Associate Director / Director, Publicity

Simon & Schuster was named to Forbes magazine list of America's Best Mid-Size Employers 2022. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world's most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Scribner Books is seeking a strategic, creative, and results-driven Associate Publicity Director or Publicity Director to lead and manage all aspects of publicity campaigns for our frontlist and key backlist titles.

The ideal candidate will have deep media relationships, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record of securing impactful coverage for books and authors. Scribner publishes Stephen King, Anthony Doerr, and a host of other luminary authors including Jesmyn Ward, Jeannette Walls, Andrew Solomon, Kiese Laymon, S. C. Gwynne, Angela Duckworth, Tom Perrotta, Jennifer Egan, Colm Toibin, and Siddhartha Mukherjee.

This leadership role is integral to shaping the public image of our titles and authors, and working cross-functionally with editorial, marketing, and sales teams to ensure cohesive and high-impact campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative and strategic national and regional publicity campaigns for new releases across genres.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key media contacts including book reviewers, journalists, podcasters, bloggers, and influencers.
• Coordinate and oversee author tours, media interviews, book signings, festival appearances, and virtual events.
• Craft compelling press materials, including press releases, pitch letters, author bios, and talking points.
• Train and guide junior publicity staff; oversee workload, timelines, and campaign execution.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on publicity campaign results, media coverage, and industry trends.
• Serve as a media spokesperson for the company and authors as needed.
• Collaborate with marketing, editorial, and sales teams to align messaging and maximize exposure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, English, Journalism, or related field.
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in book publicity or a related field
• Strong network of media contacts in the publishing/literary space.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for books and deep understanding of the literary landscape and publishing industry trends.
• Experience working with authors and talent, and ability to manage relationships with diplomacy and professionalism.