Job opportunity: Director of Publications

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Director of Publications

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites applications from suitably qualified African professionals to fill the vacant position of Director of Publications in its pan-African Secretariat located in Dakar, Senegal. The position is a senior one and the successful candidate will work as a member of the Secretariat management team under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary of the Council. The ideal candidate will be a scholar who also has a robust experience in academic publishing. African professionals who combine a robust experience in academic publishing with a solid training in the social sciences/humanities can also apply.

The CODESRIA Publications and Dissemination Programme has, over the last four decades, undergone considerable expansion, earning its place as a leading Africa-based multilingual scholarly publisher with over 500 books and monographs, 12 peer-reviewed scholarly journals and periodicals, and several award-winning titles in its lists. The position of Director of Publications has been created with the aim of consolidating the successes that have been registered within the Programme to date and taking it to new heights. More information about CODESRIA and its Publications and Dissemination Programme can be obtained from the Council’s website: www.codesria.org.

Among other responsibilities, the successful candidate for the position of Director of Publication will be called upon to:

· Play a critical role in defining and implementing the objectives and targets of the CODESRIA Publications and Dissemination Programme according to the demands of changing contexts and requirements;

· Provide direct and hands-on leadership in the scientific life of the Programme and in all aspects of the Programme’s publishing operations, including commissioning, editorial, production, distribution, marketing, customer service, and list management functions;

· Develop proposals for new publications and titles, doing so in direct and interactive collaboration with the other CODESRIA scientific programmes;

· Strengthen the CODESRIA book, monograph and journal publishing brands;

· Expand the on-line presence of CODESRIA journals, monographs, occasional papers, and research and policy briefs; 

· Promote innovative and cost effective approaches to both traditional print and electronic publishing;

· Manage a team of in-house editorial staff that includes managing editors, editors, and editorial secretaries;

· Supervise and liaise with a team of freelance editorial service providers that range from printing presses, translators, proof-readers, and copy-editors to typesetters, indexers, web administrators, and distributors;

· Liaise and work with authors, peer-reviewers, editors-in-chief of various journals, professional associations, researchers, publishing houses;

· Coordinate translation, co-edition, co-publication and reprint rights and permissions;

· Seek and share information and opinions about the CODESRIA Book Series, CODESRIA Monographs, CODESRIA journals, CODESRIA Occasional Papers, and CODESRIA Research and Policy Briefs;

· Keep the African and broader international social research communities informed about new CODESRIA publications;

· Initiate collaboration with other publishers and organisations, and assess the scientific and financial viability of such collaborations;

· Develop links with Africa-based university presses and other publishing houses;

· Prepare for and attend major publication events, such as book fairs, scholarly association meetings and forums; and 

· Play an active part in the realisation of all the other aspects of the scientific mandate of the Council.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Applicants must:

1. Have a solid professional training and background in academic publishing and marketing; 

2. Be scholars in their own rights, or have a sound university education, preferably in the Social Sciences or Humanities, and at a postgraduate level (a PhD would be an advantage);

3. Be conversant with evolving roles/applications of information technology in academic publishing;

4. Be abreast of the developments in open access publishing/scholarship;

5. Have adequate knowledge of publishing as a scholarly field and not just an expert in the organisation of texts;

6. Have good knowledge of CODESRIA and possess a demonstrable ability to promote the work of African researchers;

7. Be familiar with the African and international scientific community;

8. Have first-hand knowledge of the African scholarly publishing environment;

9. Have proven experience of management in an academic environment;

10. Be experienced in resource management and the preparation of reports;

11. Have a record of intellectual engagement with the challenges and opportunities in African and international scholarly publishing; and

12. Be fluent in English, French or Portuguese and have good working knowledge of at least one of the other languages.

It is CODESRIA policy to reflect the disciplinary, gender, generational and linguistic diversity of the African social science community in its structures. In this connection, female candidates and younger professionals meeting the qualifications set out are especially encouraged to send in their dossiers for consideration for this position. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

The salary level that will be offered will depend on the successful applicant's experience and qualifications, and will be broadly comparable to those of similar posts in other international organisations.

HOW TO APPLY

All applicants wishing to be considered for the position are required to supply the following documents:

1. A written application;

2. A detailed CV describing the candidate’s professional experience;

3. Three reference letters, two of which must come from people living in countries other than the applicant’s country of residence; and

4. A sample of scholarly writings or any published reflection produced by the candidate.

The reference letters in support of candidates must be sealed and sent under separate cover and marked “Confidential Reference”, or emailed directly. The application letters and other supporting documents of candidates should be sent in a sealed envelope marked “Application Documents” or sent by email. Both the applications and the reference letters should be sent to:

The Executive Secretary

CODESRIA
Av. Cheikh Anta Diop x Canal IV
BP 3304, CP 18524,
Dakar / SENEGAL
Email: executive.secretary@codesria.sn

CLOSING DATE

All applications must be received by 10 September 2015. Any application received after this date will not be considered.