Freelance Copy Editor Proofreader Jobs in Austin, TX

Hiring Department: UT Press

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Nov 16, 2026

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

The University of Texas Press, the largest publishing house in the state of Texas, seeks an energetic, experienced professional to manage its journals division. For seventy-five years, UT Press has published books and journals across a wide range of subjects, including history, music, classics, architecture, and Latin American studies. Our portfolio of sixteen journals includes Texas Studies in Language and Literature, Texas National Security Review, Information & Culture, and others across several disciplines. Reporting to the director of the press, the journals manager leads a department of four on work that is central to the mission and identity of UT Press.

• Acquisitions: Define qualitative and financial standards for peer-reviewed journal acquisitions. Evaluate prospective journals, prepare financial projections, complete proposals, and negotiate contracts with societies, sponsors, and/or journal editors. Respond to inquiries from outside journals, including both casual expressions of interest and formal Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Business Development: Develop new revenue sources such as new options for disseminating content and expanding customer base. Explore techniques and strategies for effective use of the Press website. Renegotiate contracts and licenses with vendors as needed. Keep informed about technological developments and trends in the publishing industry and the evolving digital marketplace. Attend national professional meetings and maintain contacts with academic publishing colleagues.
• Finance and Budgeting: Experience with financial planning and budgeting and developing strategies for financial stability. Prepare and monitor annual Journals Division budget which includes revenue from subscription sales, single copy and single article sales, licensing content, and any advertising sales. Set subscription rates for various classes of subscribers for print and electronic content. Monitor all expenses and approve expenditures. Annually assess financial goals.
• General Management: Serve and provide leadership on the Press management team. Establish efficient goals and direct work processes for Journals Division customer service, subscriptions and sales, print and electronic production, warehousing and fulfillment, marketing, subsidiary rights, accounting, and journal acquisitions. Supervise staff of three (full time), including conducting performance evaluations, fostering professional development, and handling other human resource issues as appropriate.
• Permissions: Process requests for permission to use material from UT Press Journals. Send collections letters for overdue permissions fees.
• Copyright: Register UT Press journals with the US Copyright Office. Checking incoming copyright notices.
• Partner Relations: Build and maintain positive relationships with society board members, sponsors, and journal editors. Keep societies and sponsors apprised of the status of the journals and prepare annual reports detailing finances, circulations, online usage, and any marketing efforts conducted during the fiscal year. Prepare other reports to societies and sponsors as requested. Work with societies and journal editors on general problem solving.
• Production: Oversee production work of up to 2-3 journals which includes copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, desktop publishing, commercial printing, and electronic publishing stages of production. Provide general support to production team during staff vacations and other needs as defined by the situation.

• Bachelor's degree in the humanities or social sciences.
• Five or more years of experience in scholarly publishing.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize competing deadlines, and delegate tasks appropriately.
• Knowledge of publishing workflows, including editorial, production, print, and digital publication processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Creative Cloud applications (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

• Extensive work on scholarly journals, including working with scholarly societies and/or journal editorial boards.
• Experience with modern publishing production techniques, including journal and digital content design and production.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing in-house staff, as well as managing relationships with freelancers and vendors.
• Experience contributing to or leading strategic planning initiatives.
• Experience coordinating all aspects of journal production, printing, and distribution.
• Experience estimating project costs and reviewing publishing contracts.
• Experience working with manuscript submission and peer-review systems.
• Knowledge of scholarly publishing standards, publication ethics, and research integrity best practices.

Salary Range: $70,000 + depending on qualifications

Typical office environment.

Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and if this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, 1616 Guadalupe Street, 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world.

Email comments to hrsc@austin.utexas.edu. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at (512) 471-4772, or toll-free at (800) 687-4178. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus