Publicity Manager, Z Books

Overview

Zondervan Books is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and highly values diverse backgrounds and insights that fuel our innovation.

Join a big-five publisher and be part of our mission to inspire the world. The Zondervan Books imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing is a non-fiction publisher which is the preeminent home for Christian writing that builds up God’s people and that persuades and transforms the wider world. Established in the bedrock of Christian publishing’s richest tradition, Zondervan publishes life-changing work that challenges and redeems an ever-changing world.

Our successes include books by time-tested and trusted leaders, including Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, Lee Strobel’s The Case for books, and Dr. Cloud & Dr. Townsend’s Boundaries. We also publish works by new voices offering eternal truth, including Craig Groeschel’s Winning the War in Your Mind, Rebekah Lyons’ Rhythms of Renewal, and Shauna Niequist’s I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet. We are also the home of books that exemplify the practice of faith in life, including Lecrae’s I Am Restored, and Dr. Myron Rolle’s The 2% Way. And we work with writers whose lives have been transformed by God, including Ben Carson, Eric Metaxas, and Candace Cameron Bure.

We are looking for a Publicity Manager to develop and execute exceptional PR campaigns securing coverage across broadcast, print, online, and other digital media to ensure the highest level of visibility of our authors and content. Our ideal candidate will possess a passion for great content, stellar written and verbal communication skills, and will enjoy working in a dynamic and highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop individual, targeted publicity campaigns for each assigned title and set measurable goals for success.
• Write press releases and creative pitch letters for each campaign.
• Pitch and book media coverage for author/titles to print, radio, online/digital, podcasts and TV outlets.
• Actively develop and maintain media contacts, including national, regional, and local.
• Develop, manage schedule for, write and distribute Marketing and Publicity updates (MPUs).
• Work closely with marketing, sales, online marketing, and editorial. Attend editorial and sales pub board and key sales meetings as needed.
• Continuously research and develop relationships with new outlets for possible coverage.
• Create PR plans and updates, sales presentations and sales conference materials as needed.
• Represent Zondervan Books Publishing at key industry events, conferences, media pitching trips, author media appearances and/or book signings.
• Schedule and attend author media tours.
• Manage the publicity budget for assigned titles and coordinate the activities of other personnel involved in each project.
• Maintain strong relationships as part of marketing and publicity teams across HCCP.
• Research, negotiate with, and manage outside publicity firms as needed for certain projects.
• Identify news/opportunities into which our authors/books may be inserted and thus exposed to consumers via various media outlets and crafts pitches appropriate for each outlet.
• Speak into projects early in development to help determine potential for success based on author platform, likely media interest, and opportunities for exclusive content.

Qualifications

Knowledge:

Working knowledge of crafting and delivering professional pitches and news releases to media outlets with at least two years of experience pitching to national media. Knowledge of media contact and engagement platforms such as Cision required; proven success with digital PR outlets required.

Work Experience: Preferred candidate will possess 5+ years’ experience in public relations and/or communications role with an emphasis on public relations. 2+ year’s national media pitching experience is desired booking top-line media in both traditional and digital outlets.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Communications, Journalism or related field.

Industry Knowledge: Keen understanding of publicity and its function is required. Established media contacts in Christian and general market media arenas preferred. Knowledge of Christian book publishing and Christian authors is desired but not required.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, including Ability to write strong/winning media pitches
• Desired candidate will be detail oriented, yet have a broad eye for the changing landscape of public relations
• Creative thinker
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment
• Project management experience
• Track record of ability to generate creative angles and effective pitches
• An ability to work in a fast-paced environment under deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Capable of managing budgets
• Effective copywriter
• A deep understanding of the digital media space, including podcasts, social media, and bloggers
• Ability to act as an ambassador and influencer to the media, agents, authors and other opinion formers to reinforce the reputation of HarperCollins as a major, innovative publisher
• Willing to travel.

The salary range for this position is $60,000-$75,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.

In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer