Cato Press and Publications Assistant

Description

The Cato Institute seeks an organized, motivated, and detail-oriented press and publications assistant to join the Cato Press and Publications team. The assistant will be responsible for providing editorial, production, and marketing support to the executive director and the books editor. 

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.

The projected salary range for this role is $50,000 - $58,000 per year. 

Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future. 

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the department staff, including processing contracts, communicating with vendors, and coordinating with distributors.
• Keep the Press calendar updated and assist with building production timelines.
• Assist with editorial tasks, including preparing manuscripts for production.
• Provide quality control support on each title (checking page proofs, reviewing ebook files, proofreading flap copy, etc.)
• Coordinate with other Cato teams (including Marketing, Communications, Art, External Affairs, and Development) to keep them updated on forthcoming titles.
• Facilitate the distribution of title information and galleys to reviewers.
• Assist with pre-publication tasks, including filing Library of Congress applications, updating metadata, creating mailing lists, and reviewing press releases.
• Communicate with authors, editors, designers, printers, and freelancers as needed.
• Assist with sales reporting and creating royalty reports.
• Assist with processing permissions requests and other agreements.

Requirements

Education/ Experience

• A college degree in a related field.
• 1–2 years of related experience.
• Knowledge of and commitment to libertarianism or classical liberalism consistent with the vision of the Cato Institute.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.
• Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style.

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly organized self-starter with keen attention to detail, quality, and accuracy.
• Ability to anticipate needs from various teams at Cato.
• Quick learner with the ability to multitask under deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiastic and positive attitude.
• Customer service oriented.
• Able to lift and move book cartons and other heavy objects (25 – 40 lbs).
• Able to travel occasionally. 

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits 
• Pet discount plan