Acquisitions Editor I

Sage; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sage Publishing is seeking an Acquisitions Editor I to strategically fill the content pipeline and manage active Communication titles for Sage US College. You will sign new textbook projects, oversee revision schedules, and align products with market trends and curriculum standards.

The role requires market intelligence, strong author relationships, contract negotiations, and collaboration with product management, marketing, and sales.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Communication Studies or related discipline is a plus but not required.
• 2+ years of acquisitions, editorial, product management, sales, or related role in higher education publishing or ed-tech.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, teamwork, and communication skills; professionalism and tact in interactions with authors and collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Strategically fill the pipeline with new content and manage active titles within the Communication field.
• Sign new textbook projects and ensure revision schedules for existing projects.
• Collaborate across departments (product management, content development, marketing) and represent Sage externally to authors and customers.
• Present at biannual sales meetings and travel to conferences to learn trends and network with potential authors.
• Drive market research, define strategy, and support new product launches within Sage US College.

Skills

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical skills

Organization & project management

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in Communication Studies or related field

Job description

As Acquisitions Editor I, you are responsible for strategically filling the pipeline with new content as well as expertly managing your list of active titles within the Communication field. This role plays a crucial role in acquiring, developing, and launching new product for the Communication curriculum within Sage US College. You will be responsible for signing new textbook projects as well as ensuring existing projects are regularly revised on optimal schedules. As the market expert, you will demonstrate your knowledge of the subject area, course market dynamics, the competitive landscape, curriculum, and subject area trends to chart a vision and strategy for your list.

In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with product management, content development, marketing communications, sales, sales enablement, and other departments within US College. You act as an ambassador for Sage externally, working closely and frequently with authors and customers through a variety of mediums (phone, email, videoconference, in person). You will present at the biannual sales meetings on your list’s new products as well as travel to academic conferences and campuses to learn about the trends in your subject area and network with potential authors and contributors. You will focus on meeting key performance indicators (benchmarks) related to acquiring, developing, and launching new products for your fields. You will also manage the entire portfolio of Communication titles, maintain efficient revision schedules, and succession plan as necessary.

You embrace technology, systems, and digital content. You have a growth mindset and can iterate, adapt, and thrive through change.

This position is fully remote.

Your New Role

• Market intelligence—be the expert on our external customers, both instructors and students. Know who are they, how they make decisions, and understand their key adoption/purchasing criteria. Interact with customers as much as possible—on campus, at conference/customer engagement events, both in-person and virtually.
• The competitive landscape—understand the competition in each course market, including content/coverage requirements, technology use, instructor resource expectations. Stay on top of who’s innovating and how, from pedagogy and authorship to competing courseware platforms and nontraditional publishers.
• Curriculum expertise—understand each the needs of each course market when it comes to content/coverage, pedagogy, instructional design, learning outcomes, professional standards/accreditation, and use of technology and translate this knowledge into the products you sign, revise, develop, and publish to reflect evolving market trends. Understand how diversity, equity, and inclusion pertains to each course market.
• Author management—understand ideal author profiles for new signings; develop and maintain relationships with potential and existing authors; establish guidelines for working with authors, educating them on industry trends, challenges, and changes. Manage conflict, negotiate contract terms, and be able to navigate difficult conversations with authors.
• New acquisitions —focused on priority signing targets, recruit author talent, develop quality proposals, draft clear and persuasive contract proposals, present new projects to the Publishing Committee, negotiate contract terms, and provide updates to key collaborators in Publishing Decision discussions for select key first editions.
• List management—arrange revisions, strategically set schedules, drive efficiencies, provide author care, and take a comprehensive view of the entire list to ensure optimal cycling, profitability, and product differentiation.
• Market research—design surveys, reviews, focus groups, and 1x1 interviews in key markets to vet the accuracy and depth of content and determine projects unique valuable proposition. Collaborate with the content development team and freelancers to set strategy on market research across products and platforms; analyze feedback and data from dashboards and reports to inform decision-making.
• Marketing communication—provide product and content information for titles promoted via marketing communication activities.
• Content development—work closely with content development editors to resolve schedules, establish development achievements, hone unique value propositions, and agree upon digital resources and courseware content needs.
• New product launches—work closely with product specialists and go-to-market specialists to launch key frontlist titles. Present product information in-person and/or virtually at national sales meetings.
• Thought leader—demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the higher ed publishing industry and its key functional areas – editorial, production, marketing, sales, and product management. Articulate Sage’s strategy, mission, and values.

Can you be our new Acquisitions Editor? Do you have:

• Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree in Communication Studies or a related discipline is a plus but not required.
• 2+ years of experience in acquisitions, editorial, product management, sales, or a related role in higher education publishing or ed-tech. We also welcome applicants whose experience in teaching, academic administration, or a related field has built transferable skills.
• Working knowledge of the Communication curriculum and course market (e.g., Public Speaking, Interpersonal, Intro to Communication, Media, Organizational, Intercultural), or the ability to build that expertise quickly.
• Demonstrated ability to identify market trends and turn customer and competitor insights into a clear list strategy and compelling product proposals.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, teamwork, and communication skills, including the ability to work with authors and collaborators with professionalism and tact.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data, dashboards, and market feedback to guide decisions and meet key performance indicators.
• Excellent organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, schedules, and priorities at once.
• Confident presentation skills, whether in person, virtual, or at sales meetings and academic conferences.
• Comfort with technology, digital content, and courseware platforms, and curiosity about how they shape teaching and learning.

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.

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Our mission is building bridges to knowledge — supporting the development of ideas through the research process to scholarship that is certified, taught, and applied.

Sage is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified applicants. Accommodations will be made for any part of the interview process.