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 LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply. In alignment with our commitments to science and equity while protecting those are most vulnerable, proof of a full-course vaccination against COVID-19 is a requirement of employment. Medical exemptions are considered upon recommendation from a provider.

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JOBS

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Full-time, Regular Salaried
Boston, MA
Salary Range: $80,000.00 to $84,000.00 annually
Location: Hybrid, Boston (onsite 2 days per week)

General Objectives

The Associate Director of Business Operations reports to the Chief Financial Officer and has significant responsibilities for maintenance of accurate financial records, preparation of sales and product reports, management of transactional processes related to cash receipts and disbursements, preparation of data for tracking backlist reprints, and general office support. The Associate Director of Business Operations supervises one staff—the Associate Business Manager who monitors backlist inventory levels and handles various monthly GL close activities including cash and inventory reconciliations. Acumen is the core financial system for Beacon Press and PRH STAR is repository for sales and inventory activity handled by PRH and the Associate Director of Business Operations is required to have detailed understanding of how both systems work.

The following is a summary of the 8 key responsibility groupings for the Associate Director of Business Operations:

Monthly Financial GL Close and Reporting in Acumen

• Overall supervision of monthly GL close process and checklist sign offs for CFO
• Monthly Sales Reporting & Analysis to BLT
• Quarterly Sales Reporting to Beacon Staff
• Audio Sales Reporting to Beacon Staff
• Preparation of assigned fiscal year end audit schedules
• Documentation and refreshes of Business Office task checklists

Acumen Product & Contract Set Up

• All Beacon saleable product set up in Acumen
• All Author contracts set up in Acumen
• All Rights and Licenses set up in Acumen

Semi Annual Royalty Payout

• Direct preparation of statement
• Perform accuracy testing
• Author Advance Reserve Analysis (quarterly)
• Compute payout reserve for new titles
• Handle author inquiries
• Manage Author Portal
• Perform QA analysis after each payout—inquiries, returned checks, etc.

Cash Control

• Cash Receipts & AR
• Posting cash
• Review AR Aging

Cash Disbursements & Accounts Payable

• Oversight for timely processing of payments
• Education of staff on Beacon Authorization Matrix and invoice processing workflows
• Phased transition in Acumen of various categories of cash spend from printed checks to electronic disbursement
• In coordination with CFO refresh and maintain workflow for T&E processing
• Monthly accounting responsibilities for T&E (timetable TBD)
• Prepare files for annual reporting to IRS for 1099s

Data for Backlist Reprints

• Cross train with Associate Business Manager to ensure back up continuity for this key task
• Perform ad hoc sales and inventory analysis as needed for Director of Sales and CFO
• Identify functionality in STAR that can provide additional analytics and possibly replace some legacy tools to track backlist reprints

Beacon Audio Administration

• Process narration/production contracts per the Beacon Authorization Matrix
• Maintain record of narration/production contracts
• Accounting to track cost spend per audio
• Sales and cost analysis for Beacon Audio operational reviews
• Track third party Audio license sales

Supervision of Associate Business Manager

• Support, coach and supervise Associate Business Manager
• Complete required performance review and all compliance related training for supervisors

Please click here to apply.


EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Beacon Press, a 170-year-old independent, nonprofit book publisher in Boston that specializes in progressive nonfiction, is hiring a full-time editorial assistant.

The editorial assistant position includes a mix of editorial and administrative responsibilities while assisting the associate editorial director. It is an excellent way to learn as an editor and gain further publishing knowledge 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.

In addition to administrative tasks, this position may also include opportunities to acquire, edit, and shepherd through academic crossover and/or trade books in both adult and YA publishing. Prior experience as an editorial assistant is preferred. This role requires being politically engaged, intellectually curious, and attuned to what makes a powerful reading experience. It 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 keeping up on trends within publishing, and requires excellent time-management and organizational skills, and the ability to manage detail-oriented projects with overlapping deadlines.

This is a hybrid position, with some day(s) each week required in our Boston office.

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 LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply. In alignment with our commitments to science and equity while protecting those who are most vulnerable, proof of a full-course vaccination against COVID-19 is a requirement of employment. Medical exemptions are considered upon recommendation from a provider.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide editorial support to associate editorial director. This includes 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.
• 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 the editor is working on; contribute informed ideas about them.
• Potential to acquire 1–2 strong crossover and/or trade books a year.
• Develop contacts, keep abreast of trends, and attend events.
• Actively participate in weekly editorial meetings, editorial retreats, staff and marketing/publicity meetings.
• Assist or independently shepherd books from the proposal stage to final book, including:
• 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 in house 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.
• Take on other departmental tasks as needed.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree although some graduate level work and experience is a plus. Strong language, grammar, writing, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong presentation manner.
• Organized, attentive to detail, resourceful, prioritizes well, and poised under pressure.
• Self-directed and independent with the ability to follow through consistently on assignments.
• Good time management and organizational skills with the ability to multitask across departments, activities, and projects.
• 1–2 years of publishing and/or office experience required.
• Interest in progressive nonfiction publishing and a dedication to Beacon’s mission is a big plus.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and proficient computer skills.

To apply:

Applicants should email a cover letter and résumé with the job title in the subject heading to jobs@beacon.org. No phone calls, please.

INTERNSHIPS

Beacon Press 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. We encourage applicants anywhere in the country to apply. We offer a competitive hourly wage of $20 for each internship. Interns are expected to work for 10–14 weeks, with a 17–20 hour-per-week commitment and a flexible schedule. It is preferable, though not required, that interns be available to work on Thursdays for various meetings.

Editorial Intern

The editorial intern assists all members of the editorial staff. Day-to-day tasks include reading and reporting on submissions, researching potential book ideas, helping guide books to production, and working on special projects. Interns sit in on a number of proposal and other meetings and get the chance to learn how editors evaluate book proposals and a glimpse into the publishing cycle. Candidates should have a strong interest in publishing (especially the editorial process), in social justice, and how the two can work together.

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 LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply. In alignment with our commitments to science and equity while protecting those who are most vulnerable, proof of a full-course vaccination against COVID-19 is a requirement of employment. Medical exemptions are considered upon recommendation from a provider.

To apply to our internship, please send your résumé and cover letter to internships@beacon.org by July 30, 2026.