	Login Cart Advanced Search
Our List Bestsellers Current Bestsellers All-Time Bestsellers Activism General Economic Justice Environmental Justice Education Reform Racial Justice Community Action Immigration Reform American Society General Anthropology Cultural Studies General Latin American Native American Myths Made In America Economics Law and Society Philosophy Sociology Disability Studies Sports and Society Child and Family Issues Adoption General Charlottesville Syllabus Biography and Memoir Autobiography and Memoir Biography Environment and Conservation Energy and Climate Conservation Food and Agriculture Wildlife Nature and Environment Concord Library Series Gardening General Biography and Memoir Feminism and Gender Feminism Gender Women's History Women's Literature Black Women Writers Bluestreak Series General Women's Lives Sexuality Biography and Memoir History American History General Early American History 19th Century American History 20th Century American History 21st Century American History African American History General World History Africa Asia Central and South America Europe Middle East ReVisioning American History The King Legacy ReVisioning American History YA Literature and the Arts Fiction Poetry Nonfiction General Essays Food and Society Letters Memoirs Queer Perspectives Multicultural Interest African American Asian American Caribbean Latin American Middle Eastern Native American South Asian By Series Black Women Writers Bluestreak Concord Writers Young Adult Music The Arts National Poetry Series Politics and Current Events Politics and Current Events Progressive Education LGBT Issues Books for K-12 Classroom Use Teaching and the Classroom Higher Education History of Education Race and Education School Reform and Policy Race Education Democracy Series Queer Perspectives Education and Youth Fiction General Memoir Religion and Sexuality Queer Ideas Queer Action Transgender Perspectives Transgender Voices Also of Interest Race and Ethnicity in America General African American History African American Literature Fiction and Poetry Nonfiction Black Women Writers Celebrating Black Women Writers King Legacy Series Race Education Democracy Series Black History Month Religion How We Live Our Beliefs Pluralism Buddhism Christianity African American Theology Catholicism Early Christianity General Protestant Islam Judaism Unitarian Universalism World Religions Gender and Sexuality Inspiration Science and Medicine Public Health Medicine Science Psychology Women's Health Now More Than Ever Books to Inspire Action Books to Find Meaning Books on American Society Audiobooks Books by Mary Oliver Poetry and Prose Audiobooks Fall 2019 Spring 2020 Blog About About Beacon Address and Directions Awards Booksellers and Librarians Catalogs Staff Distribution Sales and Ordering Submission Guidelines Contact Customer Service Author Appearances Jobs and Internships Media Requests Rights and Permissions Educator Resources Teacher Guides Desk and Exam Copy Information UU Resources The UUA and Beacon Press Congregational and Book Group Guides Author Events Events Calendar Contact Us

Jobs & Internships

Beacon Press is owned and operated under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist Association and is an equal opportunity employer. Beacon Press values a diverse workforce; people with disabilities, people of color, and those who identify as L/G/B/T/Q are strongly encouraged to apply.

JOBS

Editor

Beacon Press, an over 150-year-old independent, nonprofit book publisher in Boston that specializes in progressive nonfiction, seeks a Boston-based Editor to acquire, edit, and shepherd through publication 6-7 crossover or trade books a year. The ideal candidate will have prior experience as an associate or assistant editor, will be politically engaged, intellectually curious, and attuned to what makes a powerful reading experience. The candidate will acquire titles consonant with the Press’ existing lists but will also come eager to develop a list that expands the Press’ mission to a new subject area.

This position requires excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently toward the collaborative and common goals of the lists, the editorial department, and the Press. It entails travel to relevant academic conferences and cultivating contacts both within and outside the publishing industry, demands keeping up on trends within acquisitional areas, and requires excellent time-management and organizational skills, and the ability to manage detail-oriented projects with overlapping deadlines.

Beacon values a diverse workforce; people with disabilities, people of color, and those who identify as L/G/B/T/Q are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Acquire 6-7 strong crossover or trade books a year, preferably 7. Reporting to Associate Director and/or Associate Editorial Director.
Participate in cultural change process at Beacon Press.
Develop contacts, keep abreast of trends, and attend conferences in acquisitions field(s). Nurture relationships with literary agents but when there’s no agent, work directly with writers to develop book ideas.
Actively participate in weekly editorial meetings, editorial retreats, staff and marketing/publicity meetings. Pass projects appropriate for other editors’ lists. Foster strong connections with all departments—sales, marketing, design, publicity, and production.
Make offers to authors or agents, developing familiarity with Beacon contract terms and industry norms.
Shepherd books from the proposal stage to final book, including:

Develop and edit manuscripts.
Track permissions, as needed. Prepare manuscripts for transmittal to production department.
Work with authors and in-house colleagues on titles and subtitles and draft title information sheets.
Launch titles inhouse and as needed with Beacon’s distributor, Penguin Random House.
Draft and circ design memo.
Draft all copy—online copy, flap copy, back panel copy.
Solicit blurbs.
Collaborate with publicity and marketing on developing publication strategy.
Send out complimentary copies of printed book to endorsers and influencers.
Submit books for awards.

Maintain files and contact with backlist authors.
Mentor assistants and interns.
Take on other departmental tasks as needed.

To apply: Applicants should email a cover letter and résumé to jobs@beacon.org. No phone calls, please.

Beacon Press is owned and operated under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist Association and is an equal opportunity employer. Beacon Press values a diverse workforce; people with disabilities, people of color, and those who identify as L/G/B/T/Q are strongly encouraged to apply.

Editorial Assistant

Beacon Press, a 150-year-old independent, nonprofit book publisher in Boston that specializes in progressive nonfiction, is hiring a full-time editorial assistant, who will assist two senior editors. This position is a mix of editorial and administrative responsibilities. It is an excellent way to learn the publishing business and simultaneously do good in the world. Responsibilities can shift or increase in one direction as the assistant learns more and develops specific publishing interests. However, it is ideal for someone at an entry level. Great attitude/morale and a collaborative, eager-to-learn spirit make a great fit with our work culture. The candidate must be highly organized; an excellent writer, reader and communicator; and have an interest in progressive publishing. Beacon values a diverse workforce; people with disabilities, people of color, and those who identify as L/G/B/T/Q are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide editorial support, including reading submissions, writing readers reports, drafting editorial and marketing memos for internal use; drafting online and flap copy for external use; researching book ideas and authors.
Participate in cultural change process at Beacon Press.
Provide administrative support, including processing author payments; handling permissions; mailing books; updating editorial meeting minutes; tracking deadlines; preparing manuscripts for production.
Coordinate with publicity, marketing, production, and design departments to meet in-house deadlines and keep books on schedule.
Know and understand the books each Senior Editor is working on; contribute informed ideas about them.
Supervise an editorial intern for the department.
Assume additional responsibilities as requested.

Requirements:

Undergraduate degree
Strong language, grammar, writing, and critical thinking skills
Strong presentation manner
Organized, attentive to detail, resourceful, prioritizes well, and poised under pressure
Previous publishing and/or internship experience is a plus
Interest in progressive nonfiction publishing and a dedication to Beacon’s mission is a big plus
Knowledge of Microsoft Office and proficient computer skills

INTERNSHIPS

Beacon Press Spring 2020 Internships for People of Color

The Beacon Press Internships for People of Color program seeks to increase diversity and inclusiveness in the book publishing industry. Each Spring and Fall, Beacon Press offers four internships, one in each of the Marketing, Publicity, Production, and Editorial departments. We offer a competitive hourly wage of $16 an hour for each internship. Interns are expected to work for 14–16 weeks, with a 12–20 hour-per-week commitment and a flexible schedule. It is preferable, though not required, that interns be in the office on Thursdays for various meetings. All internships take place in our Boston office. We are also happy to work with your school to help you earn college credits, when applicable.

A Beacon Press internship is a wonderful learning opportunity, and may prove to be invaluable should you pursue a career in book publishing. Because Beacon is a small press, our interns have the opportunity to observe the functions of other departments as well as their own, to work in a friendly and supportive environment, and to make a valued contribution to a distinguished press that has a long tradition of publishing progressive, timely, and thought-provoking books.

To apply for the Beacon Press Internship for People of Color for the Spring 2020 semester, please send your résumé and a cover letter to internships@beacon.org and indicate the internship you are applying for. Applications are due by November 15th.

Publicity Intern

The Publicity Intern will work in various areas of administration and support, gaining valuable experience in book publicity, while also having the opportunity to observe and engage with other departments. Day-to-day tasks may include assisting with book mailings, database maintenance, attending meetings, researching media leads, tracking media placements, creating press materials, writing occasional blog posts, and completing media outreach. Our interns gain hands-on publicity experience and are expected to fully engage with the books and work assigned to them.

Candidates should have excellent writing, research, and critical thinking skills; be creative, detail-oriented, and work well independently. Computer skills, a desire to learn, and a dedication to our social justice mission are essential.

Editorial Intern

The Editorial Intern will assess and respond to manuscripts, assisting the editorial team with research, and developing readers’ guides for select titles. Interns have the opportunity to attend various meetings and will work closely with a member of the editorial team.

In selecting interns, we look for motivated applicants with a strong interest in publishing, a passion for social justice, and strong reading, writing, and administrative skills. Familiarity with current events and politics is a plus. Previous office experience and computer skills are helpful but not essential; a commitment to Beacon’s mission is required.

Book Production Intern

The Production Internship provides an opportunity to learn about the book production process from the editing, design, and typesetting stages to the bound book. Duties also include: proofreading, filing, reviewing copyedits, photocopying, data entry, archiving, preparing packages for vendors and freelancers, maintenance of the production library, assistance with the digital archive, and special projects.

Candidates should have a particular interest in the area of production, be extremely detail-oriented, and have strong organizational skills. You must be comfortable working independently on projects.

Marketing Intern

The marketing intern works closely with the marketing department in various areas of administration and support. Day-to-day tasks include research for organizational and academic outreach opportunities, assisting with book mailings for giveaways and other projects, drafting letters, reading assigned books to assist in development of marketing plans, scheduling social media posts; updating content on Beacon websites, writing blog posts, tracking monthly online stats, and producing marketing materials.

Candidates should have a strong interest in publishing and social justice, as well as a desire to learn about marketing books to consumer audiences.

Beacon Press is owned and operated under the auspices of the Unitarian Universalist Association and is an equal opportunity employer. Beacon Press values a diverse workforce; people with disabilities, people of color, and those who identify as L/G/B/T/Q are strongly encouraged to apply.