Acquisitions Editor

SAGE Publishing; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sage Publishing seeks an Acquisitions Editor for Education & Human Services to shape high-quality higher education content for Sage US College. Build author relationships, identify market needs, and develop a compelling publishing list with cross-functional partners across Sage, from Content Development to Marketing and Sales.

You will recruit authors, craft business cases, manage titles through revisions, and ensure launch readiness, while leveraging market insights and customer evidence to

Qualifications

• 3–4 years of relevant experience in book acquisitions, content development, marketing, sales, or a related higher education publishing function.

Responsibilities

• Develop expertise in assigned course markets, customer needs, curriculum trends, accreditation expectations, pedagogy, competition, and technology.
• Identify and recruit authors and coauthors, shape proposals, prepare persuasive business cases, and negotiate approved contract terms.
• Manage active titles and revisions, including schedules, author care, product differentiation, profitability, and launch readiness.
• Design and interpret surveys, reviews, focus groups, and interviews to test concepts, content, value propositions, and market potential.
• Partner with Content Development, Product, Marketing, Sales, Sales Enablement, and other teams to align product strategy and execution.
• Present new projects and product information to decision groups and sales teams; travel to campuses and conferences to build knowledge and networks.

Skills

Editorial judgment

Relationship building

Negotiation

Project management

Market analysis

Job description

The opportunity

Great ideas deserve great books, and every great book starts with an editor who sees its potential. As Acquisitions Editor, Education & Human Services, you'll help shape the next generation of higher education content for courses within Sage US College. You'll spot promising ideas and author talent, build a publishing list grounded in market insight, and partner with teams across Sage, from Content Development and Product to Marketing and Sales, to acquire, develop, launch, and sustain products that instructors and students rely on. If you're curious, love building relationships with authors and educators, and want to turn great ideas into books that make a difference, we'd love to meet you.

What you will help achieve:

• Fill the pipeline with distinctive, market-relevant content and guide projects from concept through launch and revision.
• Build trusted relationships with current and prospective authors, subject‑matter experts, instructors, and internal partners.
• Use market intelligence, customer evidence, and commercial judgment to strengthen the Education list.

What you will do:

• Develop expertise in assigned course markets, customer needs, curriculum trends, accreditation expectations, pedagogy, competition, and technology.
• Identify and recruit authors and coauthors, shape proposals, prepare persuasive business cases, and negotiate approved contract terms.
• Manage active titles and revisions, including schedules, author care, product differentiation, profitability, and launch readiness.
• Design and interpret surveys, reviews, focus groups, and interviews to test concepts, content, value propositions, and market potential.
• Partner with Content Development, Product, Marketing, Sales, Sales Enablement, and other teams to align product strategy and execution.
• Present new projects and product information to decision groups and sales teams; travel to campuses and conferences to build knowledge and networks.

What you will bring:

• 3-4 years of relevant experience in book acquisitions, content development, marketing, sales, or a related higher education publishing function.
• Strong editorial judgment, curiosity, relationship building, negotiation, communication, and project management.
• Ability to analyze market and customer evidence, make recommendations, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Comfort with technology, systems, digital content, change, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Sound business judgment, including consideration of revenue, profitability, budgets, and resource trade-offs.

Helpful, but not essential:

• Higher education textbook or courseware experience, particularly in Education & Human Services disciplines.
• Experience working directly with authors, instructors, product teams, or academic markets.

Work and travel:

This role is expected to be remote, with travel to academic conferences, campuses, customer engagements, and periodic company or sales meetings.

Why join Sage?

• Work with colleagues who care about education, evidence, and helping ideas reach the people who need them.
• Contribute in a collaborative, international organization with room to learn, grow, and shape how we work.
• Access a comprehensive benefits package.

An inclusive opportunity

We know that strong candidates do not always meet every preferred qualification. If this role interests you and you can demonstrate many of the capabilities described, we encourage you to apply. We value transferable experience, different career paths, and the perspectives people bring from varied backgrounds and communities.

Sage is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the process, please let the Talent Acquisition team know.

Sage is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on role-related qualifications, skills, experience, and business needs.

Pay Transparency & Benefits Package:

Sage Publishing is committed to being an inclusive employer where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect. Sage is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

Compensation at Sage is influenced by several factors, including but not limited to skill set, nature and level of experience, qualifications, and other relevant considerations. Please note that the compensation details listed in U.S. role postings reflect the base salary only and do not include bonuses or benefits. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and additional aspects of the compensation/benefits package for this position during the hiring process. If your desired salary falls outside of this range, we hope you'll still apply as there may be other positions that better align.

In addition to compensation, Sage offers a highly competitive and comprehensive PPO medical, dental, and vision care benefits package with SAGE covering most of the premium costs. Unique program benefits that support a healthy life, a company-sponsored anniversary trip every 5 years, a 401(k)-matching program of 100% up to 5% of pay, and other significant meaningful benefits. In alignment with our value for education, Sage offers financial support for bachelor's and graduate-level degree programs as well as learning for personal interest.

Sage offers freedom and autonomy in your day-to-day with hybrid or remote work, depending on the role. Join the nearly 2,000 Sage employees worldwide who deliver products and services that serve to fulfill our noble goal of education and dissemination of knowledge globally. We'd love to meet you!

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sage Publishing is committed to being an inclusive employer where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and partnership status, pregnancy and parental responsibilities, race, religion and belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We believe that diversity is a cornerstone of a vibrant culture. We want Sage to be an organization where the most talented staff and high-potential staff are recruited, have the opportunity to grow, and want to work. We strive to achieve a better representation of diverse talent at all levels, including leadership, across our workforce.