Publications Operations Manager

Why Work at BYU   

As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.” 

Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work. 

Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Publications Operations Manager

The Publications Operations Manager plays a central role in the success of BYU Religious Scholarly Publications (RSP), which includes BYU Studies, the Maxwell Institute, and the Religious Studies Center. This position is responsible for overseeing the full production lifecycle of all publications—from planning and budgeting to design, printing, and distribution. The manager ensures operational efficiency, financial accountability, and high-quality output across all publishing formats. In addition to managing business administration and vendor relationships, this role provides leadership to the graphic design team and supports strategic initiatives that enhance the visibility and impact of RSP’s public-facing and scholarly work.

What You'll Be Doing In This Position

Publications & Production Oversight

• Manage the full lifecycle of RSP publications—including books, magazines, and journals—in both print and digital formats.
• Collaborate with editorial teams and publishing leadership to set production schedules, goals, policies, and budgets.
• Ensure timely, high-quality production and distribution of materials by coordinating with internal teams and external partners (e.g., Deseret Book, Brigham Distributing, Sheridan, BYU Print, etc.)
• Advise on branding, marketing, and advertising strategies for all publications.
• Oversee inventory and fulfillment processes for copublished and independently published titles.
• Ensure compliance with publishing standards, including ISBN registration and CIP data submission.
• Stay abreast of leading trends in academic publishing, printing, and distribution.

Business Administration

• Oversee departmental budgets, expenditures, and financial reporting related to publishing operations.
• Prepare materials and presentations for publication leadership that reflect sales, royalties, subscriptions, and other related data.
• Process author royalties, contracts, and vendor invoices in accordance with university (i.e., Workday) and legal standards.
• Ensure compliance with copyright laws and publishing regulations.
• Support hiring, supervision, and time tracking for student interns and part-time employees.

Lead Design Team

• Supervise the graphic design team responsible for RSP publications.
• Establish and maintain design standards to ensure scholarly and visually compelling outputs.
• Manage access to design tools and resources (e.g., CreativePro, RF123.com, etc.)
• Develop and maintain design standards to produce high quality and scholarly projects.
• Manage access to CreativePro, RF123.com, and other accounts for design team.
• Serve as a liaison with external partners on cover design, layout, and other visual elements.

Distribution & Outreach

• Coordinate distribution of author and gratis copies, including materials sent to apostolic advisors.
• Serve as a point of contact for authors, editors, distributors, and university departments.
• Assist with marketing and distribution efforts at campus events and professional conferences.

What Qualifies You For This Role

Minimum education/experience required 

• Master’s degree in publishing, linguistics, academic writing, communications, business administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in publishing, production management, or business operations.

Minimum education/experience preferred

• Doctoral degree or equivalent experience in academic publishing, nonprofit administration, or academic writing.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in publishing operations, production oversight, or related fields.

Skills, abilities, knowledge, licenses, certifications

Required

• Project Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills to oversee multiple concurrent publication timelines.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with authors, editors, vendors, and internal teams.
• Technical Proficiency: Competence in office software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, InDesign, etc.), content management systems, and publishing tools.
• Publishing Standards: Working knowledge of copyright law, ISBN/CIP processes, and contract management.
• Financial Administration: Ability to manage budgets, process royalties and invoices, and ensure compliance with university and legal standards.
• Team Leadership: Experience supervising staff and interns, with the ability to foster collaboration and uphold quality standards.

Preferred

• Academic Publishing Experience: Familiarity with scholarly publishing workflows and nonprofit communications.
• University Systems: Experience navigating university administrative systems and donor relations.
• Design Oversight: Understanding of graphic design principles and tools used in publication layout and branding.
• Subject Matter Familiarity: Knowledge of Latter-day Saint scholarship or religious education.

Required Documents:

All Staff positions require a resume.

Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.

Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!