Umph Job Description

Umph Job Description

UMPH JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: / Editor / Dept.: / 66000
Job Code: / 1210 / Dept. #: / Publish-Adult
FLSA: / Exempt / Date: / 5/11/2017

JOB PURPOSE

The Editor manages and directs product planning, acquisitions, and editorial development of adult teaching and learningresources. The position requires mastery (or quick learning) of selected computer programs, an ability to produce products on time, and strong knowledge of the church and Christian education for adults.

DIMENSIONS

Staff Supervised: / Exempt / Non-Exempt / Temp Pool / Total
Directly / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Indirectly / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0

Annual Product Sales (Adult):$ 12,000,000

NATURE AND SCOPE

1.Reporting Relationship/Peers

Reports to Associate Publisher, Teaching & Learning as do:

  • Director, VBS
  • Senior Editor
  • Lead Editor
  • Production Editing Manager
  • Editors
  • Associate Editor
  • Production Editor
  • Executive Assistant

2.Business Unit Relationship

The Adult Teaching & Learning unit exists to identify and excel at meeting the needs of Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and individual Christians seeking spiritual support and guidance in The United Methodist Church, other denominations, and the larger Christian community. The unit will attend to its task by discerning the needs of its audience, planning for, developing, and acquiring “breakthrough” products and services that persons in this audience will choose, use, and value, communicating effectively with inside and outside customers about those products, and delivering products through various distribution channels while meeting the financial goals of the unit.

The unit must remain sensitive to the market (products/services), advertising, and promotional needs and expectations of the UMC, other denominations, and the church at large in order to make appropriate product selection and coordinate advertising, promotion, and customer service for its products and services.

3.Essential Job Functions

% Of Time
/ Function
70% / Coordinates and applies all steps in the editorial development process including articulating and verifying audience needs and objectives, acquiring and directing product creators, outlining concepts, securing concept and business plan approvals, negotiating and contracting with product creators, content editing manuscripts, working with copyeditors and/or production editors, consulting with design manager, production editors, and designers to select and approve illustrations, page layouts, and cover designs, reading and approving proofs, and securing schedules and final titles for new resources.
15% / Manages assigned projects and tasks for assigned product lines, under the direction of the Associate Publisher and in cooperation with other members of the team. Works closely with members of team, sales units, and shared resources units to research market trends, assess the competitive environment, and develop viable strategies and product proposals for approval by the Associate Publisher and Monthly Approval and Proposal Process (MAPP).
10% / Monitors and analyzes, in conjunction with the Business Manager and Associate Publisher, assigned product-related budgets.
5% / Attends conferences, professional association meetings, and other events in order to understand audience needs, acquire projects, and recruit authors.

These essential functions are not intended to cover all work details or the occasional performance of other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

4.Reporting Directly to This Job

  • N/A

5.Typical Problems/Greatest Challenge

  • Editing resources so that they are sound in content, theology, biblical exegesis, appropriate for end user, and marketable
  • Managing time and available resources to balance the needs for envisioning and acquiring new products, assuring the quality of new and reprinted products, maintaining positive relationships with product creators and other key players, and assuring the timely production of planned resources
  • Staying abreast of current market trends, as well as trends in education, biblical and theological studies, and the contemporary church as appropriate to assigned duties
  • Keeping aware of changes in customers’ needs and being innovative in order to meet their needs, exceed their expectations, and build their trust

6.Authority/Accountability

  • Authority to work with members of the team to establish and meet sales budgets under guidance and approval of UMPH administrators
  • Authority to participate in preparing strategic business plan and develop specific product proposals for recommendation to the Associate Publisher and MAPP
  • Authority to participate in editorial and project budget planning and monitoring as required
  • Authority to make work-related decisions about publication content, product creators, contract/freelance editors, copy/production editors, illustrations, art, photographs, permissions, and other pertinent needs

7.Contacts/Committees/Memberships

  • Members of the adult team, product creators, internal and external reviewers/evaluators, and contract/freelance editors and copy/production editors – for product development coordination
  • Members of other UMPH groups – for support and coordination of interrelated work
  • MAPP and other specific teams, as appropriate or assigned – for coordination of publishing goals and efforts
  • Customers and leaders in the church and/or academy (including pastors, professional educators, teachers, professors, and others) as appropriate to assigned responsibilities
  • Professional, ecumenical, and interdenominational task forces and committees, as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in English, religious studies, or a closely related field and at least three (3) years of adult religious publishing or religious materials experience, demonstrating a high level of competence in writing and editing, orat least three(3) years of experience as a pastor and/or working with adults in a church or other setting. In-depth knowledge of United Methodism and biblical studies are required. A Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Excellent interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Excellent personal computer skills, including intermediate proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint preferred)
  • Working knowledge of the American religious environment, local congregations and congregational systems, and the history, doctrine, and polity of major American church traditions
  • Basic leadership skills
  • Ability to be persuasive, resilient, and a self-starter
  • Basic proficiency with Macintoshes and design layout programs (Adobe InDesign) is preferred
  • Current or previous participation in local church religious education for adults is preferred
  • Knowledge of or experience with persons of the audience age level is preferred
  • Knowledge of markets served by The United Methodist Publishing House and of the competitive environment related to product appeal, utility, and sales is preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Equipment Used

Office Equipment:Computer, copier, printer, telephone, fax machine, calculator

Hand Tools:None

Power Tools:None

Vehicles:None

Environmental Conditions
Condition / Definition / Present?
Weather Conditions / Exposure to hot, cold, wet, or windy conditions caused by weather / No
Extreme Cold / Exposure to non-weather-related cold temperatures / No
Extreme Heat / Exposure to non-weather-related hot temperatures / No
Wet and/or Humid / Contact with water/liquids or exposure to non-weather-related humidity / No
Excessive Noise / Exposure to sounds sufficient to cause marked distraction or discomfort / No
Vibration / Exposure to a shaking object or surface which causes strain on body / No
Atmospheric Conditions / Exposure to fumes/dust/gases/mists that affect eyes, skin or breathing / No
Confined/Restricted Space / Work performed in closed/locked facility or tight work spaces / No
Physical Movement Demands
Demand / Definition / Frequency
Standing, Prolonged / Standing stationary, while working, for two or more continuous hours / N/A

Sitting, Prolonged

/ Sitting, while working, for two or more continuous hours / Frequent
Walking, Prolonged / Walking which consumes at least two or more hours of each work day / N/A
Climbing, Stair / Ascending/descending stairs using feet and legs / N/A
Climbing, Ladder / Ascending/descending a ladder using feet/legs and arms/hands / N/A
Balancing / Maintaining balance to prevent falling on narrow/slippery/moving surfaces / N/A
Stooping (Squatting) / Bending body downward and forward, requiring full use of legs and back / N/A
Bending / Bending body forward/side-to-side at the waist while legs are kept straight / N/A
Kneeling / Bending legs at knees to come to rest on one or both knees / N/A
Crawling / Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet / N/A

Reaching

/ Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction / Frequent

Gripping

/ Seizing, holding, grasping, or turning with hand(s), using a forceful grip / N/A
Finger Manipulation / Picking, pinching, or pushing small objects with fingers / Infrequent
frequency definitions: / Continuous = over 6 hrs/day / Frequent = 2-6 hrs/day / Infrequent = up to 2 hrs/day

Physical Strength Demands

Demand / Material(s) Affected / Range of Lift/ Distance Carried / Max. Weight / Frequency

Lifting

/ N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Pushing/Pulling / N/A / N/A / N/A

Carrying

/ N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Repetitive Motions (must be performed on a frequent or continuous basis)
Affected Body Part(s) / Task(s) Involved / Frequency

Hand/Fingers

/ Typing at computer / Frequent
Back/Legs (Lifting/Squatting) / N/A / N/A

Sensory Demands

Sense / Task(s) Involved/Safety Issue Affected / Frequency

Vision, Close (Reading)

/ Typing and reading documents / Frequent
Vision, Distance / N/A / N/A
Vision, Color Discrimination / N/A / N/A
Vision, Peripheral / N/A / N/A
Vision, Depth Perception / N/A / N/A
Hearing / N/A / N/A
Feeling / N/A / N/A
General Hazards
Hazard / Frequency
Close proximity to moving, mechanical parts/machinery / N/A
Potential for exposure to electrical shock / N/A
Working in high, exposed places / N/A
Potential for exposure to dangerous chemicals (fuels, paint, etc.) / N/A

Reasonable accomodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

JOB APPLICANT:

I confirm that I have been given the opportunity to read this job description and ask any questions about its content. I also confirm that I am able to perform the essential functions of the job and can meet all job requirements, with or without reasonable accomodation.

Applicant SignatureDate

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