Marketing, Sales, & Publicity Director

Overview

The University of South Carolina Press, located in Columbia at the states flagship university, seeks a full-time Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director to oversee all aspects of marketing, sales, and publicity.

Key Responsibilities

• Be a key member of the leadership team of USC Press, responsible for marketing, sales, and publicity initiatives in support of approximately 35 new print and digital books each year, as well as a backlist of more than 1,200 titles.
• Set annual budgets, forecast sales, oversee department staff, and liaise with the Presss partners in distribution and sales.
• The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership and collegiality, and a track record of creativity, growth, collaboration, and innovation.

The University of South Carolina Press, established in 1944, is one of the oldest, most distinguished publishing houses in the American South. Our editorial profile features critically acclaimed peer-reviewed books in South Carolina and Southern history and culture, African American studies, civil rights, Southern Jewish studies, literary studies, and rhetoric and communication. We are committed to sharing select projects with the world via our open access platform, Open Carolina, and we are expanding into new publishing formats. We publish regional trade titles in the categories above as well as cooking, nature, music, and memoir. By publishing works that educate readers, expand scholarship, and provoke community conversations, we further the mission of the University of South Carolina.

We encourage applicants to read our vision, mission, and values statements here.

Primary Responsibilities (continued)

• Create, execute, and oversee all marketing, sales, and publicity strategies to distribute and promote scholarly and trade titles to wholesalers, retailers, and direct to consumers.
• Drive sales growth by ensuring strong market presence and adopting data-driven sales strategies.
• Work closely with bookstores and other key retail accounts in South Carolina. Manage house accounts and work closely with Southeastern Book Travelers, our contracted regional sales representatives, to reach sales accounts across the South.
• Develop and oversee publicity plans for all trade titles and/or guide the work of freelance publicists.
• Partner with authors to communicate marketing and publicity strategies.
• Forecast book sales and evaluate sales performance.
• Manage annual marketing, sales, and publicity budgets.
• Act as principal contact for and manage relationships with vendors, distributors, and other partners.
• Manage and oversee inventory and call reprints.
• Manage and inspire department staff, including performance evaluations and feedback, recruitment, and development of talents and skills.
• Collaborate with USC Press Director and other department heads to envision, collaboratively develop, and execute strategic plans and process improvements.
• Serve on the Presss Acquisitions Committee, contribute to cover design planning, and support the development of book projects.

A cover letter and rsum are required to be considered for this position. A background check is required after a conditional job offer is made.

For information on benefits for university employees see here.

Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: The university offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, long-term care, and life insurance benefits.
• Retirement: The university offers generous retirement plans, including the South Carolina State Optional Retirement Program and a Supplemental Retirement Benefits Plan (with many providers).
• Paid Leave: New full-time employees accrue 15 days of annual leave per year which increases after 10 years of service. Additionally, full-time employees accrue 15 days of sick leave and receive 13 paid holidays per year.
• Tuition and Professional Development: The university offers excellent tuition benefits and professional development opportunities; over the years many Press employees have taken courses and earned masters degrees, with the Press offering flexibility to accommodate learning schedules.
• Wellness and Work-Life Resources: The university is committed to supporting faculty and staff as they balance competing demands of work and personal life. Wellness opportunities include workshops, lectures, and in-person and online programs.

About Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is a vibrant, affordable, and growing city that is home to the University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, and the South Carolina State House. The universitys main quad, known as the Horseshoe, is among the most beautiful in the country. The downtown music and arts scenes are flourishing. Excellent restaurants and shops line the citys Main Street, Vista, Five Points, and Devine Street districts, while walking and biking trails track the citys three scenic rivers. Ideally located90 minutes from Charlotte, 2 hours from Charleston and several of the Atlantic Oceans most beautiful beaches, 2.5 hours from Asheville, and less than 30 minutes from Lake MurrayColumbia has mild winters, stunning flora, and an array of cultural amenities.

Job-Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelors degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of relevant marketing, sales, and publicity experience in publishing, scholarly communication, higher education, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in all departments of an organization, including acquisitions, editorial/design/production, and finance.
• Experience in planning and managing a departmental budget.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, commercial website organization, social media platforms, and FileMaker Pro or comparable database software.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Superior managerial and organizational skills.
• Excellent writing, editing, and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize.
• Budgeting and financial management skills.
• Digital publishing expertise.
• Strong knowledge of databases and Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Key Job Duties

• Create, oversee, execute, and analyze all aspects of marketing, sales, and publicity objectives. (20%)
• Lead a team to create compelling marketing materials, engage with key distribution partners and vendors, and oversee both digital and traditional sales channels. Identify market trends, build relationships with authors and retailers, and craft promotional strategies that resonate with readers. Grow the Presss brand presence and contribute to development planning while driving revenue and increasing the impact of our published works. (20%)
• Develop and implement marketing and publicity strategies that generate significant visibility and sales opportunities for our books within the trade and academic markets. Establish print and digital advertising plans, including for catalogs, copy, blurbs, email, and social media, and guide the creation of content that amplifies press coverage and promotes books directly to readers and influencers. Contribute to cover design process and identify markets and comparison covers. Identify, contract with, and oversee the work of freelance publicists to support publicity efforts. Direct in-house publicity: Develop targeted publicity strategies for each book; tailor pitches to specific media outlets; ensure campaigns align with marketing and sales goals; create compelling press releases, pitch letters, author bios, media kits, and other promotional materials to support book launches and ongoing publicity efforts; act as the main point of contact between authors and media; and coordinate author interviews, public appearances, and book tours (both virtual and in-person) to boost visibility. (20%)
• Drive sales growth by ensuring strong market presence and customer satisfaction. Create and implement a comprehensive sales strategy to drive revenue growth, focusing on key market segments such as independent retail, wholesale, and international markets. Make regular in-person visits to book retailers within South Carolina. Collaborate with sales representatives working outside of South Carolina. Conduct sales conferences, set goals, and provide required resources. Establish and maintain strong relationships with key distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and library systems to maximize book sales. Create metadata and collaborate with colleagues in Editorial, Design, and Production on the distribution of metadata for all books. (20%)
• Track sales performance, set initial print runs and sales targets, and prepare regular reports for the Press Director, leadership team, and all staff members to evaluate the success of sales initiatives and adjust strategies accordingly. Monitor and analyze industry trends, competitor activities, and consumer preferences to adapt sales strategies and identify new opportunities for growth. Monitor sales and stock for all frontlist and backlist titles, and in consultation with the Press Director, call reprints as need dictates. (15%)
• Manage revenue and operating budgets for marketing, sales, and publicity. Project annual sales revenue based on detailed analysis. Create, implement, and maintain the marketing departments operating budget, ensuring proper allocation of resources, and managing expenses to meet financial targets. (10%)
• Manage two full-time employees and varying student interns. Ensure work hours are accurately recorded and reported. Participate in and complete all required human resources tasks. (10%)
• Serve on the department heads and acquisitions committees, and attend other key meetings related to seasonal planning and cover design. Advise Press Director on matters related to marketing, sales, and publicity. Perform other duties as assigned by the Press Director. (5%)

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No

Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies: 1

Special Instructions to Applicant: A cover letter and rsum are required to be considered for this position. Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by October 3, 2025.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Quicklink for Posting: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/194164

EEO Statement: The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

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