Do you love books and reading? Are you the kind of person who likes to share your favourite books with others? Do you gravitate toward other people who love books? Then consider joining our dynamic publishing team as a Junior Publicist.
Nimbus Publishing is Atlantic Canada’s largest English-language publisher. Nimbus (and our fiction imprint, Vagrant Press) produces approximately fifty new books a year on a range of subjects relevant to the Atlantic Provinces— children’s picture books and fiction, literary non-fiction, social and cultural history, nature photography, current events, biography, sports, and cultural issues. Nimbus also does distribution for numerous Atlantic publishers, making the company the biggest book distributor on the east coast of Canada. Nimbus is located in the north end of Halifax.
Nimbus Publishing & Vagrant Press is currently seeking a Junior Publicist to spread the word about Atlantic Canadian authors, illustrators and other book creators to a variety of loyal and newfound book-loving accounts across Atlantic Canada, and beyond.
The Junior Publicist will also support the development of creative campaigns designed to promote and market all books published by Nimbus and its distributed clients. To support publishing business initiatives for Atlantic Canada’s greatest publishing brands.
Description:
Nimbus is seeking a full-time Junior Publicist with one to three years of experience to join our marketing team in a contract position, with the possibility of extending to a full-time, permanent position at a later date.
The person in this position will work out of the Halifax office, reporting remotely to the national publicist based in Toronto.
Promotional responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the national publicist to develop and execute seasonal marketing and promotional plans, maintaining budgets for each title
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with authors throughout the cycle of their books (from onboarding to the end of their promotional timeline)
- Create branded marketing materials for books (bookmarks, posters, sell sheets, etc); create event graphics for social media
Events:
- Coordinate and publicize book launches, author signings, and other book events
- Curate pitches to relevant regional festivals and conferences (components include talent selection, budget maintenance, logistics, coordinating with sales, social media)
- Participate in community events, trade shows, professional development sessions, and publishing industry events as necessary
Media Outreach:
- Create engaging and effective publicity materials including press releases, background information, advance praise and reviews
- Build and maintain relationships with mainstream and alternative media (digital and traditional) contacts and maintain up-to-date media lists
- Create media pitches to solicit book reviews, author interviews and other media coverage
- Add media hits to the bi-weekly media update, to be shared with national and regional sales teams, and office staff
Social Media:
- Use social media to publicize events as well as to share media coverage, author activity, industry news, and direct sales traffic to the Nimbus website
Book Awards:
- plan and manage book award submissions with input from editorial and national publicist
Administrative:
- Participate in bi-weekly publicity updates with general manager and national publicist, additional staff meetings where required
- Assist office manager and customer service reps when required
Skills Required:
- 1-3 years of work experience in Publicity, Marketing, or a related field
- Educational background/certificate in Public Relations, Communications, or related, is an asset
- Passionate about books, you are an engaged reader
- Excellent communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, and an ability to pivot and prioritize tasks under tight deadlines
- Established working relationships with regional media an asset
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as part of a team
- Able to work evenings and weekends where required a must; driver’s license an asset
- Proficiency with Excel, Word, Google, Zoom, MailChimp and social media platforms (FB, X, Instagram)
- Design skills with Canva or other design programs
- Relationship management skills, able to work with different personalities with diplomacy
- An understanding of the Canadian publishing landscape and its current challenges would be an asset; A sense of humour will help too!
Benefits and Perks:
- Health and dental
- RRSP program
- Book discounts and credits
- Continuous training and yearly conferences
- We value work-life balance as well as the importance of mental health: Free yoga, monthly massage days, casual Fridays, and office dogs!
Nimbus encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. We are committed to providing accommodations in all aspects of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. To find out more about Nimbus Publishing, visit Nimbus.ca. Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter to Terrilee Bulger, General Manager at tbulger(AT)nimbus.ca by March 26, 2024, 5 pm AT.