VP of Higher Education Publishing Solutions
Position Overview: The Vice President of Higher Education Publishing Solutions will lead our higher education publishing division, providing strategic direction and deep domain expertise to design, develop, and deliver innovative publishing solutions for higher education institutions.
This role serves as the critical bridge between sales, editorial, production, and delivery teams, ensuring client needs are translated into high-quality, scalable publishing outcomes. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, this leader will partner closely with account managers and executive leadership to align our publishing solutions with the evolving strategic vision of our clients.
The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking publishing strategist with extensive higher education experience, strong knowledge of academic publishing workflows, and the ability to anticipate and adapt to industry shifts, including AI-driven innovations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and strategic direction for the development and delivery of higher education publishing solutions.
- Lead strategic advisory discussions with higher education institutions to identify publishing needs, opportunities, and challenges.
- Consult with clients to design publishing roadmaps, covering editorial, production, digital conversion, accessibility, and delivery optimization.
- Drive innovation in higher education publishing, including the adoption of emerging technologies, digital learning solutions, and AI accelerators.
- Collaborate with sales and account management teams to design and present tailored publishing solutions that address specific institutional goals.
- Support business growth by guiding sales teams with expert publishing insights and helping close strategic opportunities through consultative engagement.
- Oversee and manage onshore and offshore publishing and production teams to ensure consistent, high-quality deliverables.
- Maintain deep knowledge of higher education publishing trends, regulatory requirements, and industry standards (e.g., accessibility, DEI, copyright, and digital-first approaches).
- Partner with cross-functional execution teams in a global virtual environment to align publishing strategies with market needs.
- Represent Academian as a thought leader in higher education publishing through industry engagement, client workshops, and professional forums.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (Master’s or higher) preferred.
- 15+ years of experience in higher education publishing, content development, or academic solutions.
- Proven record of success in publishing leadership roles with responsibility for strategy, client engagement, and delivery outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to support sales teams in complex solution-selling environments.
- Strong background in managing large-scale publishing workflows and delivery teams.
- In-depth understanding of higher education publishing landscape, including digital platforms, accessibility standards, and evolving pedagogical needs.
- Excellent communication, client-facing, and presentation skills.
- Strategic mindset with ability to transform client challenges into innovative publishing solutions.
- Results-driven with a proven track record of enhancing client satisfaction and driving revenue growth.
Seniority Level: Executive
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Function: Sales and Management
Industries: Book and Periodical Publishing