Backlist Strategy Lead: Revitalize Classics

Simon and Schuster Books; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Broad Based Ownership program

Medical, dental, vision benefits

PTO, 401(k) plan

Job summary

Scribner, part of Simon & Schuster US, is seeking a Backlist Manager to unlock the full potential of its distinguished catalog. You will develop long-term strategies and lead cross-functional teams to drive growth across print, digital, audio, and direct-to-consumer channels.

The role requires strong editorial instincts, commercial judgment, and fluency with sales data to identify opportunities, repackaging, and new publishing programs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in book publishing, bookselling, marketing, brand strategy, media, or a related field.
• Deep appreciation for literary fiction and narrative nonfiction with understanding of Scribner’s identity.
• Ability to generate original ideas and translate them into practical, commercially viable programs.
• Strong analytical skills with sales reports, market research, consumer insights, and performance data.
• Excellent editorial, writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong visual judgment and understanding of packaging/positioning to influence reader discovery.
• Exceptional project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Highly collaborative, able to build enthusiasm and alignment across departments.
• Curiosity about changing reader behavior, new retail opportunities, and evolving ways to connect books with audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a comprehensive, year-round strategy for growing Scribner’s backlist across print, digital, audio, retail, academic, and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Utilize data—sales history, market trends, inventory, pricing, formats, metadata, cultural conversations, and competitive publishing—to identify untapped opportunities.
• Establish annual priorities for key authors, titles, franchises, and thematic publishing programs.
• Build a pipeline of short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives with clear revenue goals and measures of success.
• Monitor results and use performance data to refine future campaigns and publishing decisions.
• Partner with Editorial, Sales, Marketing, Publicity, Art, Production, Managing Editorial, Rights, Audio, and Digital teams to bring ideas from concept to market.

Skills

Experience in publishing

Analytical skills

Editorial, writing & communication

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Curiosity about reader behavior

Job description

Scribner, part of Simon & Schuster US, is seeking a Backlist Manager to unlock the full potential of its distinguished catalog. You will develop long-term strategies and lead cross-functional teams to drive growth across print, digital, audio, and direct-to-consumer channels.

The role requires strong editorial instincts, commercial judgment, and fluency with sales data to identify opportunities, repackaging, and new publishing programs.