The Beloit Poetry Journal is seeking applicants for a newly created Operations Manager ("OM") position to administer back-office functions while joining a vibrant non-profit literary organization committed to publishing the best in contemporary poetry. The ideal candidate for this position is a person who seeks to use their managerial and organizational skills to further the mission of a progressive literary magazine.
The BPJ is one of the nation’s oldest literary journals; it is wholly independent and has been publishing poetry, reviews, essays, and chapbooks for over 70 years. The BPJ has a dedicated, expanding family of contributors and readers, and a small, devoted staff. It runs the esteemed Adrienne Rich Award and the Chad Walsh Chapbook Series contest annually, as it seeks to publish the most sophisticated, innovative, world-aware work by new and established poets in two annual issues and a yearly chapbook.
Position Overview
The Operations Manager will work on a part-time basis to administer the day-to-day business of the journal and to help prepare material for publication in print and online. While the position will include engagement with poetry and poets, it is largely an administrative role that requires organizational and managerial skills to accomplish tasks to help run a non-profit publishing business. The OM will work under the supervision of the BPJ Co-editors and must be available for weekly (remote) meetings. The OM must possess strong administrative skills and be able to work independently, with close attention to detail and deadlines as the organizational heart of the BPJ.
This is a remote-work position, but preference will be given to applicants in the Boston-Portland (Maine) corridor where the Co-Editors are based. This role generally requires 15 hours per week (varies depending on publication calendar) at $10,000 per year.
Responsibilities include
● Conducting daily operational tasks of the journal, including correspondence (with vendors, contributors, subscribers, and distribution agents), bookkeeping, record-keeping
● Maintaining subscription, contributor, and donor databases (Excel) and other online systems
● Maintaining editorial calendar
● Coordinating printing schedules, communicating with printer, and fulfilling related requirements
● Providing support for grant proposals and development opportunities
● Managing tasks related to circulation and distribution
● Coordinating special projects as they arise
The ideal candidate will have
● Expertise with back-office functions and management
● Expertise in Microsoft Suite, especially Outlook and Excel
● Familiarity with website management and database maintenance
● Experience with bookkeeping and overseeing organizational budgets
● Location in MA, NH or ME is strongly preferred, but not required
● Experience in literary publishing and/ or non-profit business management is preferred, but not required
● A love for and knowledge of literature, especially poetry, along with a flexible approach and sense of humor!
To Apply
Submit a letter of interest, a resume, and reference contacts by email to bpj@bpj.org, using “Operations Manager [your last name]” for the subject line.
No postal mail applications or phone queries, please. The BPJ intends to fill this position in July 2021. Please apply at your earliest convenience.
The BPJ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected class status. In all we do, the BPJ champions diverse backgrounds. If you need any reasonable accommodation to apply for or perform the functions of this job, please let us know.
