LPC Blog

The Library Publishing Coalition Blog is used to share news and updates about the LPC and the Library Publishing Forum, to draw attention to items of interest to the community, and to publish informal commentaries by LPC members and friends.

January 31, 2025

LPC is hiring a part-time communications specialist

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To support our growing community of members and expanding roster of projects and programs, LPC is hiring a part-time communications specialist.

Part-time LPC Communications Specialist (Contractor)

Reports to: LPC Facilitator and LPC Board

Anticipated contract duration: March 1, 2025 through June 2026, with possibility of extension

Hours: Anticipated average of 10 hours per week for core duties as described below, with possibility of more (up to 20 hours per week) depending on interest and skills for assuming other duties (see Opportunities for Expansion section below). 

Compensation: $40/hour, billed monthly

Preferred start date: March 3, 2025

Work Modality: Remote (with the option to attend an in-person conference in 2026)

Overview

The Library Publishing Coalition (LPC) is seeking communications support for our dynamic community of libraries engaged in scholarly publishing. Reporting to the LPC Community Facilitator under the direction of the LPC Board, the Communications Specialist will provide dedicated support for communications (both to the public and to the community) and marketing to further continued community growth and maximum impact. This role will join the Community Facilitator and the Program Assistant (both currently half-time positions) as part of the core staff team for LPC. 

As a contract position averaging 10 hours per week, the ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic and be responsive, organized, creative, self-directed, and excited to bring their experience and enthusiasm to supporting and growing the LPC community. 

Core Responsibilities

The Communications Specialist’s responsibilities fall under two broad categories: ongoing duties and special projects.

Ongoing duties

  • Producing LPC’s public Update newsletter (2-3 times per year, on MailChimp).
  • Managing production of our Annual Report, including monitoring progress of Board members and other LPC staff working on assigned content, acting as primary liaison to graphic designer with scheduling and design input, copyediting and proofreading 
  • Providing communications support for LPC activities with public deliverables (e.g., publications, events, etc.). 
  • Routine maintenance and updating of content on LPC’s website (WordPress), including:
    • Communications-related content updates such as major announcements, guest blog posts, and marketing messages; updates to home page slideshow
    • Acting as backup for Program Assistant in making minor and routine content updates
    • Updating website content to comply with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards (e.g. adding alt text to images)
  • Managing public-facing communications for the 2026 Library Publishing Forum (in person, date and location TBD but probably June), with responsibilities for promotional campaigns, sponsor recruitment, and other public communications.
  • Providing general event support, both for the 2025 virtual Forum and the 2026 in-person Forum (requires additional hours during Forum; contingent upon contractor availability; travel to the in-person Forum will be covered by LPC) 
  • Attending LPC Board and committee meetings on occasion as needed to accomplish other tasks

Special projects

  • Website content review and updates
    • Review of current website content and structure to identify necessary changes based on community goals
    • Larger content changes/updates based on that review and after consultation with the Board
    • Working with LPC’s contract web developer to implement any structural changes that are needed to support this work
  • Spearheading at least one promotional campaign for LPC membership
  • Creating a plan for strategic use of the LPC Blog to promote the work being done by the community and engage community members 

Opportunities for Expansion

If the incumbent is interested in working additional hours (up to 20 hours/wk) and has the requisite skills and experience, the role could be expanded to include: 

  • Design work: The Core Responsibilities above require only basic familiarity with graphic content production (e.g., the ability to manipulate existing files in a graphic design tool). LPC currently outsources design work for the website and various publications, but that work could easily be folded into this role. 
  • Web and document accessibility testing and remediation of LPC website and publications
  • Other special projects (for example, expanding on the Library Publishing Workflows project)

Skills and Experience

  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage own time effectively, and maintain control over all current projects/responsibilities
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Familiarity with the following technologies and programs or similar: Google Suite (Calendar, Email, Drive, etc.), WordPress, MailChimp, Zoom, Slack, Asana
  • Experience with at least one graphic design tool (e.g., Canva, InDesign, etc.) and ability to produce basic layouts
  • Strong preference for candidates who have at least one of the following:
    • Writing/editing experience
    • Design training and/or experience
  • Strong preference for candidates who are familiar with library publishing, scholarly communications, and the academic library field in general. 

Additional Details

The Library Publishing Coalition, and its fiscal host Educopia, are both fully remote organizations, with leadership based in the United States. The other LPC staff work hours within Eastern Standard time. Candidates should be reachable 2+ hours / day during those hours.

This role is a part-time contract position.  Candidates will be responsible for their own equipment costs, insurance, and taxes. 

This position does not provide a work visa for any specific nation. Candidates should already be able to work legally where they are based.

Application Process:

  • Please submit a one page cover letter, resume, and two references as a COMBINED PDF to contact@librarypublishing.org. Please include links to a portfolio or a few examples of relevant work.
  • The cover letter should explicitly connect your past or current work experience with the core responsibilities of the role. 
  • The search committee will begin reviewing applications on February 17, and the committee will accept applications until interview candidates have been selected. 

About the Library Publishing Coalition

The Library Publishing Coalition (LPC) is an independent, community-led membership association of academic and research libraries and library consortia engaged in scholarly publishing. Our mission is to extend the impact and sustainability of library publishing and open scholarship by providing a professional forum for developing best practices and shared expertise. Learn more about what we are up to in our Community Plan (PDF) and visit our About page for lots more.