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© 2001—2023 ASSOCIATION OF ART EDITORS

Job Opportunities

 

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston

Editor

Status/Salary: Full time; 35 hours per week.
Salary Range $60,000–$63,000 commensurate with experience

Posting Date: July 7, 2023—until filled

Note that the MFA requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID19 (religious or medical exemptions will be considered).

JOB SUMMARY:

In the MFA’s Department of Publications, the Editor will take primary responsibility for editing and coordinating of publishing projects of all formats, sizes, and levels of complexity, including exhibition catalogues and books on the permanent collections. In addition to editing a certain number of titles each year as assigned by the Managing Editor, the Editor will coordinate editorial work outsourced to freelancers, work with authors to shape and finalize manuscripts, copyedit as needed, and ensure that all necessary components (captions, checklist, figure illustrations, etc.) are in place before the manuscript is put into production. The Editor will also coordinate independently with freelance designers, printers, and other vendors to assist in the books’ design and production. In addition, the Editor will assist in training other members of the department in editorial and production-editing procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

  • Assume primary responsibility for development, scheduling, editing, and design and production oversight of an agreed number of publications each year, as directed by the Managing Editor.
  • Work directly with authors to ensure that their texts meet the criteria for which they have been contracted and that agreed schedules are met.
  • Ensure that publications are produced in a style appropriate to the intended audience, and that they reflect the MFA’s editorial policy and publication requirements.
  • Perform developmental editing, manuscript editing, and proofreading, as required, to ensure that books are published without typographical and grammatical errors and adhere to house style, liaising with external and internal readers, as required.
  • Prepare materials for and liaise with freelance designers, to ensure that each book is designed to reflect MFA Publications requirements.
  • Coordinate obtaining images from internal and external sources, and oversee the review and approval process for all photography credits, rights clearance, and donor credit lines for each assigned project.
  • Coordinate color proofing and other stages of book production with internal and external parties, as required.
  • Write cover texts and sales/marketing copy, and provide information on publications to distributors and other external parties.
  • Assist the Managing Editor in maintaining and updating MFA Publications house style, and in training other members of the department in editorial standards and procedures.
  • Maintain awareness and knowledge of trade art publishing and other museum-sector publishing activity, and represent MFA Publications in public forums as appropriate.
  • Other duties as required or necessary.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in art history, English, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ publishing experience with independent responsibility for editorial functions
  • Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style and the editorial functions of Microsoft Word
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects while paying close attention to detail and meeting deadlines
  • Knowledge and experience of illustrated book publishing, preferably in a museum setting
  • Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office, Photoshop, InDesign, e-book platforms, and some HTML also a plus

The Museum reserves the right to change job descriptions. While this job description is intended to include essential duties, it is conceivable that duties may change before the job description is officially revised.

This position is affiliated with the UAW Union.

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.