Publications Director, Cooperative Research Program

nas; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NAS seeks an experienced publishing executive to direct major publication activities, overseeing staff and vendor services to deliver high-volume, complex content across print and digital formats.

You will establish policies, drive editorial and production standards, and ensure accessibility, copyright, privacy, and ethical safeguards across all publications.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large, complex publishing operations.
• Ability to supervise staff and oversee external vendors.
• Knowledge of editorial and production standards and accessibility.
• Strong policy and ethics enforcement in publishing.

Responsibilities

• Directs, plans, and oversees production of publications and schedules.
• Recruits, trains, and manages staff; mentors and guides development.
• Establishes and enforces editorial and production policies and standards.
• Guides manuscript processing and publication workflows with accuracy.
• Oversees vendor services, contracts, and quality control.
• Prepares reports and analyzes performance metrics for senior management.
• Manages permissions, budgets, and financial aspects when needed.
• Oversees electronic/digital publishing and accessibility compliance.

Skills

Staff management

Editorial leadership

Production planning

Vendor management

AI-enabled publishing tools

Policy & standards enforcement

Communication with authors and editors

Tools

AI-enabled editorial tools

Job description

Job Description Summary:

COVER LETTER REQUIRED

Responsible for publishing the organization's books, journals, magazines, and other content products, both digital and print. Duties are significant in scope, of high volume, and highly complex and technical in nature. Manages in-house staff and oversees services provided by vendors. Determines composition, design and graphics requirements and directs writers, editors, graphic artists, and production activities. Responsible for manuscript preparation and production in accordance with style specification and quality standards.

Incumbent directs the planning, execution, and staffing of major publication activities of significant breadth and complexity. Responsible for managing (directly or indirectly) a major unit's publishing efforts. Incumbent brings industry-level expertise to function and provides innovative solutions to complex functional problems to impact success. Oversees the adoption of emerging publishing technologies, according to institutional policies, including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled editorial and production tools, ensuring appropriate transparency, accountability, quality control, copyright compliance, privacy protections, and ethical safeguards. Incumbents have supervisory responsibility for staff, establishes policies and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient operation of assigned functions, and is accountable for the performance and results of the team.

Incumbent directs the planning, execution, and staffing of major publication activities of significant breadth and complexity. Has complete authority to take whatever action deemed advisable or necessary and is typically responsible for managing (directly or indirectly) all of a major unit's publishing efforts. Incumbents bring industry-level expertise to function and provide innovative solutions to complex functional problems to impact success. Incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for staff, establishes policies and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient operation of assigned functions, and is accountable for the performance and results of the team.

Incumbent directs the planning, execution, and staffing of major publication activities of significant breadth and complexity. Has complete authority to take whatever action deemed advisable or necessary and is typically responsible for managing (directly or indirectly) all of a major unit's publishing efforts. Incumbents bring industry-level expertise to function and provide innovative solutions to complex functional problems to impact success. Incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for staff, establishes policies and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient operation of assigned functions, and is accountable for the performance and results of the team.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

1. Directs, plans, and oversees production of publications. Oversees office workflow and production schedules.
2. Recruits, trains, and manages staff and arranges for supplemental services as needed. Provides leadership, mentoring, and guidance. Conducts workforce and staff development planning. Develops employees to successfully perform current responsibilities and supports development of staff for future roles. Cultivates a work environment that fosters teamwork. Interprets and ensures consistent application of organizational policies. Initiates personnel actions, including performance and compensation reviews and disciplinary actions.
3. Establishes and implements editorial and production policies, standards, and procedures. Determines appropriate level of editing and design for publications. Evaluates emerging industry practices and technologies and updates organizational standards as appropriate. Ensures transparency, accountability, confidentiality, bias mitigation, copyright compliance, and adherence to organizational standards for publication ethics.
4. Communicates with and provides guidance to staff, authors, reviewers, and National Academies' members regarding manuscript and publication processing policies, procedures, and status. Ensures that published materials conform to National Academies' and TRB's standards and fulfill contractual funding and delivery requirements.
5. Oversees purchasing of vendor services, ensuring quality of work and competitive pricing, fulfillment of contractual requirements, and management of related contracts.
6. Performs a variety of complex editorial duties. May serve as chief editor or editor on a variety of publications and content products.
7. Prepares reports and statistics and provides analyses to senior management. Uses publication performance indicators and other quantitative and qualitative information to evaluate effectiveness and inform decision-making.
8. Oversees granting of permissions.
9. Identifies, recommends, and implements new technology and standards, as appropriate.
10. May manage financial aspects of publications. Oversees financial operations and budgets and ensures budgetary parameters are adhered to. Develops financial projections and evaluates operational efficiencies to support strategic publishing objectives
11. May oversee related areas such as electronic publishing, web publishing, content management systems, digital preservation, and accessibility activities and dissemination and marketing of publishing products.
12. Ensures publications and digital products comply with applicable accessibility requirements and best practices, including Section 508, WCAG standards, accessible document design, EPUB accessibility requirements, and evolving industry standards. Establishes quality-control pro