UMPH JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Editor Dept.: Publish-Children’s

Job Code: 1210 Dept. #: 70100

FLSA: Exempt Date: 3/16/2015

JOB PURPOSE The Editor, in collaboration with senior or lead editor, the children's team, design manager, production editing manager, and business manager, manages and contributes to the product planning, acquisition, writing, and editorial development of children’s curriculum and books published under the Abingdon and Cokesbury imprints to serve The United Methodist Church and other markets. The incumbent provides product development expertise to the interdepartmental product team, including responsibility for implementation of series curriculum, new product development, and long-term product planning. The incumbent gathers customer input and feedback and translates that information into strategies and proposals to bring to the team. The incumbent generates multiple product ideas and experiments and makes continuous improvements. The incumbent plans and edits new and existing resources while writing or at times collaborating with writers for manuscripts; edits own work or submissions for structure, completeness, uniqueness, coherence, and competence; and coordinates and completes all steps in the editorial workflow process for each assigned or acquired product (print and electronic), as well as collaborates with production editors and designers in order to achieve high-quality publications on schedule and on budget. The position requires mastery (or quick learning) of selected computer programs, an ability to produce products on time, strong knowledge of the church and Christian education for children, and active engagement in digital and social media applications in a business or educational environment.

DIMENSIONS Staff Supervised: Exempt Non-Exempt Temp Pool Total Directly 0 0 0 0 Indirectly 0 0 0 0 Annual Sales Budget: $9,000,000 (approx.)

NATURE AND SCOPE 1. Reporting Relationship/Peers Reports to Senior Editor, as do: 1* Lead Editor 2* Other Editors

2. Business Unit Relationship The Children’s Unit exists to identify and excel at meeting the needs of children (ages 0-12), their parents/guardians, and their caretakers/educators through programs within the church, including but not limited to Sunday school, midweek, after school, and children’s church. The unit exists to support Christian educators as they help children experience God through Jesus Christ. The unit attends to its task by discerning the needs of its audience; planning for, developing, and acquiring products and services that persons in this audience will choose, use, and value; communicating effectively with inside and outside customers about those products; and delivering products through various distribution channels while meeting the financial goals of the unit. The unit must remain sensitive to the market (products/services), advertising, and promotional needs and expectations of The United Methodist Church, other denominations, and the church at large in order to make appropriate product selection and coordinate advertising, promotion, and customer service for products and services generated from the unit. Editor – Children’s Page 1 of 6 3. Essential Job Functions % Of Time Function 50% Plans, writes, and edits children’s curriculum and other resources, including collaborating with outside content providers (authors or writers) for manuscripts; editing submissions for structure, completeness, uniqueness, coherence, and competence; and coordinating and completing all steps in the editorial workflow process for each assigned or acquired product (print and electronic), working with copy editors and/or production editors and designers in order to achieve high-quality publications on-time and on budget. 15% Provides art direction to graphic designer(s) and web developers. 10% Identifies new approaches to children’s education, new markets not currently being served, and new settings where educational resources are needed. Conducts research to verify audience needs and objectives and plans products to respond to those needs and objectives. Researches market trends and assesses the competitive environment. Helps identify outside resources to assist in planning and writing. Plans and schedules product development projects, contributing to project budgeting and unit strategic objectives and preparing and securing approval for business plans for all new products with business and marketing manager and director. Envisions ways to enhance existing products and test new products. 10% Cultivates and maintains author/writer/creator pool and counsels with and directs their plans and work as needed. 5% Solicits and interprets concept and manuscript critiques from internal and external reviewers/evaluators. 5% Secures and manages contract/freelance editors as needed. 5% Develops and implements a plan to evaluate current resources through research and maintaining regular contact with a variety of current and potential customer segments in order to improve future product offerings.

These essential functions are not intended to cover all work details or the occasional performance of other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

4. Reporting Directly to This Job  N/A

5. Typical Problems/Greatest Challenge  Contributing to the planning and development of a dynamic program of curriculum resources to meet or exceed specific sales goals  Writing and editing resources in such a way that they are educationally and theologically sound in content, appropriate for the end user, and marketable  Managing multiple assignments with overlapping production schedules to keep assigned products moving toward delivery in a timely fashion without compromising accuracy and quality of content  Managing time and available resources to balance the needs for envisioning and acquiring quality new products, assuring the quality of new and reprinted products, maintaining positive relationships with product creators and other key players, and assuring the timely production of planned resources  Maintaining clear awareness and contact with customers, being innovative in order to determine customer needs in the competitive environment for children’s curriculum resources, meet their needs, exceed their expectations, and build their trust  Staying abreast of current market trends, as well as trends in children’s education and the contemporary church

Editor – Children’s Page 2 of 6  Keeping an appropriate balance between time and attention given to editorial requirements of existing curriculum resources and that given to research, planning, and development of new resources

6. Authority/Accountability  Authority to work directly with writers, consultants, and authors to develop, edit, and improve manuscripts, particularly in relation to theology, biblical accuracy, age appropriateness, and the particular teaching/learning approach of the curriculum  Authority over art direction  Authority to collaborate with production editors and copy editors (in-house and free-lance) on matters of style, grammar, and format  Authority to write advertising and packaging materials that support a product  Authority to seek approval from senior or lead editor and/or director before proceeding with new product business concepts or planning, travel commitments, business expenses, hardware/software tools, and contracts/invoice approval/processing  Authority to manage editorial development processes of products and publications to assure that they meet established delivery dates  Authority to coordinate and negotiate with all editorial, design, art procurement, photography, prepress, and (when applicable) copy processing personnel to assure multiple products/publications are produced in accordance to established schedules and are of the highest possible quality  Authority to work within the established policies and procedures of the UMPH and within the limits and constraints of publication specifications, budgets, and production schedules

7. Contacts/Committees/Memberships  Staff members of the Children’s Unit, other UMPH units, and specific cross-unit teams, as assigned  Associate Publisher Curriculum and MAPP  Content creators  Customers and leaders in the church and religious children’s education  Production Editor – to convey/ensure editorial, theological, biblical, and educational appropriateness  Design staff – to convey/ensure editorial and educational appropriateness of layouts  Art Procurement, Photography, and Prepress staff – for the acquisition and monitoring of services essential to the production of quality resources  Educational professionals, church school teachers, and other local church workers – to keep abreast of their current needs and objectives and their evaluation of our resources  Contract/freelance editors and copy/production editors  Internal and external reviewers/evaluators  Other contractors/vendors as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS Education/Experience A Bachelor’s degree in Christian education, theology, religious studies, or a closely related field, and at least two (2) years of related experience, demonstrating a high level of competence in writing and editing. A Master’s degree or higher is preferred. Religious publishing experience or comparable applicable experience is also preferred. Knowledge and training and experience in the area of children’s curriculum is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  Excellent writing and editing skills and attention to detail  Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make presentations as needed  Excellent personal computer skills, including intermediate proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software (Microsoft Word and Excel preferred)  Strong project management skills and organizational ability

Editor – Children’s Page 3 of 6  Working knowledge of current publishing processes, including digital publishing processes and possibilities  Working knowledge of and active engagement in social media in a business or educational environment  Current or previous participation in local church religious education for children is preferred  Knowledge of or experience with persons of the audience age level is preferred  Knowledge of The United Methodist Church is preferred  Knowledge of markets served by The United Methodist Publishing House and of the competitive environment related to product appeal, utility, and sales is preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Equipment Used Office Equipment: Computer, peripherals, copier, printer, telephone, fax, DVD/VCR Hand Tools: None Power Tools: None Vehicles: None

Physical Movement Demands

Demand Definition Frequency Standing, Prolonged Standing stationary, while working, for two or more continuous hours N/A Sitting, Prolonged Sitting, while working, for two or more continuous hours Frequent Walking, Prolonged Walking which consumes at least two or more hours of each work day N/A Climbing, Stair Ascending/descending stairs using feet and legs N/A Climbing, Ladder Ascending/descending a ladder using feet/legs and arms/hands N/A Balancing Maintaining balance to prevent falling on narrow/slippery/moving surfaces N/A Stooping (Squatting) Bending body downward and forward, requiring full use of legs and back N/A Bending Bending body forward/side-to-side at the waist while legs are kept straight N/A Kneeling Bending legs at knees to come to rest on one or both knees N/A Crawling Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet N/A Reaching Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction Frequent Gripping Seizing, holding, grasping, or turning with hand(s), using a forceful grip N/A Finger Manipulation Picking, pinching, or pushing small objects with fingers Frequent

FREQUENCY DEFINITIONS: Continuous = over 6 hrs/day Frequent = 2-6 hrs/day Infrequent = up to 2 hrs/day

Physical Strength Demands Range of Lift/ Max. Demand Material(s) Affected Frequency D is t a n c e C a r ri e d Lifting N/A N/A N/A N/A Editor – Children’s Page 4 of 6 Pushing/Pulling N/A N/A N/A N/A Carrying N/A N/A N/A N/A

Repetitive Motions (must be performed on a frequent or continuous basis)

Affected Body Part(s) Task(s) Involved Frequency Hand/Fingers Typing at computer; moving mouse or peripherals Frequent Back/Legs (Lifting/Squatting) N/A N/A

Sensory Demands

Sense Task(s) Involved/Safety Issue Affected Frequency Vision, Close (Reading) Typing and reading documents Frequent Vision, Distance N/A N/A Vision, Color Discrimination Art and graphics Frequent Vision, Peripheral Working with multiple monitors during product Frequent development Vision, Depth Perception N/A N/A Hearing N/A N/A Feeling N/A N/A

General Hazards

Hazard Frequency Close proximity to moving, mechanical parts/machinery N/A Potential for exposure to electrical shock N/A Working in high, exposed places N/A Potential for exposure to dangerous chemicals (fuels, paint, etc.) N/A Potential for exposure to dangerous chemicals (fuels, paint, etc.) N/A Reasonable accomodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

JOB APPLICANT: I confirm that I have been given the opportunity to read this job description and ask any questions about its content. I also confirm that I am able to perform the essential functions of the job and can meet all job requirements, with or without reasonable accomodation.

Editor – Children’s Page 5 of 6

Applicant Signature Date

Editor – Children’s Page 6 of 6