Academic Book Procurement & Logistics Lead

Role Description

Innodata is seeking an experienced Academic Book Procurement & Logistics Lead to build and scale a global sourcing and distribution operation for used and academic books. This is a senior, high-impact role at the intersection of publishing, supply chain, and global logistics — responsible for establishing the infrastructure that sources, acquires, and moves large volumes of academic content across multiple countries and markets.

You will own the full procurement lifecycle — from identifying and negotiating with suppliers to managing international freight, customs clearance, warehousing, and inventory. This role requires deep knowledge of the global used academic book ecosystem and the operational expertise to build scalable, reliable sourcing partnerships that can grow with the business.

What You’ll Own

• Global Procurement & Sourcing
  • Build and manage a global network of suppliers including universities, libraries, wholesalers, distributors, used-book marketplaces, and academic publishers.
  • Develop and execute procurement strategies to source large volumes of academic books across multiple countries efficiently and cost-effectively.
  • Identify, evaluate, and onboard new sourcing partners — negotiating pricing, terms, volume commitments, and exclusivity agreements.
  • Monitor market trends in academic publishing, used-book pricing, and library acquisitions to stay ahead of supply opportunities.
  • Build relationships with key stakeholders across the academic ecosystem — university bookstores, library systems, remainder dealers, and secondary market platforms.
• Logistics & Supply Chain Operations
  • Oversee end-to-end international logistics including freight forwarding, customs clearance, import/export compliance, and last-mile delivery.
  • Manage relationships with freight carriers, customs brokers, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) across multiple geographies.
  • Design and optimize warehousing and fulfillment operations to handle large-scale book inventory across multiple locations.
  • Ensure timely, cost-efficient movement of inventory while maintaining quality standards and minimizing damage or loss.
  • Build contingency and risk mitigation plans for supply chain disruptions, customs delays, and carrier issues.
• Inventory Management & Cataloging
  • Implement and oversee inventory management systems that track stock levels, ISBN data, condition grading, and valuation across the entire catalog.
  • Ensure accurate cataloging and metadata management — ISBN, title, edition, publisher, condition — for all acquired inventory.
  • Develop quality control processes for grading and processing incoming used book inventory.
  • Optimize inventory turnover, reduce dead stock, and ensure fulfillment accuracy.
• Vendor & Partnership Development
  • Negotiate contracts and service agreements with suppliers, logistics providers, and distribution partners.
  • Build long-term strategic sourcing partnerships that provide reliable, scalable supply at competitive pricing.
  • Develop performance metrics and scorecards for vendor management and ongoing evaluation.
  • Identify opportunities to expand sourcing into new markets, geographies, and academic categories.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in used-book, academic publishing, library acquisitions, or book distribution industries.
• Proven track record sourcing and procuring large volumes of academic books across multiple countries.
• Strong established network with universities, libraries, wholesalers, distributors, and used-book marketplaces.
• Experience with academic publishers (Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Cengage, Springer, Wiley, Elsevier).
• Background with library suppliers (Baker & Taylor, Ingram, EBSCO, ProQuest).
• Familiarity with used-book marketplaces (AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, Amazon Marketplace, Chegg, VitalSource).
• Deep expertise in international logistics, freight forwarding, customs compliance, warehousing, and supply chain operations.
• Hands-on experience with inventory management systems, ISBN/cataloging, and used-book grading standards.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex vendor contracts and build strategic sourcing partnerships at scale.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams across procurement, logistics, and operations.
• Strong analytical skills — comfortable with procurement data, inventory metrics, cost modeling, and supply chain reporting.
• Ability to build from scratch — this is a builder role requiring entrepreneurial thinking and operational execution.

Requirements

• The expected hourly salary range for this position is $35- $40 p/hour, based on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Company Description

Innodata (Nasdaq: INOD) is a global data engineering company. We believe that data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are inextricably linked. Our mission is to enable the responsible advancement of artificial intelligence by providing the data, evaluation frameworks, and human expertise required to build AI systems that can be trusted at scale. We provide a range of transferable solutions, platforms, and services for Generative AI / AI builders and adopters. In every relationship, we honor our 36+ year legacy delivering the highest quality data and outstanding outcomes for our customers.