Publishing House Manager

Job description

We are toogeza, a Ukrainian recruiting company that is focused on hiring talents and building teams for tech startups worldwide. People make a difference in the big game, we may help to find the right ones. We are looking for a Publishing House Manager to join The Kyiv Independent's team. The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s leading English-language media outlet and one of Europe’s fastest-growing independent media organizations. Founded by 19 journalists in 2021, they have grown into a team of more than 95 people in less than five years, reaching global audiences through reporting, investigations, newsletters, podcasts, video, live events, publishing projects, and e-commerce initiatives. Supported by a community of more than 32,000 members, they are constantly experimenting with new formats, platforms, and business models to tell Ukraine’s story to the world and help shape the future of independent journalism. Key Responsibilities - Co-develop the vision, strategy, and business model for The Kyiv Independent’s publishing house, working closely with leadership and other teams - Lead the launch and growth of a new publishing initiative, building processes, workflows, and partnerships from the ground up - Identify and evaluate publishing opportunities, including books, magazines, translations, special editions, and new formats that align with KI’s mission and audience - Collaborate across editorial, commercial, marketing, fundraising, and product teams to develop a sustainable and impactful publishing program - Provide strategic leadership and direction for all publishing operations - Oversee manuscript acquisition, editorial planning, and content curation - Establish and maintain relationships with authors, agents, publishers, translators, and literary partners - Lead marketing, distribution, and audience-growth strategies for publishing products - Oversee rights management, including foreign, audio, and digital licensing - Manage budgets, financial performance, and profitability targets - Build and supervise external contractors and, over time, an internal publishing team - Monitor industry trends and identify opportunities for innovation and growth Requirements - Minimum 3 years of progressive experience in book publishing or media and an ambition to grow - Start-up experience (in the publishing industry or otherwise) would be considered an advantage - Proven track record in editorial decision-making and title acquisition - Demonstrated leadership skills with experience managing cross-functional teams - Excellent written and verbal communication skills - In-depth knowledge of the publishing industry, market trends, and distribution channels - Fluency in Ukrainian and advanced English We Offer - Market-level compensation - Working with a young and highly motivated team in an award-winning media outlet - Busy, but flexible work schedule - Medical insurance for team members based in Ukraine. We’ll review everything within five working days, and if your background matches what we’re looking for, we’ll get in touch to set up a call and get to know each other better.