Curation Lead, Children's Books

| Austin
Sorry, this job was removed at 12:43 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Find out who's hiring in Austin.
See all Content jobs in Austin
Apply
By clicking Apply Now you agree to share your profile information with the hiring company.

Based in the Bohemian Cowboy capital of the world, Austin, Texas, Literati is a new kind of bookseller. Our mission is simple: to make parents and children love reading together by building a community that sparkles with life, curiosity, and imagination. We have more investors than employees, so if you’re a team player, an expert with a beginner’s mind, a rainmaker, or have a hint of alchemy up your sleeve, then we definitely want to talk with you!

We are looking for a talented Curator with a junkie-like passion for children’s literature - as in, children’s books are your drug. You bring zeal and a meticulous fine-toothed comb to scouring the planet in search of the world’s most incredible children’s books. You would describe the hunt as sifting for gold, and feel enormous joy upon finding a true gem. You are lightning fast in your ability to assess good vs. truly great, and can curate thoughtfully while also moving 50 mph. Your sensibility could be described as the sweet spot between literary and commercial, and you love backlist as much as frontlist (across board books, picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels). You’ve been in the children’s book space for years and are ready for your next adventure, based in Austin, TX. Location is non-negotiable, as in dust off your boots and start practicing your best yee-haw. world.

What You'll Do...

  • What You’ll Do...
  • Help manage the curation pipeline through extensive research, sourcing and review of titles from publishers around the globe
  • Study proprietary data on title by title performance and develop a clear understanding of Literati’s curation sensibility
  • Help drive forward all publisher relationships
  • Negotiate general publisher account terms along with title-specific proprietary terms 
  • Work with our inventory team to project volumes for curation cycles and oversee on-time delivery of all curated titles

Who You Are...

  • A Researcher. You love the thrill of the hunt and delight in finding beautiful books to share with the world.
  • An Industry Expert. Sure, you know the big players in children’s literature, but also the small, international houses that are publishing sweet masterpieces. Your industry knowledge extends to the sales side, with an understanding of wholesale pricing and/or special market accounts.
  • Data-obsessed. You live by the motto “Numbers don’t lie” and are willing to be proven wrong by the data with respect to how individual titles perform. You obsessively check the dashboard as you gauge the success of any given curation cycle, and are fine-tuning your learnings as a curator.
  • A Negotiator. You are bold, though also studied in your negotiating tactics, and very comfortable with lots and lots of math.
  • Detail-oriented. You’re able to track your research effectively and maybe even have spreadsheets for your spreadsheets. You delight in the seamlessness of numerous functions and filters in a well-executed spreadsheet that makes data searingly clear.
  • A Kid at Heart. You live for children’s books in the same way a bear lives for gobs of honey. Deeply thinking thru each developmental persona (baby, toddler, elementary, and beyond) feels as natural as drinking water.
  • Motivated and Passionate. You’re ready to commit heart and soul into a mission driven company looking to inspire young readers the world over.

What You Need...

  • Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, or related field
  • Minimum 5 years’ of editorial and/or agenting experience with at least 3 years in the children’s book publishing space
  • Extensive knowledge of the children’s book market and trends 
  • Exhaustive knowledge of both frontlist and backlist titles across target ages of newborn to 12 years and across varied media of board book, picture books, early chapter books and middle grade novels 
  • Extensive knowledge of US and international publishers that range from independent presses to global conglomerates in the children’s book space

Literati is dedicated to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We believe in the power of literature as a transformative form of technology that helps us see, and reflect upon, our common humanity. A great workplace should do the same—see, reflect, and celebrate the experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent of a diverse array of people. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that all potential candidates can bring in terms of their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, nationality, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, neurological and physical ability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Read Full Job Description
Apply Now
By clicking Apply Now you agree to share your profile information with the hiring company.

Location

Literati is located just west of downtown on 5th street. We are a block from Whole Foods, a quick walk to downtown, and more.

Similar Jobs

Apply Now
By clicking Apply Now you agree to share your profile information with the hiring company.
Learn more about LiteratiFind similar jobs