Design & Production Assistant

The Design & Production Assistant position requires excellent written and verbal skills and extreme attention to detail. Graphic design skills are a bonus. Excellent accuracy and organizational skills are a must. Good judgment of the caliber of authors' editing skills are essential to ensuring that our editorial standards, and thus the scholarship and works we publish, are superb. Liaison with authors and freelancers is important for creating the best possible author / freelancer-publisher relationship. Requires attention to details and knowledge of Press editorial preferences and standards.

The University of Pittsburgh Press is a publisher with distinguished lists in a wide range of scholarly and cultural fields. We publish books for general readers, scholars, and students. The Press focuses on selected academic areas: Latin American studies, Russian and East European studies, Central Asian studies, composition and literacy studies, environmental studies, urban studies, the history of architecture and the built environment, and the history and philosophy of science, technology, and medicine. We also publish books about Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania.

Our renowned Pitt Poetry Series has garnered many prestigious awards over four decades. In addition, the Press is home to the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry, and, in rotation with other university presses, the Cave Canem Poetry Prize. We also sponsor the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, which recognizes the finest collective works of short fiction.

Utilizes administrative, project management, and creative skills in assisting press editors and/or leadership. Assists in a variety of tasks such as distribution of page proofs, digital cross-marketing, management of digital files, and payment processing.

The Design and Production Assistant (DPA) is a key support position in the production department at the University of Pittsburgh Press that combines administrative, project management, and creative skills in assisting the Managing Editor (ME), Design and Production Manager (DPM), and Editorial and Production Director (EPD). The DPA is responsible for assisting the ME in distribution of page proofs to authors and freelance indexers, ensuring that authors and indexers follow established Press guidelines for review of page proof and creation / review of indexes. The DPA assists in the digital cross-marking of page proof and routing of corrections to the EPD and DPM. The DPA is responsible for all manuscript editorial and production payment processing tasks, internally logging purchase orders and invoices processed and then overseeing supplier payments through the PantherExpress system. The DPA manages all Cataloging-In-Publication (CIP) data registration through the Library of Congress. Finally, the DPA assists in keeping the Press's digital manuscript editorial and production file archives up-to-date and accessible via local file storage and in the cloud via MS OneDrive. There is an opportunity for the DPA to expand their role in design and typesetting if they possess relevant experience and as needs in the department arise. The DPA reports to the EPD, but a substantial amount of the assigned tasks will come from the ME. Good judgment of the caliber of authors' editing skills are essential to ensuring that our editorial standards, and thus the scholarship and works we publish, are superb.

Generally sedentary. Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets.