The University of Kansas

The University Press of Kansas is a leading university press in America’s Heartland with a long history of publishing well-regarded scholarly books and regional titles. The new Director of Marketing will lead the ongoing transformation of the marketing department and substantially contribute to the future of the Press.

The Director of Marketing oversees all marketing efforts for a list of 40-50 scholarly, trade, and regional books per year. The person in this position is responsible for directing and executing all aspects of marketing, including strategic planning, title and series planning, publicity, advertising, digital and social media marketing, and event marketing. The Director of Marketing oversees a staff of two full-time employees, one part-time student intern, and is a member of the Press’s senior management team, reporting to the Director of the Press.

Directing the marketing operation is primarily focused on selling more books. This focus drives all planning and execution, team and author collaboration, staff development and process improvement, and how budgets and spending are measured. The Director of Marketing is responsible for frontlist and backlist sales and various sales-related KPI’s developed in collaboration with the Director of the Press each fiscal.

Ideally, the position is on-site, but hybrid or remote options are available for well qualified candidates.

Job Description

75% Marketing Management

Directly manages title marketing planning process and executes (directly or through reports) all tactical activity to drive sales. Directly manages all marketing activities, either through partners, staff, or own activity. Directly manages all metadata development and dissemination through partners or delegates as appropriate to staff to raise visibility for all titles in all market segments. Directly manages all publicity efforts, either personally or delegating as appropriate to staff. Ensures staff are appropriately trained and processes are clear, efficient, and effective. Achieves all sales goals and related KPI’s.

10% Strategic Management

Ensures team has a clear and robust marketing strategy across all relevant categories and channels, including strategies to shift team’s work more into digital tactics and channels. Executes against this strategy and measures performance through financial goals and other KPI’s as set with Director.

10% Press Collaboration

Participates in Press management as member of senior management team and supports acquisition efforts in terms of pitch development and title sales forecast development and accountability. Partners with Business & Sales Manager in terms retail marketing and other forms of sales enablement.

5% Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of experience in a marketing and/or sales and/or publicity position with a publisher or related organization.
• Superior written and oral communication skills as evidenced by application materials and references.
• Work experience demonstrating strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Work experience demonstrating the capacity to collaborate and ability to meet accountabilities.
• 1 year of staff management experience, as evidenced in application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with scholarly or trade book marketing, sales, and/or publicity.
• Strong digital and social media marketing skills
• Experience with audience development and D2C strategies, tactics, and platforms

Additional Candidate Instructions

Only complete online applications will be accepted. An application packet will include the following items:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications;
• A complete resume/CV
• A list of 3 professional references.

Initial review of applications will begin on Monday June 21st and continue until a qualified pool has been identified.