Jewish Book Council is establishing a new publishing industry-focused vertical to strengthen its work in the literary and publishing ecosystem. This senior role will lead the development and execution of that vertical, driving initiatives that:
- Build and sustain a robust pipeline to support Jewish writers
- Forge and deepen relationships across the publishing industry
- Expand visibility, reach, and distribution for Jewish and Israel-related books and authors
We are seeking an experienced professional – ideally with a strong background in publishing and/or the literary field – who can operate at the intersection of advocacy, partnerships, programming, and industry engagement. This position requires strategic vision, relationship-building expertise, and the ability to design and implement programs that advance Jewish and Israeli literature within the broader marketplace.
What you’ll do
Industry advocacy, partnerships, and strategic response
- Serve as JBC’s primary liaison to publishing houses, literary agencies, industry professionals, and booksellers in the U.S. and Israel.
- Develop a structured framework to support publishing colleagues, including networking opportunities, community-building initiatives, targeted communications, mentorship programs, and practical resources.
- Manage JBC’s Antisemitism in the Literary World reporting hotline by reviewing and triaging reports and implementing practical remedies such as arranging replacement events, providing venue referrals, and facilitating mediated outreach.
- Build referral and response protocols with partner organizations for incident support and professional navigation.
- Represent JBC at key industry convenings such as AWP, ALA, BookCon, Frankfurt, and regional fairs, and help shape panels and conversations to ensure that Jewish perspectives (in the U.S., Israel, and beyond) are included.
- Develop quarterly industry newsletter and briefings that share resources, opportunities, and insights with Jewish publishing professionals.
- Create industry-facing marketing materials to support engagement with Jewish Book Council programs and initiatives.
- Develop new opportunities to promote Jewish and Israeli writers via Jewish Book Council channels and partner organizations
Measurement and learning
- Establish and monitor KPIs across advocacy, programs, grants, and distribution to measure impact and guide strategic decision-making.
- Produce briefings for JBC’s leadership and board that capture outcomes, risks, and recommendations, and inform annual planning.
What you’ve done and what you bring
- Mid- to senior-level professional with deep experience in the literary world; preference for candidates with recent, relevant knowledge of the publishing industry.
- Strong, active network across publishing houses, literary agencies, festivals, and media.
- Experience designing programs or convenings for authors or industry peers.
- Demonstrated discretion and judgment in sensitive situations, with clear communication skills and practical problem-solving ability.
- Relationship builder who can open doors and follow through to achieve outcomes.
- Clear writer and presenter who can faithfully represent JBC publicly.
- Highly organized with the ability to develop systems and track data effectively.
- Passion for advancing Jewish and Israeli literature and creatives.
Logistics
- Regular travel for conferences, retreats, and partner meetings is required.
- Start date targeted for January 2026 or earlier if available.
Location: New York City
Type: Full-time, hybrid
Salary: The salary range for this position is $110-$130k, plus benefits.
How to apply
Send a resume, cover letter, and two work samples that show relevant experience to jobs@jewishbooks.org. Examples might include a program one-pager, a campaign plan, a panel you organized, a partnership you led, or ideas you may have for this role.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.