Acquisitions Editor

Posting Details

Posting Summary


Logo

Posting Number
STA00697PO26


Job Family
Creative Services


Job Function
Editorial


USC Market Title
Editor


Link to USC Market Title




Job Level
P2 - Professional


Business Title (Internal Title)
Acquisitions Editor


Campus
Columbia


Work County
Richland


College/Division
Division of Academic Affairs and Provost


Department
PROV University Press


State Pay Range
G09


USC Market Range
MRF - $53,576 $66,970 $80,364


Anticipated Hiring Range
$53,576 - $65,000


Location of Vacancy
Columbia, SC


Part/Full Time
Full Time


Hours per Week
37.5


Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours/week. Standard office hours are 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday.
• Attendance at occasional evening and weekend events is expected.
• Travel may be required.

Basis
12 months


Job Search Category
Communication Services

About USC


About University of South Carolina


From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement


The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions


The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Position Description


Advertised Job Summary

Acquisitions Editor

The University of South Carolina Press, located in Columbia at the state's flagship university, seeks an entrepreneurial full-time Acquisitions Editor to acquire 20-25 scholarly and general interest books annually, primarily in the fields of Southern history, African American studies, and civil rights studies. We welcome applications from experienced acquisitions editors as well as individuals beginning their acquisitions journey. This is an in-person role enriched by opportunities to build professional relationships on campus, in Columbia, and throughout the state.

The University of South Carolina Press, established in 1944, is one of the oldest, most distinguished publishing houses in the American South. Our editorial profile features critically acclaimed peer-reviewed books in South Carolina and Southern history and culture, African American studies, civil rights, Southern Jewish studies, literary studies, and rhetoric and communication. We are committed to sharing select projects with the world via our open access platform, Open Carolina. We publish regional trade titles in the categories above as well as cooking, nature, and music. By publishing works that educate readers, expand scholarship, and provoke community conversations, we further the mission of the University of South Carolina.

We encourage applicants to read our vision, mission, and values statements ( here ).

Primary responsibilities of the Acquisitions Editor:
• Acquisitions: Contract publishing projects in assigned fields that contribute to the Press mission of publishing premier scholarship and authentic stories. Actively solicit submissions and work closely with series editors to facilitate a steady flow of projects; evaluate solicited and unsolicited projects; manage peer review; estimate costs and revenues; identify sources of outside funding and secure grants to offset publishing expenses; present projects to internal Acquisitions Committee and faculty Press Committee.
• Transmittals: Transmit manuscripts to Editorial, Design, and Production department. Ensure authors adhere to Press policies and procedures and meet deadlines; submit final manuscripts and illustrative materials to EDP for review and approval and manage authors' preparation of final files.
• Positioning: Contribute to positioning of projects through seasonal presentations and copywriting, collaborating with the Marketing department.
• Community engagement: Represent the Press during university, community, and professional activities, including scholarly meetings and campus visits. Events and activities may occur outside of standard work hours.
• Mentorship: Supervise and mentor student interns.

Required qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in a job-related field.
• Two or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred qualifications:
• Master's degree and two years or bachelor's degree and four years of professional work experience in book publishing and acquisitions.
• Demonstrated track record of publishing acquisitions productivity and success.
• Demonstrated expertise and/or interest in one or more of the primary acquisitions areas.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Application requirements:

A cover letter and résumé are required to be considered for this position. Please apply through the University of South Carolina jobs website and attach appropriate documents.

Equal opportunity statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

A background check is required after a conditional job offer is made.

The salary range for this position is $53,576 - $65,000 , depending on qualifications and experience. For information on benefits for University of South Carolina employees, see here .

University benefits include:
• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: The university offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, long-term care, and life insurance benefits.
• Retirement: The university offers generous retirement plans, including the South Carolina State Optional Retirement Program and a Supplemental Retirement Benefits Plan (with many providers).
• Paid Leave: New full-time employees accrue 15 days of annual leave per year which increases after 10 years of service. Additionally, full-time employees accrue 15 days of sick leave and receive 13 paid holidays per year.
• Tuition and Professional Development: The university offers excellent tuition benefits and professional development opportunities; over the years many Press employees have taken courses and several have earned master's degrees, with the Press offering flexibility to accommodate learning schedules.
• Wellness and Work-Life Resources: The university is committed to supporting faculty and staff as they balance competing demands of work and personal life. Wellness opportunities include workshops, lectures, and in-person and online programs.

About Columbia, South Carolina:

Columbia is a vibrant, affordable, and growing city that is home to the University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, and the South Carolina State House. Columbia has mild winters, stunning flora, and an array of cultural amenities. The university's main quad, known as the Horseshoe, is among the most beautiful in the country. The downtown music, theatre, and arts scenes are flourishing. Excellent restaurants and shops line the city's Main Street, Vista, Five Points, and Devine Street districts, while walking and biking trails track the city's three scenic rivers. The city is also ideally located for weekend trips-90 minutes from Charlotte, 2 hours from Charleston and several of the Atlantic Ocean's most beautiful beaches, 2.5 hours from Asheville, and less than 30 minutes from Lake Murray.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 2 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree and 2 years or Bachelor's degree and 4 years professional work experience in book publishing and acquisitions.
• Demonstrated track record of publishing acquisitions productivity and success.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Job Duties


Job Duty


Contracts approximately 20 publishing projects annually, in assigned fields, that contribute to the Press mission of publishing premier scholarship and authentic stories. Actively solicits projects; evaluates solicited and unsolicited projects to ensure that they meet Press standards; identifies and works with external peer reviewers for all projects; estimates costs and revenues for each project under consideration; works closely with series editors to facilitate a steady flow of projects; identifies sources of outside funding and secures grants to offset publishing expenses; presents projects to the Acquisitions Committee and Press Committee.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
40


Job Duty


Transmits approximately 20 publishing projects annually. Ensures authors, editors, and series editors adhere to Press policies and procedures and meet deadlines; submits final manuscripts and illustrative materials to the Editorial, Design, & Production department for review and approval, and communicates findings to authors and editors of such manuscripts. Contributes to positioning of projects through seasonal presentations and copywriting and, as directed by the Associate Editorial Director, collaborates directly with the Marketing department. Coordinates with other Press staff as needed throughout the copyediting, production, and marketing processes.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
40


Job Duty


Represents the Press during university, community, and professional activities, including scholarly meetings and campus visits, as determined with the Associate Editorial Director. Events and activities may occur outside of standard work hours.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
10


Job Duty


Supervises and mentors student interns.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
5


Job Duty


Provides periodic reports to the Associate Editorial Director regarding acquisitions progress, series performance, potential initiatives, and sales. Other duties as assigned by the Associate Editorial Director.

Essential Function
Yes


Percentage of Time
5

Position Attributes


Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive
No


Hazardous weather category
Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information


Number of Vacancies
1


Desired Start Date

Job Open Date
09/17/2026


Job Close Date
11/01/2026


Open Until Filled
No


Special Instructions to Applicant

A cover letter and résumé are required to be considered for this position. Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by November 1, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Quicklink for Posting




EEO Statement


The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.