Careers

Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director

The University of South Carolina Press, located in Columbia at the state’s flagship university, seeks a full-time Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director to oversee all aspects of marketing, sales, and publicity. The Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director is a key member of the leadership team of USC Press, responsible for marketing, sales, and publicity initiatives in support of approximately 35 new print and digital books each year, as well as a backlist of more than 1,200 titles. The Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director will set annual budgets, forecast sales, oversee department staff, and liaise with the Press’s partners in distribution and sales. The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership and collegiality, and a track record of creativity, growth, collaboration, and innovation. 

The University of South Carolina Press, established in 1944, is one of the oldest, most distinguished publishing houses in the American South. Our editorial profile features critically acclaimed peer-reviewed books in South Carolina and Southern history and culture, African American studies, civil rights, Southern Jewish studies, literary studies, and rhetoric and communication. We are committed to sharing select projects with the world via our open access platform, Open Carolina, and we are expanding into new publishing formats. We publish regional trade titles in the categories above as well as cooking, nature, music, and memoir. By publishing works that educate readers, expand scholarship, and provoke community conversations, we further the mission of the University of South Carolina. 

We encourage applicants to read our vision, mission, and values statements (here).

Primary responsibilities of the Marketing, Sales, and Publicity Director include: 

• Create, execute, and oversee all marketing, sales, and publicity strategies to distribute and promote scholarly and trade titles to wholesalers, retailers, and direct to consumers.
• Drive sales growth by ensuring strong market presence and adopting data-driven sales strategies.
• Work closely with bookstores and other key retail accounts in South Carolina. Manage house accounts and work closely with Southeastern Book Travelers, our contracted regional sales representatives, to reach sales accounts across the South.
• Develop and oversee publicity plans for all trade titles and/or guide the work of freelance publicists.
• Partner with authors to communicate marketing and publicity strategies.
• Forecast book sales and evaluate sales performance.
• Manage annual marketing, sales, and publicity budgets.
• Act as principal contact for and manage relationships with vendors, distributors, and other partners.
• Manage and oversee inventory and call reprints.
• Manage and inspire department staff, including performance evaluations and feedback, recruitment, and development of talents and skills.
• Collaborate with USC Press Director and other department heads to envision, collaboratively develop, and execute strategic plans and process improvements.
• Serve on the Press’s Acquisitions Committee, contribute to cover design planning, and support the development of book projects.

 Required qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a job-related field.
• Five or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

 Preferred qualifications:

• Five or more years of relevant and progressively developing marketing, sales, and publicity experience in publishing, scholarly communication, higher education, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in all departments, including acquisitions, editorial/design/production, and finance.
• Experience in planning and managing a departmental budget.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, commercial website organization, social media platforms, and FileMaker Pro or comparable database software.

Application requirements: 

A cover letter and résumé are required to be considered for this position. Please visit the University of South Carolina jobs site and upload appropriate documents here: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/194164.

Apply by: October 3, 2025

Equal opportunity statement: 

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, or local law or regulations. 

A background check is required after a conditional job offer is made.

University benefits: 

For information on benefits for university employees see here. 

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: The university offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, long-term care, and life insurance benefits.
• Retirement: The university offers generous retirement plans, including the South Carolina State Optional Retirement Program and a Supplemental Retirement Benefits Plan (with many providers).
• Paid Leave: New full-time employees accrue 15 days of annual leave per year which increases after 10 years of service. Additionally, full-time employees accrue 15 days of sick leave and receive 13 paid holidays per year.
• Tuition and Professional Development: The university offers excellent tuition benefits and professional development opportunities; over the years many Press employees have taken courses and earned master’s degrees, with the Press offering flexibility to accommodate learning schedules.
• Wellness and Work-Life Resources: The university is committed to supporting faculty and staff as they balance competing demands of work and personal life. Wellness opportunities include workshops, lectures, and in-person and online programs.

About Columbia, South Carolina: 

Columbia is a vibrant, affordable, and growing city that is home to the University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, and the South Carolina State House. The university’s main quad, known as the Horseshoe, is among the most beautiful in the country. The downtown music and arts scenes are flourishing. Excellent restaurants and shops line the city’s Main Street, Vista, Five Points, and Devine Street districts, while walking and biking trails track the city’s three scenic rivers. Ideally located—90 minutes from Charlotte, 2 hours from Charleston and several of the Atlantic Ocean’s most beautiful beaches, 2.5 hours from Asheville, and less than 30 minutes from Lake Murray—Columbia has mild winters, stunning flora, and an array of cultural amenities.

Student Internships

The University of South Carolina Press undergraduate internship is eligible for class credit (pending approval by an academic advisor) and is paid, thanks to our generous donors who have made this possible. Through this paid publishing internship, we hope to make our unique educational experience accessible to all USC undergraduate students. Each intern will earn a stipend of $1,000 over the course of their semester with the Press. The internship will last approximately 14 weeks and interns will typically work 10 hours per week. Each internship offers exposure to and potential integration with other USC Press departments. Interns will gain insight into the publishing process with varied learning opportunities tailored to their specific interests. We look forward to having you on our team! See below for application instructions.

How to Apply

Internship opportunities are available during fall, spring, and summer semesters and are posted on Handshake during the preceding semester. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn for application announcements. Applicants are encouraged to apply via Handshake but may also submit their cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to Jolie Hale, publishing assistant, at halejm@mailbox.sc.edu. 

What is a writing sample and why do we want one?

A writing sample can be many things, and its primary function is to show off your writing and communication skills. At the University of South Carolina Press we ask intern applicants to submit a writing sample to give us insight into their skills and interests. Your writing sample can be from a course assignment, a previous internship, a personal book review, or relevant club/volunteer experience.

For the Acquisitions Intern position a writing sample could be:

• A literary analysis or book review you did well on
• A newspaper or magazine article you wrote
• A substantive book review that you have posted online

 For the Marketing Intern position a writing sample could be:

• A newspaper or magazine article you wrote
• A mock social media campaign you created (PowerPoints accepted)
• A project that you worked on
  • Pitch letter
  • Press release
  • Publicity campaign

• An essay or paper that you did well on 

For the Publishing Intern Position a writing sample could be:

• An essay or paper that you did well on
• A newspaper or magazine article you wrote

Generative AI Statement

Your resume, cover letter, and writing sample are all important pieces of the application process that helps us get to know you better. These materials are also an opportunity for you to express your unique interest in this publishing internship. This is why it’s important that every piece is written in your own words. We strongly encourage each applicant to write their resume, cover letters, and writing samples without the use of generative AI.