Thornwillow is a printer and publisher of handmade, limited edition books. We do all of the design, typesetting, letterpress printing, and binding at the press in a complex of 19th century buildings in Newburgh, NY. We believe that in this age of disposable communications and virtual relationships, beautifully made objects that are designed to last, matter. Thornwillow is one of the leading fine press publishers in the world. Our books are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, The Metropolitan Museum, and The White House. Our collectors and customers are based all over the world. We are an artisanal enterprise committed to teaching and perpetuating the related arts and crafts of the written word.
Editorial Assistant
We are looking to hire a full-time or part-time Editorial Assistant who shares our love of fine printing to join our team at the Press. This is a full-time, on-site position. All of our books, large and small, are made here, it is crucial that the people crafting and implementing our editorial voice and written messages (editorial notes in our publications, newsletters, weekly eblasts, social media posts, prospectus and marketing texts) have the spirit of the Press in their pen, if not its ink on their fingers. You will work with the operations, website, design, printing and binding teams as well as collectors and clients so good communication and collaboration skills are essential. Ultimately, in this role, you will become an anchor part of our editorial team and ensure the excellence of our publications, that they meet quality standards, and are delivered on time. We are a small enterprise and are looking for people who are a pleasure to work with and share our enthusiasm. We are prepared to train, so entry level applicants are welcome.
Editorial Assistant responsibilities include:
- Copy editing and reviewing manuscripts and typeset proofs for our publications to make sure they are press ready
- Writing introductory copy for publications (editor’s notes etc)
- writing cover letters, prospectuses, website copy for the launch and marketing of publications
- Reviewing, drafting, and updating website copy
- Reviewing, drafting and updating Kickstarter and Patreon copy
- Reviewing, drafting and updating social media content including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and our blog
- Participate in title selection discussions
- Participate in planning and scheduling of publications
- Participate in the crafting and implementation of marketing and sales strategies
- Assist in coordinating author, estate, and publisher relationships (contracts, letters of agreement, deliverables)
- Collector outreach – draft letters, send letters, update database
- Drafting and posting regular marketing and communications initiatives – eblasts, blog posts, Patreon feeds
- Growing responsibility for maintaining schedules, project workflow, procedures, and deadlines.
- Help with other ancillary work at the press as needed – from assisting with packing and shipping during crunch periods to helping in the bindery. In short, lending a helpful hand even when it is not directly connected to your immediate area of responsibility.
Responsibilities
- Keep track of component tasks of projects, timeframes, and deliverables.
- Work with customers and collectors on their orders.
- Collect and enter new orders – Received via phone, email, and internet.
- Help with quality control, packaging and fulfillment of orders.
- Create and update workflows
- Prepare updates for internal teams and communicate with customers.
- Collect necessary information on evolving, ongoing projects (e.g. client changes, changing deadlines, and new requirements).
- Track timing and learn to predict how long future projects will take based on past experience.
- Monitor project progress, address potential issues and resolve problems.
- Measure and report on project status.
- Act as a point of contact for key participants.
Skills
- Strong writing and editing skills are essential.
- Work experience as an editorial assistant or similar role would be a plus, but not essential. It is essential that you are organized, communicate well, and have a strong desire to learn and grow.
- Hands-on experience with spreadsheets, working with calendars, working on the back end of websites is a plus.
- Knowledge of Google Sheets, Google Docs, Excel, Word, Airtable, Magento, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Kickstarter, and Patreon would be a plus.
- Solid organization and time-management skills
- Care and attention to detail.
- Good phone skills.
- Team spirit.
Job Type: Full-time or part-time
Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30
Work Location: Newburgh, NY 12550: Candidates must be able to reliably commute or relocate before starting work.
Compensation: Starting at $144.00 / day, with significant room for growth as skills, experience, and commitment evolve. For more seasoned candidates, compensation will be commensurate with experience.
Affordable Housing in the Thornwillow Makers Village (pending availability) – applicable to full time employees only (minimum 40 hours/week)
For more information please contact: opportunities@thornwillow.com