Senior Officer: African Languages Press x1
Job Details
- Job Title: Senior Officer: African Languages Press Publishing Coordinator (Post Level 9)
- Job ID: 6428
- Institution: University of the Free State
- Department: Library and Information Services
- Division: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies
- Location: Bloemfontein Campus, Free State
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Occupational Level: Junior Management
- Closing Date: 30 April 2026
Job Description
This role focuses on managing and coordinating the African Languages Press publishing portfolio, ensuring the production of high-quality scholarly books in both print and digital formats.
The successful candidate will oversee the full publishing process, from manuscript development to final distribution, while maintaining linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and publishing standards.
The position also plays a strategic role in growing the Press portfolio, improving workflows, and ensuring profitability and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Publishing & Editorial Management
- Manage book imprints and publishing portfolio to meet targets (quality, revenue, profitability)
- Coordinate authors, editors, peer reviewers, designers, and proofreaders
- Oversee editorial processes (peer review, copyediting, proofreading)
- Ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance in African language publications
- Guide authors on manuscript preparation and publishing ethics
Production & Operations
- Ensure timely production of books (print and eBooks)
- Monitor quality, cost, and scheduling of publishing processes
- Identify workflow improvements and implement process changes
- Manage contractors and service providers
Strategy & Growth
- Develop and implement publishing policies
- Grow scholarly book output and impact
- Stay updated on Open Access (OA) trends and publishing developments
- Evaluate and recommend software systems for efficiency
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
- Serve as the main contact for authors
- Collaborate with internal teams (finance, marketing, operations)
- Build relationships with distributors and stakeholders
- Support marketing and promotion (book fairs, conferences)
Distribution & Marketing
- Oversee distribution of publications (print and digital)
- Monitor inventory and coordinate reprints
- Support promotional strategies and outreach activities
Leadership & Administration
- Manage staff performance and development
- Contribute to departmental goals and strategy
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF Level 7) in:
- Publishing
- African Languages
- Linguistics / Literature
- Communication or Information Sciences (or related field)
- Minimum 2 years’ relevant experience
Recommended (Advantageous)
- Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF Level 8) in a relevant field
- Experience in higher education
- Knowledge of university systems and policies
- Membership with a relevant professional body
Key Competencies
- Strong project management and multitasking ability
- Attention to detail and quality standards
- Leadership and team collaboration skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Technical and creative skills (design software, branding, basic HTML/CSS)
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement