Job Details

Director of the University of Utah Press

Position Number: 6929668
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Publications and Editing

Director of the University of Utah Press

Job Summary

The University of Utah Press is located at the J. Willard Marriott Library, at the heart of the university's academic community, on a growing campus with an expanding student population. The Press publishes and disseminates scholarly books and other printed and recorded materials of significance to Utah, the region, the country, and the world. To further its mission, the University of Utah Press seeks a dynamic leader to advance its award-winning program and to advocate for the Press in a rapidly-changing scholarly publishing environment.

The successful candidate will provide strategic direction, fiscal oversight, and forward-looking executive leadership to the Press. The director manages six full-time staff and reports to the Alice Sheets Marriott Dean of Libraries; works with the senior editor and acquisitions staff to set publication priorities and monitor the development of new book projects; and as a member of the library's Executive Committee and the Dean's Cabinet, helps develop and approve library strategies and policies. Business savvy, political acumen, and diplomacy will be essential in all aspects of this role.

Work Location: Relocation to the Salt Lake City, Utah, area is required and will be financially supported by a moving allowance. This position is currently designed as a hybrid of on-campus and local remote work. The telecommuting arrangement will be based on the position's needs and authorized at the discretion of the Dean of Libraries.

Join our community: We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, including those who may not have followed a traditional career path. We are particularly interested in identifying and interviewing candidates with experience and expertise that will contribute to advancing our mission of publishing significant books with global reach.

Working at the University of Utah Press offers an opportunity to become deeply engaged in the intellectual life of the University, surrounding community, and beyond. We enjoy many partnerships on campus and across the state, including the Marriott Library's Division of Special Collections, the University of Utah's Center for Middle East studies, and the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment. We publish the annual volume of The Tanner Lectures on Human Values in partnership with the internationally renowned program. The University's Environmental Humanities program recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary, making it one of the oldest such programs in the country; we annually support one of their graduate assistants at the Press, giving us the opportunity to work with and form long-term relationships with their students. Other notable relationships we value include the Division of State History, Utah Westerners, BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures, the Wasatch Festival of Books, the Entrada Institute, the many nonprofits working on issues related to Great Salt Lake, and with the many local independent bookstores that enliven Salt Lake City's literary landscape. We are proud to award our own biennial Don D. and Catherine S. Fowler Prize and to partner in awarding the annual Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry.

Responsibilities

Provides vision, strategy, and long-term planning for all aspects of the Press's publication program and communicates these to internal and external stakeholders Leads the work of the Faculty Advisory Committee. Serves as the outward facing presence of the Press and develops strong relationships with the campus and community.
Oversees the editorial direction of the Press. This includes setting publication priorities and scrutinizing manuscripts and budgets for acquisitions program. Requires familiarity with publication disciplines and the ability to assess markets and potential sales.
Manages a ~$1.1M annual budget; reviews monthly financial statements and makes decisions to maximize profitability of Press operations.
Oversees grant writing, publishing initiatives, fundraising, negotiating co-publishing agreements and distribution agreements. Drafts publication agreements and other legal instruments.
Establishes editorial, design, and production guidelines and processes that reflect the Press's overall publication standards. Manages the team to ensure that standards are met.
Develops a marketing strategy and sales decisions with regard to conference travel, seasonal catalogs, and budgets and strategies.
Maintains strong relationships with the executive director of the Association of University Presses and in the collegial environment of other university press directors.

Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Director, Operations Management - Division/Business Unit (Non-Executive): Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 12 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 10 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences
Master's degree, preferably in a field related to the Press's publications program (including anthropology, archaeology, Mesoamerican studies, American Indian studies, linguistics, natural history, nature writing, Utah and Western history, and Mormon studies). Five years' prior publishing experience either at the director or senior staff level, preferably at a scholarly press. Ability to assess manuscripts for suitability for publication. Understanding of academic departmental budgeting and cost control along with the economics of book publishing. A successful track record in strategic planning, financial management, and nonprofit organizational leadership. Demonstrated human relations and exceptional communication skills.

Special Instructions
All applications received by March 8, 2026 will receive full consideration.

Required documents to upload:

Cover Letter
Resume or CV
List of 3 Professional References

Requisition Number: PRN44271B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Monday-Friday between 8am and 6pm.Some evenings and weekends may be required.
Department: 00338 - University Press
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $120,000 to $150,000
Close Date: 5/15/2026
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/196543