Direct Marketing and Sales Assistant

Department

Press Books E-commmerce/E-Marketing

About the Department

The Books Division of the University of Chicago Press has been publishing books for scholars, students, and general readers since 1892. The goal of Marketing Department of the Press is to reach the widest possible audience for each of those books.

Job Summary

The Direct Marketing and Sales Assistant assists in planning and executing direct-to-consumer online and print marketing and sales promotions for books published by and distributed by the Press, in close collaboration with the Electronic Marketing and E-Commerce Manager. The Direct Marketing and Sales Assistant will work with editorial, marketing, and design staff to create print and electronic catalogs and campaigns. The goal of the D2C program is to market and sell our books—and the books of publishers we distribute—to individual readers and to return revenue above costs to the Press.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and execute two general interest catalogs and at least a dozen academic subject catalogs each year, plus ten to twenty single-book promotions.
• Write, copy edit, and execute email and online promotions using e-mail marketing software, including three annual flagship sales campaigns, monthly newsletters, single-book promotions, and other initiatives as needed.
• Meet with editorial and marketing staff to fix layout of each catalog.
• Create catalog and fix page and position data in bibliographic database system.
• Assemble, edit, and/or write copy for all catalogs and promotions.
• Work with Journals staff to obtain ads for certain catalogs.
• Work with design and/or editorial staff to clear permissions for catalog cover images.
• Act as writer, copyeditor, and production controller for print outputs.
• Obtain printing bids and arrange print jobs.
• Arrange physical mailing with mail house, including reply envelope for catalogs.
• Handle invoices, track expenses, and assist in reviews of budget.
• Research mail and email lists.
• Extract mail and email lists from order processing data.
• Work with list brokers and staff at other publishers to acquire and trade mailing lists
• Check inventory data at warehouse and liaise with Distributed Publisher Coordinator to prompt restocking.
• Fulfill miscellaneous customer requests for print or electronic catalogs.
• Performs one or more of the following marketing functions: marketing communications /advertising; Web blogs or digital marketing; market research; development or review and update of the marketing infrastructure and management of external sales agency relationships.
• May train the work of lower level marketing staff.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of two years publishing, bookselling, online sales/promotion, or closely related marketing or sales experience.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Excellent computer skills in PC environment and knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel and email creation software.
• Knowledge of database software.
• Knowledge of basic HTML.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and tactfully with vendors and members of Press staff.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and work in a highly productive environment.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to multi-task with minimum supervision and meet overlapping deadlines.
• Ability to coordinate the work of others.
• Decision-making skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Analytical skills and the facility to engage with academic writing.
• Understanding of academia, higher education, the academic book market, and the workings and conventions of electronic and print media.
• Experience working with designers and printers.
• Supervisory skills.
• A genuine interest in and intellectual engagement with the publication of scholarly books.

Working Conditions

• Sit for 4 hours or more.