Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.
Missing levels within the leveling matrix can be added based on business need.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

University Press

The University Press Manager plans, directs, and oversees the acquisition, editorial, production, publication, promotion, and distribution activities of the University Press to ensure the successful publication of high-quality scholarly and general interest books, journals, digital publications, and related materials; provides strategic and operational leadership for one or more functional areas of the University Press, such as acquisitions, publishing, journals, editorial services, or production operations; plays a key role in manuscript acquisition and publication decisions; develops publishing partnerships and long-range publishing strategies; oversees editorial, production, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution activities; ensures compliance with editorial, copyright, accessibility, financial, and institutional standards; collaborates with authors, editors, faculty, vendors, professional organizations, and institutional leadership to advance the mission, visibility, and reputation of the University Press.

• Manage and oversee one or more functional areas of the University Press, including publishing, journals, acquisitions, editorial services, production, or related operations
• Plan, direct, and coordinate the acquisition, publication, promotion, and distribution of books, journals, and digital publications
• Develop strategic plans, operational goals, publishing priorities, and initiatives that support the growth and mission of the University Press
• Evaluate manuscripts, journal proposals, and publishing opportunities; participate in acquisition, editorial, and publication decisions
• Build and maintain relationships with authors, scholars, faculty, editors, professional associations, vendors, distributors, and publishing partners
• Identify, negotiate, and manage publishing partnerships, collaborative agreements, and strategic initiatives that expand publishing opportunities and institutional visibility
• Oversee editorial, production, and manufacturing workflows, including copyediting, design, composition, proofreading, indexing, printing, digital publishing, and reprints
• Manage production schedules and coordinate staff and external vendors to ensure timely, high-quality publication of print and digital products
• Ensure compliance with editorial standards, copyright and licensing requirements, accessibility standards, and institutional publishing policies
• Review and approve publication materials, including proofs, layouts, graphics, and final production files, to ensure quality, consistency, and brand alignment
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts for printing, design, composition, manufacturing, and related publishing services
• Monitor budgets, production costs, royalties, contracts, and operational expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and cost-effective operations
• Analyze publishing trends, market conditions, sales performance, and industry developments to inform publishing strategies and program growth
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, communications, and institutional partners to increase publication visibility, audience engagement, and revenue opportunities
• Evaluate and implement improvements to publishing technologies, workflows, metadata practices, and digital publishing platforms
• Develop and implement publishing policies, procedures, standards, and best practices
• Prepare reports, analyses, forecasts, and recommendations for institutional leadership and stakeholders
• Oversee staff, including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, professional development, and workforce planning

Level:

– Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient ability in work design, project management, financial planning and development of goals for accomplishing unit assignments. Reviews and guides work to ensure conformity to policy and effective approaches. Evaluates employee performance and recommend development opportunities. Demonstrates ability to coach employees. Presents and communicates key university indicatives and connects it to unit contributions. Provides broad guidelines. Develops, evaluates, enhances, and/or implements quality improvement practices. Recommends innovative solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees a team (typically 4 or more; no fewer than 2) full
– time direct reports of individual contributors and/or first level supervisors.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks department/area budget
– May plan, forecast, and/or assist in developing budgets
– May have final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters varied and complex problems
– Helps to develop creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature but within limited scope
– Modifies, adapts, or refines guidelines if necessary to resolve issues or problems

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices and advanced working knowledge to determine appropriate work methods for the team
– Reviews completed work of others for conformity to policy, and effectiveness of approach
– Delegates advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Communicates key university initiatives and how unit’s work contributes to their achievement
– Presents ideas, concepts and instructions in a clear manner, and uses persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $81,312.00
• MidPoint – $101,664.00
• Maximum – $122,016.00

• Adaptability
• Brand management
• Communication design
• Content creation
• Critical reading
• Customer Service
• Editorial workflows
• Marketing research