Employment

Currently Hiring for:

• Publicist (applications due October 1)

Publicist 

The Publicist role supports the Marketing Department at Copper Canyon by creating comprehensive media campaigns to raise visibility of all forthcoming titles (18-20 per year) with key audiences and align with Copper Canyon Press’s mission. A successful Publicist will create awareness of Copper Canyon Press poets and publications, and drive annual sales and revenue growth through reader engagement, media coverage, and generating online marketing tactics and procedures in conjunction with the Digital Content Manager. This position is also responsible for contributing valuable insight and assistance to the Development Department, especially regarding fundraising efforts and events.

Copper Canyon Press believes diverse representation is vital to the vision and operations of publishing. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive, and equitable working environment, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.Please submit a cover letter and resume to Submittable. You can also send a cover letter and resume to poetry@coppercanyonpress.org to be considered for the position. Application deadline Friday, October 1.

Copper Canyon Press Publicist: 

Job Description

Reports to: Co-Publisher 

Classification: Full-time 

Compensation: $48-$60,000 DOE + benefits (health insurance, PTO, retirement)

Location: Remote or Port Townsend

Start Date: Fall 2021

Organization Summary:

Copper Canyon Press is a nonprofit publisher that believes poetry is vital to language and living. Since 1972, the Press has published poetry exclusively and has established an international reputation for its commitment to authors, editorial acumen, and dedication to the poetry audience. 

The mission of Copper Canyon Press is to publish extraordinary poetry from around the world that engages the imaginations and intellects of readers. In support of this mission, Copper Canyon Press publishes new collections of poetry by both established and emerging American poets, translations of classical and contemporary work from many of the world’s cultures, reissues of out-of-print poetry classics, anthologies, and prose books about poetry. The Press maintains active fundraising, community engagement, and internship programs to connect with readers and distribute poetry books around the world.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Reads all forthcoming Copper Canyon books and demonstrates ability to effectively describe, both in writing and in-person presentations, Copper Canyon’s frontlist and key backlist titles, as well as Copper Canyon’s mission as a nonprofit organization. 
• Develops and maintains relationships with key reviewers and media representatives.
• Creates effective pitches (in-person, zoom, etc.) for placements in media.
• Responsible for creating and distributing press materials to select media, key accounts, and reviewers essential to generating support for each book, initiative, event, sufficient to meet sales, publicity, and development goals. 
• Assists Co-Publisher in keeping key market vendors and partners (e.g. distributor, bookstores, academics, professional organizations, etc.) informed on relevant book, author, and Press activities to support fruitful ongoing relationships for higher sales. Includes regular and timely email updates to Consortium Distribution.
• Assists Co-Publisher in scheduling and presenting books in external venues, including Consortium pre- and sales conferences, trade shows, festivals, academic conferences (e.g. AWP); participates in planning and promoting special events (e.g. literary livestream events).
• Provides critical input and editorial support for a wide range of online promotional materials (e.g. website, social media posts).
• Maintains strong and productive author communications and answers relevant inquiries from authors.
• Processes requests for review copies.
• Maintains “reviewer” portion of in-house database (Filemaker) up-to-date.
• Provides necessary planning and publicity support for author tours and appearances at major venues. 
• Attends staff and department meetings regularly; Board and committee meetings as assigned.
• Ensures best practices are followed for advancing inclusion and diversity in all communications
• Works with all staff to represent the Press, its authors, and books favorably and accurately to all funders and contributors. 

Skills required

• Love of poetry and literature
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Comfort with public speaking 
• Highly organized
• Ability to create and execute publicity plans in a timely manner
• Fluency with Adobe, Google Suites, Zoom