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December 3, 2014

Director, Purdue University Press and Head, Scholarly Publishing Services

  • Purdue University
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
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Purdue University seeks a highly motivated and forward-thinking publishing professional to take Purdue University Press and Scholarly Publishing Services (PUP/SPS) to the next level. Reporting to the Dean of Libraries and an integral member of the Libraries’ senior leadership team, the successful candidate will be responsible for the Publishing Division of the Purdue University Libraries. The Purdue Publishing Division is gaining international recognition for its success in combining skills and infrastructure from both publishing and library contexts to better serve the needs of academic authors in a changing scholarly communication environment. The position is responsible for Purdue University Press and Scholarly Publishing Services. The relationship between PUP and SPS is articulated at http://lib.purdue.edu/publishing. The operation of the Publishing Division receives a substantial portion of its support from the Libraries. The Purdue University Press has grown substantially over the past five years and has begun many new initiatives. The income of the Press has covered all expenses as well as creating a reserve fund available as venture capital for new initiatives and projects undertaken by the Press.   
Purdue University Press (http://press.purdue.edu), founded in 1960, publishes 25-30 books a year as well as several journals, both subscription-based (e.g., Shofar: Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies distributed through Project Muse) and Open Access (e.g., the Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning). All books and journals published under the Press imprint are peer-reviewed, edited, and designed to the highest standards. The Press operates on a business model that relies on earned revenue to cover direct publishing costs. The Press is an active member of the Association of American University Presses. Over recent years the Press has built on strong lists in traditional humanities and social sciences areas, such as European history and Jewish studies, to develop programs aligned with Purdue as a STEM-focused institution. Promising lists are currently being developed in science, engineering, veterinary studies, and information science. The Press was a inaugural member of the exciting new distribution initiative, Knowledge Unlatched. There is also a strong regional studies program, focused on the history, culture, and natural history of Purdue and Indiana.
 
Scholarly Publishing Services focuses on supporting the publication efforts of various centers and departments within Purdue University. The primary publishing platform used is Purdue e-Pubs (http://docs.lib.purdue.edu) and the majority of products created are openly accessible to readers. These include technical reports, niche faculty journals, student publications, and conference proceedings. Open Access is made possible by the financial support of partners, foundations, and Purdue University Libraries. Purdue e-Pubs, built on Digital Commons software, is also the University’s institutional repository for text documents and the successful candidate will be responsible for encouraging Open Access to materials published elsewhere by Purdue University faculty. Through Purdue e-Pubs, users worldwide get free access to over 40,000 documents which are downloaded nearly 3.0 million times a year. Purdue is one of the three universities that established the Library Publishing Coalition.
 
The Publishing Division is funded by a mixture of earned revenue and university support. This ensures financial stability while also facilitating the development of sustainable Open Access strategies. The Publishing Division has been successful in receiving grants to support new initiatives most recently a $539,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Collaborative relationships across Purdue ensure that there is substantial institutional support and PUP/SPS is situated at the center of the attractive, West Lafayette campus. In early 2015, the Publishing Division will re-locate to a totally renovated first floor space in Stewart Center at the heart of the West Lafayette campus.
The integration into the Libraries of the publishing function ensures that this position offers exciting opportunities to be a member of a group of information professionals who are redefining the ways in which scholarly information is managed, preserved, and disseminated. Purdue University Libraries is well-known as a leader in expanding the role of libraries in areas such as research data management, information literacy instruction, and re-conceptualizing options in scholarly communication and the use of library spaces.
 
Qualifications
Required:
A minimum of three years of experience in publishing or an appropriate related field.
A bachelor’s degree.
Experience in or aptitude for managing a budget to ensure financial viability and long-term growth.
Project management experience.
Knowledge of current issues and trends in scholarly communication.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
 
Preferred:
Five years or more experience in publishing or an appropriate related field.
Understanding of production, sales and marketing roles.
Knowledge necessary to expand and develop digital initiatives.
Experience in negotiating, preparing, and administering author and editor contracts, agency agreements for a suite of publishing services, and distribution relationships.
Experience in pursuing and selecting manuscripts to be assessed by the Editorial Board.
Experience of publishing in science, engineering, or related STEM fields.
Record of successful grant management.
Demonstrable success in developing and implementing collaborative ventures with partners with whom there is mutual benefit.
A post-graduate degree.
 
Application Process
Purdue University’s Executive Recruitment Services (ERS) is coordinating this search.  To be considered for the position, applications must be made through Purdue University’s employment web site. Please click here to go directly to the position on our website.  Be sure to include a cover letter with your application outlining your qualifications for this position. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Nominations and/or questions can be directed to Beth McNeil, associate dean for academic affairs, and chair, search committee: memcneil@purdue.edu.  Résumés or CVs sent to Professor McNeil at this email address cannot be considered as all application materials must be submitted at the website cited above.  Please put “PUP/SPS” in the title of all email correspondence.  For further information regarding the search, please contact Michele Flemming, Executive Recruiter at mflemmin@purdue.edu. Purdue University is an EEO/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
 
Purdue University is an EEO/AA employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.