Open Publishing Specialist - University Libraries

Florida State University; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida State University invites applications for an Open Publishing Specialist in University Libraries. Located in Tallahassee, the role focuses on managing Florida State Open Publishing, serving as managing editor for JPSS, coordinating journal and book production, and supporting platform technologies.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree with two years of experience (or equivalent) and offers opportunities to advance scholarly publishing practices, accessibility, and discoverability

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience, or a high school diploma with six years of experience.
• Experience with academic publishing and editorial workflows is preferred.
• Familiarity with publishing platforms (OJS, Manifold) and production processes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day operations of Florida State Open Publishing with the Digital Publishing Librarian.
• Oversee journal and book catalogs, onboarding of new publications, and production plans.
• Lead and edit the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, coordinating timelines and publication cycles.
• Provide guidance on publishing policies, workflows, and accessibility best practices.

Skills

Strong communication

Copyediting

Interpersonal skills

Detail oriented

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree + 2 years experience

High school diploma + 6 years experience

Tools

Open Journal Systems (OJS)

Manifold

WordPress

Adobe Creative Cloud

HTML/CSS

Job description

Job Title: Open Publishing Specialist - University Libraries

Location: Tallahassee, FL

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Job ID: 63687

Department: University Libraries

Responsibilities

The Open Publishing Specialist supports the day-to-day management of Florida State Open Publishing, including its publishing policies, platforms, and workflows. The position serves as managing editor of the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success (JPSS), coordinates journal and book production, supports the onboarding of new publications, and provides technical guidance to authors and editors.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across FSU Libraries and university partners, the successful candidate will help strengthen FSOP's publishing services, promote best practices in scholarly communication, and expand access to research and scholarship.

Coordinate Open Publishing Operations and Services

• Support the daily operations of Florida State Open Publishing in collaboration with the Digital Publishing Librarian.
• Coordinate the annual call for book proposals, onboarding of new journals, and ongoing management of FSOP's journal and book catalog.
• Consult with authors and editors to develop production plans, establish timelines, and support publication deadlines.
• Assist with the development and implementation of publishing policies, procedures, and workflows.

Manage Journal Editorial and Production Workflows

• Serve as managing editor and technical editor of the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, coordinating editorial and production activities to support its quarterly publication schedule.
• Work closely with editors, authors, and vendors to manage production timelines, address technical issues, and support timely publication.
• Maintain regular communication with journal editors regarding publishing policies, editorial workflows, and opportunities for improvement.
• Apply best practices in academic publishing to support consistent and effective editorial processes.

Support Publishing Platforms and Technical Services

• Manage and support FSOP's publishing platforms, including Open Journal Systems (OJS) and Manifold.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to faculty and student journal editors using FSOP's publishing platforms.
• Collaborate with the Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) to address platform-level issues related to OJS.
• Develop and deliver training to support editors, authors, and readers in accessing and using FSOP's publishing platforms.

Oversee Publication Production and Discoverability

• Coordinate the full publication production process for journal and book projects, including copyediting, graphic design, layout, and preparation of PDF, HTML, and EPUB formats.
• Manage publication-related web content, identifier registration (DOI, ISBN, and ISSN), and indexing in relevant discovery services.
• Coordinate with external vendors as needed and monitor production costs to support established project budgets.
• Develop promotional materials, press kits, and marketing strategies to increase the visibility and reach of new and forthcoming publications.

Advance Accessibility and Publishing Best Practices

• Develop and maintain accessibility standards for FSOP's journal and book publications.
• Create and deliver training, including asynchronous resources, to help journal editors understand publishing requirements and accessibility best practices.
• Develop and maintain internal and external documentation for journal and book publishing workflows.
• Provide guidance to authors and editors on publishing standards, accessibility, and effective production practices.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree and two years of experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and six years of experience. (Note: a combination of post high school education and experience equal to six years.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong interest in academic publishing
• Strong communication and writing skills, including copyediting experience
• Strong interpersonal skills, including experience in providing instruction and guidance
• Proven organizational skills, including the ability to multitask, adapt to changing workflows and tools, and solve problems creatively
• Detail-oriented and process-driven, with the ability to both follow and create procedures
• Strong computer literacy, including fluency with common office tools (Microsoft Office and Google Workspace)
• Strong background in graphic design and production tools, including fluency with Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Strong working knowledge of HTML and CSS
• Familiarity with open publishing platforms, including Open Journal Systems (OJS) and Manifold
• Web design experience, particularly with WordPress
• Knowledge of trends, issues, standards, and best practices in academic and digital publishing
• Willingness to learn new tools and technologies

Other Information

Located within FSU Libraries' Digital Research and Scholarship department, this position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to open access scholarly publishing through the production and management of academic journals, books, and other scholarly publications. Working closely with the Digital Publishing Librarian, faculty editors, authors, and publishing partners, the Open Publishing Specialist helps ensure that FSOP's publications are professionally produced, accessible, and widely discoverable.

Helpful

Help expand access to scholarship through innovative, open publishing services.

At University Libraries, you will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to the growth of Florida State Open Publishing and its collection of open access journals, books, and scholarly publications.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, and publishing partners to bring scholarly work to a broader audience.
• Support innovative approaches to scholarly publishing, digital accessibility, and the discoverability of research.
• Develop expertise in publishing technologies, editorial workflows, and the production of accessible digital publications.
• Work in a collaborative environment that values creativity, innovation, continuous learning, and professional growth.

Contact Info

Landis Grenville, Digital Publishing Librarian

University Information

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news! Learn more about Florida State University and our campuses

Anticipated Salary Range

Starting salary is $44,056, commensurate with education and experience.

FSU Total Rewards

FSU offers a robust Total Rewards package. Visit our FSU Total Rewards website to learn more about our Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Recognition, and Employee Development programs. Use our FSU Total Compensation Calculator to calculate Total Compensation options based on potential salary, benefits and retirement contributions, earned leave, and other employment-related perks.

Considerations

This is an A&P position. This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.