What are the responsibilities and job description for the Acquisitions Editor for Physical Sciences and Engineering position at Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
Posting Description
ACQUISITIONS EDITOR FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, MIT Press , is responsible for strategically acquiring and developing trade, academic trade, professional, and scholarly books in the physical sciences and engineering. They manage a robust pipeline of projects, guiding authors and coordinating peer review to produce high-quality manuscripts for general readers, students, professionals, and academics. The role involves cultivating strong relationships with MIT faculty, external advisors, and prospective authors, and serving as the primary contact for authors across both frontlist and backlist titles. Key duties include identifying promising topics and authors, evaluating proposals and unsolicited manuscripts, conducting market research, and assessing the commercial viability of new projects through data analysis and P&L preparation. The Editor oversees peer review, negotiates contracts, prepares publishing plans, and ensures projects move efficiently through editorial, production, marketing, and sales processes. They also maintain and refresh the backlist, improve discoverability, and contribute to the Press’s annual revenue goals.
Job Requirements
REQUIRED : Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field; a minimum of three years of experience in book publishing, scientific or academic publishing, journalism, information science or a related field; excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong negotiation skills; knowledge of publishing contracts and terms; knowledge of the higher education community; ability to work with academic authors and deal with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment. PREFERRED: Advanced or bachelor’s degree in science, literature, or a related field.
The role is based at the MIT Press in Cambridge, MA, with a hybrid work structure.
The position requires representing the MIT Press at conferences and campuses, building networks within the research community, Campus and conference travel required.
12/4/2025
ACQUISITIONS EDITOR FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, MIT Press , is responsible for strategically acquiring and developing trade, academic trade, professional, and scholarly books in the physical sciences and engineering. They manage a robust pipeline of projects, guiding authors and coordinating peer review to produce high-quality manuscripts for general readers, students, professionals, and academics. The role involves cultivating strong relationships with MIT faculty, external advisors, and prospective authors, and serving as the primary contact for authors across both frontlist and backlist titles. Key duties include identifying promising topics and authors, evaluating proposals and unsolicited manuscripts, conducting market research, and assessing the commercial viability of new projects through data analysis and P&L preparation. The Editor oversees peer review, negotiates contracts, prepares publishing plans, and ensures projects move efficiently through editorial, production, marketing, and sales processes. They also maintain and refresh the backlist, improve discoverability, and contribute to the Press’s annual revenue goals.
Job Requirements
REQUIRED : Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field; a minimum of three years of experience in book publishing, scientific or academic publishing, journalism, information science or a related field; excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong negotiation skills; knowledge of publishing contracts and terms; knowledge of the higher education community; ability to work with academic authors and deal with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment. PREFERRED: Advanced or bachelor’s degree in science, literature, or a related field.
The role is based at the MIT Press in Cambridge, MA, with a hybrid work structure.
The position requires representing the MIT Press at conferences and campuses, building networks within the research community, Campus and conference travel required.
12/4/2025