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| Title: | Director, Yale University Press |
| Description: | The Role
The Director of the Press will provide overall leadership for Yale University Press’s publishing program. They will provide strategic direction, manage daily operations, cultivate relationships both within Yale and externally, and ensure that the Press’s activities align with its overall mission “to aid in the discovery and dissemination of light and truth, lux et veritas, by publishing serious works that contribute to a global understanding of human affairs.” The Director will be instrumental in maintaining the outstanding quality proposition of the Press while refining the publishing strategy and identifying new market opportunities, bridging the Press’s scholarly and commercial requirements. The Press operates across two distinct units, New Haven and London, which represent a combined ~$28 million revenue. The Press possesses its own distinct endowment, which is currently valued at approximately $110 million, generating nearly a quarter of the Press’s budget. The staff of the Press includes nearly 80 team members in New Haven, operating in a partially unionized environment. Yale University Press London, comprising approximately 50 team members is a separate legal entity with Yale University as its sole member and governed by a board of trustees, and the Director serves as an ex officio trustee and the chair of that board. |
| Requirements: | The successful candidate will be an experienced and effective publishing executive who blends commercial acumen with an editorial sensibility. They will be a compelling leader with the ability to inspire and motivate staff members, but also have the gravitas and presence to be credible with university stakeholders, authors, and industry peers. The successful candidate will also have strong strategic skills and be able to navigate changing competitive, customer and product landscapes. At the same time, this leader will be a strong administrator who can get things done, able to cut through and deliver consistently. While university press experience is not required, it will be critical that this leader can operate in a university context and have the organizational EQ to influence and work within a multi-stakeholder environment.
In terms of the personal competencies and professional experiences required for the position, we would highlight the following: Knowledge & Experience • Proven record managing a complex publishing operation, particularly one with academic bent and prestigious authorship. • A book person; equipped with a personal editorial sensibility, and dedicated to the mission of disseminating knowledge. • Digitally competent and willing to push innovation as a strategic priority. • Sophisticated operator and administrator who is able to leverage the privileges of a university setting to the benefit of the Press. • Ability to identify and foster new publishing partnerships. • Experience in university environments and/or an appreciation for the model of shared governance. • Facility with financial stewardship, strategic positioning, and associated methods of organizational development. • Strong communicator, internally and externally; able to make press, university, and commercial stakeholders feel heard, and to guide those populations through the process of consensus-building. • Inspirational leadership aligned with the Press’s strategic plan and culture of academic excellence. Setting Strategy • The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization. • The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy. • An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry. • The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful. Executing for Results • The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results. • Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations. • A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization. Leading Teams • The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others. • A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement. Relationships and Influence • Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. • An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through their ethical behavior, depth of understanding of our business, determination to produce results, and skill in managing people and situations. • Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team. |
| Company: | YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS |
| How To Apply For This Job: | Russell Reynolds Associates has been exclusively retained for this search. Given the need for confidentiality throughout this process, prospective candidates are invited to reach out directly to our search consultants at YaleUniversityPress@russellreynolds.com with a resume and brief explanation of interest. |
| Date Posted: | 10/24/2024 |
