Assistant Director of the Publications Unit

Illinois State University; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits

Retirement options

Tuition waiver benefits

Job summary

The Assistant Director trains and supervises undergraduate and graduate students, teaches the Introduction to Professional Publishing course and other related classes, edits and proofs text for all Unit publications, assists with production of newsletters, journals and books, and helps manage content on the Unit website.

The role requires proofreading, editing, working with layouts, and using Adobe Creative Cloud, FileMaker, MS Word, and Mac platforms; the position carries a 1-1 teaching load in

Qualifications

• Master's degree in English, publishing, or a closely related field.
• Administrative or leadership experience in a publications unit, press, center, or other publishing organization.
• Professional knowledge of publishing processes and techniques.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, and FileMaker in a professional production environment.
• Editing and proofreading skills and familiarity with Chicago style

Responsibilities

• Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate students.
• Instruct Introduction to Professional Publishing and related courses.
• Edit and proofs text for all publications produced by the Unit.
• Assist with production of newsletters, journals, and books.
• Collaborate with the Director in organizing Unit activities.

Skills

Administrative/leadership experience

Editing/proofreading

Publishing processes & techniques

Education

Master's degree in English/publishing/related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Microsoft Office

FileMaker

Job description

Title: Assistant Director of the Publications Unit
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: English
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Assistant Director trains and supervises undergraduate and graduate students, instructs the Introduction to Professional Publishing course and other courses in the assistant director's areas of expertise, edits and proofs text for all creative and scholarly publications supported by the Unit, assists with production of newsletters, journals, and books, manages content on a Unit website, assists with writing grant applications and fundraising activity, oversees marketing projects for creative journals, manages an online store and fulfills orders, and collaborates with the Director in organizing Unit activities. The position also requires proofreading, editing, and working with newsletter, journal and book layouts, the Adobe Creative Cloud including Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop, FileMaker, MS Word, and Mac platform computing. This position carries a 1-1 teaching load in the Department of English.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$40,000-$42,390 annual salary

Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree in English, publishing, or a closely related field.
2. Administrative or leadership experience in a publications unit, press, center, or other publishing organization.
3. Professional knowledge of publishing processes and techniques.
4. Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, and FileMaker in a professional production environment.
5. Editing and proofreading skills and familiarity with Chicago style

Preferred Qualifications

1. Digital publishing experience (e.g., e-books, web editing and design).
2. Background in event planning and community engagement.
3. Experience with managing social media channels.
4. Experience with e-commerce management and fulfillment.

Work Hours

8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Occasional evening events.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

August 2026

Required Applicant Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Reference List

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Katherine Ellison, [e-mail], 309-438-3650, English Department

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at 309 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at 309 438-8311.