Administrative Assistant II/ Executive Officer (holding the functional title of Acquisitions Editor)

HKU Careers; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 580,000 - 740,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Medical benefits

Gratuity up to 10% of basic salary

Job summary

Hong Kong University Press (HKUP) invites applications for Administrative Assistant II/Executive Officer (Acquisitions Editor) in Hong Kong. The role offers a two-year fixed-term appointment with end gratuity and retirement contributions up to 10% of basic salary.

The successful candidate will build and manage HKUP’s book list in sciences, engineering and related fields, identify commissioning opportunities, solicit proposals, liaise with authors, and negotiate publishing contracts while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above required.
• 6+ years of experience in academic publishing, especially acquisitions.
• Proficiency in English is essential; Chinese fluency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify commissioning opportunities and solicit book proposals from top scholars.
• Assess proposals and manuscripts for merit and arrange peer reviews.
• Liaise with authors through writing and production; negotiate contracts and pricing.
• Prepare cost estimates and coordinate with colleagues on financial strategies and marketing.
• Attend conferences to network with international scholars and partners.

Skills

English proficiency

Chinese proficiency

Academic publishing

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Administrative Assistant II/ Executive Officer (holding the functional title of Acquisitions Editor)

Administrative Assistant II/ Executive Officer (holding the functional title of Acquisitions Editor) in the Hong Kong University Press (Ref.: 537370) (to commence as soon as possible, on a two-year fixed-term basis with contract-end gratuity and University contribution to a retirement benefits scheme, totalling up to 10% of basic salary, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance)

Hong Kong University Press (HKUP) is a unit of the University of Hong Kong and one of Asia’s leading scholarly publishers. Founded in 1956, HKUP enjoys a global reputation for publishing high quality, rigorously peer-reviewed academic and professional works across a wide range of subjects. The Press publishes more than 30 new titles each year, primarily in English but also in Chinese.

We are seeking an Acquisitions Editor to build and manage HKUP’s book list in the sciences (physical, information and cognitive), engineering, and other technology-related fields such as biochemical engineering and bioinformatics, low-altitude economy, low-carbon sustainability, and medicine. The role may also involve Open Access projects to further enrich the OpenBooksHK.com initiative in collaboration with the presses and libraries of CUHK and CityUHK, as well as exploring opportunities for the development of new journals with local and regional partners.

Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree or above. Preference will be given to those with at least 6 years of experience in academic publishing, especially in acquisitions; considerable experience in some aspects of book publishing; and/or postgraduate training, especially those with (or those who soon will have) a doctoral degree in a relevant field. Proficiency in English is essential, and fluency in Chinese with a high standard of written Chinese is preferable. Familiarity with the cultures of all English-speaking countries and Asia is highly desirable, especially an understanding of their diverse publication standards and expectations. Those with lower qualifications and/or less experience may be considered for appointment as Executive Officer.

The appointee will be responsible for identifying commissioning opportunities and, where appropriate, soliciting book proposals from top scholars; assessing proposals and manuscripts for merit and arranging peer reviews to ensure quality and author credentials; liaising with authors throughout the writing and production process; and working closely with colleagues on all aspects of the publication. Other duties include negotiating publishing contracts, proposing prices and print runs, preparing cost estimates, and attending academic conferences to build and maintain relationships with an international network of scholars. Academic publishing is both a vital component of the academic community and a dynamic business. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable engaging in intellectual discussions with authors and collaborating with HKUP colleagues on financial and marketing strategies.

A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.

Advertised: Oct 31, 2026 (HK Time)
Applications close: Nov 29, 2026 (HK Time)