Assistant Editor BRIT Press

The minimum annual salary for this position is $60,000/yr. Salary offered will be dependent on education level and experience.

Every position at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is important to the organization’s success and contributes to the accomplishment of the strategic goals and, ultimately, achievement of its vision for the future. This role encompasses every employee’s goal of engaging with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders in support of the organization’s mission. Engagement includes participation on teams and committees, exerting extra effort to help the organization succeed, and investing time in the guest experience. Success in this position involves taking pride in working for this organization, committing to effective communication, being solution focused, and embracing a culture of positive change. FWBG is continuously working to build a culture where employees each work with an enthusiastic desire to contribute their skills, wisdom, and ideas towards their team’s performance and to experience a sense of satisfaction in the important role they play.

The Assistant Editor will support and engage with the Director of Press in overall management of the BRIT Press and in the dissemination of botanical research and other related information about the critically important world of plants generated by FWBG and the botanical community to professional and public audiences. The Assistant Editor will be highly motivated to grow in this role by learning and experiencing all aspects of the BRIT Press and stepping in for the director when needed. Along with publication responsibilities, the Assistant Editor will support the director with overseeing operations, scientific editing and publishing plant systematics, floristics, ecology, and conservation research. The position will also collaborate with colleagues in horticulture, research, and education; be involved in public engagement activities; and strive for institutional advancement (sustainable funding).

Principle Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

• Collaboratively participate in modernization of the BRIT Press, moving the Press toward:
• Automation of manuscript submission and review process.
• Being paperless where possible in the editing and publishing processes.
• Proactive posting of standardized agreements for potential authors, including clear methods for book proposal review, cost reimbursement, and royalty distribution.
• Collaboration with major information distributors with automated data retrieval.
• Assist with annual budget request with justification for the program and specific projects.
• Manage/assist with digital systems for management/distribution of publications (e.g., Open Journal Systems, Airtable platform for managing subscribers, Shopify ecommerce software).
• Assist with expanding the range of products to meet needs of modern scholars (e.g., digital goods, Open Access reprints).
• Critically review and edit documents submitted for consideration to BRIT Press for publication in BRIT’s journals and books.
• Facilitate Press peer-review process that results in selections of best quality.
• Edit documents to be consistent with best botanical publishing practices.
• Creatively edit and produce modern, readable, and engaging products for both scientific and public constituencies.
• Write and assist in writing grant proposals for facilitation of publications.
• Review and critique writing from internal staff for academic, marketing, social media pieces, etc.
• Carry out other editing duties as needed.
• Work and interact with fulfillment staff to keep up-to-date with procedures and sales.
• Participates in the planning, preparation, and filling of employee roles for various public events/exhibits hosted by the FWBG.
  

Supervisory Responsibility

No supervisor responsibility initially but will interact and help oversee Sales and Fulfillment staff. May oversee or assist with activities of volunteers.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, Travel

This is a full-time position, and the regular hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with flexibility; however, this position can regularly require long hours.

Working in the evenings and on holidays and some travel may be required.

Work Environment

This job operates in a research and professional office and scientific collections environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

This position may also work outside during public exhibits/events in Texas climate conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Employee will typically exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Comfortable working at heights and climbing ladders.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Required Education And Experience

• PhD in botany or botanically related discipline.
• 2 years of botanical or technical editing experience, applying standards such as the Chicago or New York Times Manual of Style.
• Appropriate computer programs and computer-related skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro).
• Certificate of First Aid training is required and is to be kept current.
  
  

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others and knowledge of teamwork concepts.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate across cultures.
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail.
• Exemplary oral and written communication skills.
• Exceptional planning skills with ability to prioritize work in a changing environment.
  
  

Preferred Education And Experience

• Plant systematist
• Publication record in appropriate botanical journals
• Spanish language/editing skills
• Basic computer/programming skills (e.g., HTML/CSS)
• Journal management and book publishing experience
• Affiliation or familiarity with the Council of Science Editors and the CSE Manual of Scientific Style and Format
• Professional digital graphic layout experience (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Experience with ecommerce/content management/journal management software (e.g., Shopify, Drupal, Open Journal Systems)
  
  

FWBG strives to maintain a positive working environment focused on growth and success of individuals, working together in a collaborative, professional manner, with communication a priority. Please upload your CV/resume and a cover letter as pdf files. Application review will begin in August and continue until the position is filled. Expected start date is in early October 2024. Actual start date is negotiable. To learn more about our organization visit our homepage at https://fwbg.org/about-us/careers/.