Publishing Operations Intern

Description

Are you thinking about a career in publishing? Are you looking to gain experience in multiple areas of book publishing, including contracts, rights, copyediting, production, and vendor management? Augsburg Fortress Publishers is seeking an intern who will work across our five imprints—Augsburg Fortress, Beaming Books, Broadleaf Books, Fortress Press, and Sparkhouse—gaining exposure to and understanding of vital aspects of publishing.

Augsburg Fortress Publishers (AFP) is a multimedia publishing ministry of the ELCA, composed of five imprints: Augsburg Fortress, Sparkhouse, Fortress Press, Beaming Books, and Broadleaf Books. We publish resources that support Christian worship, faith formation, spiritual growth, and academic study, and professional development. AFP strives to create an environment of inclusiveness, equity, and respect for all regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, nation of origin, race, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Individuals who are committed to contributing meaningfully to diversity and inclusion in publishing are encouraged to apply.

The imprints of AFP include:

Augsburg Fortress produces resources for the ELCA and mainline churches that enliven worship and music, faith formation, and congregational life.

Broadleaf Books, publisher of books on religion, culture, social justice, spirituality, and personal growth that inspire transformation in readers and their communities to foster a more open, just, and compassionate world. 

Beaming Books, publisher of high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

Fortress Press, publisher of scholarship that matters for the academy, for the classroom, and for the church across the categories of theology, biblical studies, history, religion, and ministry.

Sparkhouse develops multimedia curricula that deepen and enrich the life of Christian communities.

The intern will work with the production team and the contracts and rights team at the AFP office in Minneapolis’s North Loop neighborhood. Availability to work 8–12 hours weekly in-person at the AFP office on Tuesdays and Thursdays is required. This is a paid internship at a rate of $20 per hour. The internship will begin immediately and last through the fall, with the possibility of renewal for the spring and summer.

With manager and colleague support, the Publishing Operations Intern will gain valuable experience in publishing, which may include responsibilities in the following areas: 

Contracts

• Create, review, and process work-for-hire contracts for AFP content.
• Create, review, and process royalty contracts for composers of AFP content.

Rights

• Request permissions and facilitate licensing agreements for use of third-party content in AFP products.
• Process royalty payments, calculating and assigning royalties to appropriate parties.
• Register AFP products with the Library of Congress copyright office.

Quality checks

• Perform quality checks on interior and cover PDF files to ensure AFP standards.
• Perform quality checks on final printed books to ensure the book can be released for sale.
• Ensure AFP systems are accurate and current according to requirements.

Project management

• Communication with internal team members and external vendors/freelancers regarding copyediting, proofreading, typesetting, cover creation, and indexing. 
• Work to meet project schedules, reducing slippage by anticipating and proactively managing potential delays. 
• Work to reduce repeated errors in print as well as digital formats through regular escalation to line management when quality issues are found. 

Business continuity and communication 

• Continuously improve processes and documentation by identifying and escalating gaps in process and expectations to line management and engaging critically with documentation to suggest clarifications and additions where appropriate. 

Budgeting

• Review invoices, understand and enforce standard rates for services on a project-level basis, and escalate to manager any spends that do not align with norms.

Ethical standards 

• Actively uphold the ethical standards and behaviors expected by AFP.

Desired education and experience: 

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), working toward a BA, or equivalent experience in a related field.

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Precision in written and verbal communication along with good attention to detail. 
• Excellent organizational skills. 
• Good IT skills, including standard Microsoft Office package, and the ability to learn new technologies and systems. 
• Ability to empathize, support, and collaborate with others on problem resolution. 
• Flexibility, creativity, and initiative in problem solving.

Augsburg Fortress Publishers is a collaborative and creative hybrid work environment, with a talented group of 76 individuals who have a passion for their work. The corporate headquarters is located in the North Loop, Minneapolis with adjacent access to Light Rail and Metro Transit bus lines.