Senior Content Strategist: Book Development Leader

StoryTerrace; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

StoryTerrace is seeking an experienced freelance Senior Content Strategist to shape books from early stages, working with authors, ghostwriters, development editors and project managers to define purpose and audience. This senior editorial role blends publishing judgment with diplomacy and market awareness, with the engagement primarily remote and a minimum of 5-7 projects per strategist per year.

The strategist will lead development sessions, approve the editorial blueprint, and guide

Qualifications

• Experience as commissioning editor or senior editor in nonfiction/memoir.
• Ability to lead author and editor collaboration, and strategy sessions.
• Strong sense of market trends and book positioning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Research authors and subject areas before project kickoff.
• Lead a Book Development Strategy Session with authors and editors.
• Define book purpose, audience, positioning, structure and themes.
• Approve a clear Book Strategy Blueprint for editorial work.
• Recommend appropriate ghostwriters and editors for each book.
• Review milestones: outlines, sample chapters, manuscripts.
• Provide strategic feedback to writers to meet standards.
• Ensure manuscript aligns with strategy and evolves direction as needed.
• Contribute editorial insight to titling, cover design and positioning.
• Give final editorial approval before copyediting/production.

Skills

Editorial judgement

Strategy leadership

Content strategy

Communication

Publishing industry knowledge

Job description

StoryTerrace is seeking an experienced freelance Senior Content Strategist to shape books from early stages, working with authors, ghostwriters, development editors and project managers to define purpose and audience. This senior editorial role blends publishing judgment with diplomacy and market awareness, with the engagement primarily remote and a minimum of 5-7 projects per strategist per year.

The strategist will lead development sessions, approve the editorial blueprint, and guide