Manager of Author Relations and Community Outreach

ORGANIZATION:
Figure 1 Publishing

DEADLINE:
Open until filled

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
We work with storytellers, artists, curators, designers, chefs, and other creatives to make books of the highest quality, in the areas of art + photography, architecture + design, Indigenous art + culture, and food + drink.

OUR VALUES
• Passion for books: We have a shared love for well-written, beautifully designed books, and we seek to celebrate that in everything we do.
• Respect for our team: We treat our staff and freelancers with fairness, respecting their ideas, expertise and unique contributions, and compensating them equitably.
• Service-driven: We work hard to earn our clients’ trust and respect, taking time to listen to their publishing goals and ensure they are taken care of every step of the way.
• Pursuit of quality: We strive to produce exceptional books in collaboration with extraordinary publishing partners, always pushing to reach higher levels of excellence and to do better with every project.
• Collaborative: We believe in the positive impact of teamwork and knowledge sharing among our Figure 1 staff, clients and publishing partners to produce books that benefit all stakeholders.
• Disciplined: We are dedicated to regularly assessing and improving our systems, communications, client services, industry knowledge, business strategy and individual performances.

WEBSITE:
http://www.figure1publishing.com

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Figure 1, a leading Canadian publisher of illustrated books, is seeking an experienced, full-time Manager of Author Relations and Community Outreach. This is a newly created role that is critical to the company’s ongoing growth and commitment to partner-focused publishing.

As we operate in a hybrid publishing model (which you can learn more about on our website), our work is highly collaborative in nature, and we aim to harmonize our trade publishing strategy with our authors’ goals. We also work with many first-time authors. The Manager of Author Relations and Community Outreach will serve as our authors’ advocate throughout the promotional process: supporting them as we navigate publicity and events, aligning our online calls to action, exploring new opportunities to spread the word about our books, and providing proactive updates on campaign progress throughout.

While we have a preference for a candidate with professional expertise and contacts, above all, our priority is someone who brings enthusiasm and curiosity to the work: a willingness to try out new approaches, engage in creative problem-solving, seek out advice, and grow as part of a small but accomplished and ambitious team.

This is a full-time, salaried, fully remote position with a targeted start date of early September 2025. Regular work hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. PT, with some flexibility depending on time zone. Occasional evening/weekend work and travel, including in-person meetings in Vancouver, will be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Craft compelling and timely pitches and secure coverage from print, broadcast, and online media, as well as non-traditional outlets
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media and promotional partners
• Monitor media hits and compile media summaries and review quotes for stakeholders
• Engage and supervise freelance publicity support when needed
• Coordinate author events, festival participation, press materials, and awards submissions
• Guide authors on how to leverage their own platforms for promotion
• Administer author questionnaires and schedule promotional meetings
• Manage company website, newsletter, and social media channels
• Develop creative content and calls to action for online platforms
• Monitor performance metrics and engagement to refine strategy

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Interest in books and the publishing process; appreciation for arts, culture, design, food, and lifestyle topics is a plus
• Certification or training in book publishing is an asset
• Experience running effective media campaigns and building media relationships
• Strong understanding of the North American media landscape; international media knowledge is a bonus
• Proven ability to plan and execute events
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adaptable across audiences
• Fluency in social media platforms and awareness of digital marketing trends
• Familiarity with tools such as Dropbox, Google Suite, Asana, WordPress, Loomly, Mailchimp, Canva, Google Analytics, Adobe Acrobat, and InDesign
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks
• Customer service or client-facing experience is an asset

HOW TO APPLY:
Please fill out our application form, where you’ll be asked to upload your cover letter and résumé as a single PDF or Word document. Cover letters can be addressed to Heidi Waechtler, Director of Sales and Marketing – and we encourage you to let your personality shine. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning the week of July 28, 2025. As long as the application form is active, we are still accepting applications. Our target start date is early September 2025 or sooner. We are committed to diversity in the workplace and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. Applicants requiring accommodation during the hiring process may contact heidi@figure1pub.com.

REMUNERATION:
$65,000–$72,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Contact Name: Heidi Waechtler
Contact Email: heidi@figure1pub.com