Location: the role can be conducted flexibly from home, from anywhere in Aotearoa
Role reports to: The Coalition for Books Board
Hours: approximately 15 hours per week each month on a year-long contract to 30 December 2025 with opportunity to renew from that date.
The Coalition for Books is a collaborative membership-based organisation that works to raise the profile of Aotearoa’s books and authors; developing programmes and initiatives that serve authors, publishers, booksellers, festivals, readers, and organisations that make up the literary eco-system of Aotearoa New Zealand. Current projects include the development of a whole-of-sector five year strategic plan for the book sector; as well as annual campaigns to highlight and showcase books by authors from Aotearoa.
Purpose of the role:
This contract, part-time position is focussed on ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation and project management of a set schedule of promotional campaign activities for the year ahead, including print catalogues and several online initiatives. A new campaign for the organisation in 2025 is the New Voices of Aotearoa promotion which aims to uplift books by new and emerging local writers.
Qualities and skills:
We are looking for a manager who is efficient, knowledgeable about Aotearoa NZ books, and able to work across a variety of projects. This is a multi-faceted role with responsibilities which include Board reporting; project management; funding applications; and working with closely with two part time team time members in a managerial capacity and alongside and under the direction of the Coalition’s Board. Experience using content management systems, creating basic images in design programmes like Canva, strong writing capability and experience with online platforms would be beneficial. Cultural competency in te ao Māori is desired.
Key responsibilities:
Membership liaison and communication, acting as the central point of contact for the organisation’s members
Project management of promotional campaigns to showcase books by authors from Aotearoa: in 2025 these include:
Pasifika Books 2025 (print, digital and event elements)
New Voices of Aotearoa (print, digital and event elements)
Winter Reading with Matariki Books selection (print and digital elements)
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (digital)
Summer Reading (print and digital in collaboration with Booksellers NZ)
Board reporting: one annual general meeting and six Board meetings
Team management: responsible for two high performing and skilled self-starter reports, the Kete Books Editor and the Accounts Administrator
Oversight of administrative elements to ensure the smooth running of the organisation, including invoice record keeping; website administration; upkeep of membership and other contact lists
Oversight of commercial elements and support on additional elements of the Kete Books website, including:
Developer liaison on any ongoing development
Advertising
Work alongside the Kete Editor as a sounding board
Publishing news stories; reading lists connecting to Coalition catalogues and promotions; weekly bestsellers lists and monthly junior fiction and YA bestsellers lists; keeping the calendar up-to-date
Advocacy: work closely with board members on advocacy related projects
Financial oversight, reporting to the Coalition for Books Board finance committee
Please apply in confidence to Board Chair, Melanie Laville-Moore: melaniel@allenandunwin.com.
Applications close on January 11th, 2025
