Senior or Executive Editor, Original Publishing

VIZ Media; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance/Benefits package

401(k) with employer matching

Commuter stipend

Job summary

VIZ Media seeks a Senior/Executive Editor, Original Publishing in California to oversee acquisition and editing of 10–15 original books per year, emphasizing Asian pop culture and entertainment. Role requires ideation, commissioning, and close collaboration with editorial, design, production, and marketing teams.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years in publishing, strong project management, and a track record of delivering complex, full-color projects on deadline.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of publishing industry experience, with senior editorial roles.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects from acquisition to completion.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Experience leading freelance teams (designers, photographers, writers).
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong internal relationships.
• Strong problem solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and handle competing priorities.
• Interest in publishing, entertainment, pop culture; anime/manga knowledge a plus.
• Bachelor's Degree in English/Journalism/Creative Writing or related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage new publishing projects from ideation to completion.
• Identify opportunities and commission authors and other creatives.
• Evaluate book proposals and build the commercial case for their acquisition.
• Undertake developmental and line edits, and review illustrated layouts.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with agents and authors.
• Engage with authors/agents through production and ensure contracts.
• Report on trends and audiences; establish production schedules.
• Collaborate with freelancers, copydesk, designers, and production.
• Prepare sales and marketing materials as required.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Project management

Freelance management

Communication skills

Multitasking

Deadline-oriented

Education

BA English

Journalism

Creative Writing

Comparative Literature

Job description

About Our Company

VIZ Media has been bringing the finest in manga, anime, and global entertainment to English-speaking fans across the world for nearly 40 years. From classic series like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Naruto to current hits like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man, we continue to offer the best in action, romance, fantasy, and adventure stories for fans of all ages.

Our critically acclaimed manga, graphic novels, and books have won Eisner, YALSA, and Hugo awards and are available in both print and digital editions, and our premier catalog of anime titles can be seen on TV and via streaming and digital download, as well as in collectible Blu-ray and DVD sets at major retailers.

Learn more about VIZ Media, anime, and manga at www.viz.com.

Job Summary

VIZ Media, the world leader in English-language versions of manga and anime, is looking for a Senior or Executive Editor to join our Original Publishing team. The Senior Editor/Executive Editor, Original Publishing will commission and acquire commercially appealing books with an emphasis on Asian pop culture and entertainment. Titles may span a wide variety of formats and subjects, including illustrated books, novelty formats, cooking, general interest non-fiction, and more. Reporting to the Publishing Director, the Senior/Executive Editor will develop the trade list for the VIZ Media imprint, acquiring and editing approximately 10-15 original books per year. A significant amount of creative ideation and commissioning will be required.

This role works closely with authors and agents, along with members of the editorial, design, production and marketing departments. Experience sourcing and collating images for illustrated/photographic books will be highly regarded. The final title for this position will be determined based on the candidate’s level of experience.

What you’ll do

• Manage new publishing projects from ideation to completion
• Identify opportunities and commission authors and other creatives
• Evaluate book proposals and build the commercial case for their acquisition
• Undertake developmental and line edits, along with reviewing and collaborating on illustrated layouts
• Negotiate and manage relationships with agents and authors
• Engage with authors/agents throughout the acquisition and production process and ensure all relevant approvals and contracts are in place
• Report on trends and audiences and highlight potential new areas for growthEstablish and manage production schedules
• Collaborate with freelancers, copydesk, designers, art directors, and production
• Prepare sales and marketing materials as required

The ideal candidate has

• 8+ years of relevant publishing industry experience, including significant senior editorial experience with both prose and complex, full-color books
• Direct experience managing multiple concurrent projects from acquisition to completion
• A strong record of delivering projects to deadline with minimal supervision-effective organization and prioritization skills are a must
• Extensive experience managing freelance creative teams (including designers, photographers, and writers)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to successfully manage internal relationships
• Ability to problem solve creatively with strong critical thinking skills and deep attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative with the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities
• Understanding of and interest in the publishing, entertainment, and pop culture landscape; some knowledge of or interest in anime and manga a plus
• Bachelor's Degree in English, Journalism, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, Communications, or related fields from an accredited college or university, or equivalent experience

Work Environment & Schedule

Location: The Senior/Executive Editor, Original Publishing position is open to candidates residing and working in California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, or Texas. If local to the San Francisco Bay Area, 1-2 days of work onsite at our downtown San Francisco office is expected weekly. If remote, the Editor should expect to travel to San Francisco 3-4 times per year.

Schedule: This is a Regular Full-Time position (40 hours per week) with core hours of 10 am to 4 pm with flexibility outside of core hours.

Compensation: $95,000 - $115,000 annually, depending on experience, with additional variable compensation

VIZ Media offers the following benefits to its eligible employees

• Partially subsidized Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) savings plan - including employer matching
• Flexible Spending - health and dependent care
• Commuter stipend for in-office work
• Life Insurance/AD&D/STD/LTD
• Legal & ID Theft insurance
• Group Pet insurance rates
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time - plus your birthday is a holiday!
• Philanthropy program, including paid time off for volunteer work
• Wellness program, including fitness membership discounts and reimbursement
• Full time casual dress
• Flexible work hours

As part of a multi-media entertainment company, employees may be subjected to work-related content such as: sexually explicit images, nudity, and graphic violence. Applicants should be willing to work with this type of content.

VIZ Media is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any legally protected status.

VIZ Media respects applicants' privacy rights. To review VIZ Media's Privacy Policy, please visit VIZ Media Applicant Privacy Policy - CA.