Managing Editor Position

Passing this job posting along.

This isn’t your average job posting.

This is an open call for people who have interest doing business for, with, and around AudioLark to get in touch. While I need to fill the position outlined below, this is a good time for me to consider other types of partnerships and working relationships, so if you have an idea – please get in touch at: jennifer@audiolark.com.

I am looking for a Managing Editor for our Erotic Romance division.

AudioLark is an audio book publishing company that specializes (for now) in romance audio books. We are expanding into epublishing, as well. AudioMinx is our erotic romance division. Last year the combined divisions published 65 audio books. Lately, the job of administering the whole company has gotten too large for one person. I’m looking for the perfect person to become Managing Editor of AudioMinx.

This is a rather unique opportunity for someone who wants to break into the publishing industry. The work is hard and the pay is low, but the heavy lifting has already been done and the business is ready to expand. We have a system in place for acquiring books, I can teach the right person everything they need to know about audio book production, I have contracts with all the big sales venues and lots of ideas for promotion. I really believe that with the right person at the helm, our erotic division will take off.

What does the job entail? Everything from reading submissions to setting up contracts, editing manuscripts to formatting them for epublishing, hiring voice talent and audio editors, blogging, finding advertising opportunities, running contests and going to conferences. It will be up to you how many books you produce a month; probably in the range of one to four titles. In short, the job is exactly what you make it. After a period of working under supervision, you’ll be in charge of the AudioMinx division. You’ll pick the books, you’ll nurse them along to publication. Income is based on a percentage of net sales that will increase as you “take charge” of the division. The final percentage will be very generously in your favour.

I am patient, kind, have a great sense of humor, bend over backwards to make situations work out for people, and work harder than most people find humanly possible. You won’t find an easier partner to work with, or someone more dedicated to make this work for you. I will walk you through every step of learning how to run your part of the company.

What qualifications do you need? I can teach you many things, but there are a few basics you need to come with. The most important are:

You must love erotic romance. You should read it regularly, be on top of trends, have a sense who the leaders in the genre are, etc.

You must be a good editor. If I have to edit what you’ve edited, I haven’t saved myself any time. Being a good ‘regular’ editor means you have a better chance of being a good ‘audio’ editor, too. Prior editing experience is a real plus. If you’re the kind of person everyone wants for a critique buddy but don’t have formal editing experience, I will consider you.

You must be technically savvy, and not afraid to learn. I don’t expect candidates to have audio editing experience, but it would help to know how to do basic html, play with websites, download mp3 files to your Ipod, etc. More importantly, you must be confident in your ability to learn new technology, because there’s always something new to learn in this business.

You must have a sense of what’s ‘good’ and what isn’t. Probably the most difficult part of this job is saying no to authors, projects, narrators and editors who aren’t passing muster.

You must have good communications skills. You will need to talk to me, authors, narrators, editors, artists, the public, and so on. If you don’t like people, this probably isn’t a good job for you.

You must have a sense of humor and a strong work ethic. Learning a new business is tough. You will screw up and things will go wrong in ways you never dreamed possible. You have to be able to keep going even when you don’t want to. It is a big deal for people to entrust their hard work to you; no matter what happens, you can’t leave them in the lurch.

How to Apply

Applicants interested in the Managing Editor position should send a cover letter expressing what interests them about the position, what experience they could bring to the job, their own publishing history if they are an author, and any questions they might have about the position. I will respond to all applicants, and will send more information regarding the position to those who seem qualified. The selection process will include a short editing sample, an interview and a request for references.

If you are hesitant about your qualifications, please apply – even if you don’t fit this position, there may be other ways we can work together and I always enjoy getting to know people in the industry.

I would appreciate it if people passed the word on about this opportunity!