familiarity with some or all of the following software programs: Submittable, Slack, Trello, Quickbooks, Canva, Adobe, InDesign, Box, Zoom, PayPal, CADAC, WordPress
• Experience in feminist organizations, collectives, and collaborative spaces
• Experience with flat leadership structures

Applicants who fit Room’s mandate will be prioritized. Please forward your resume and cover letter to the current publisher, Nara Monteiro, at publisher@roommagazine.com. Applications for the position must be received by June 25th, 2024, and interviews will take place in early July.