Ideas create revolutions. They inspire. They lead to new thoughts. Idea Beyond Borders, a new New York City based nonprofit is embarking on a program to bring the best and most thought provoking non-fiction articles and books to a new audience in the Arabic speaking world.
We are building the staff that will design and execute this ambitious and ground breaking program.
Program Director - Translation Program (Bayt al Hikma)
As the lead program officer you will build the relationships with publishers in the English speaking world that will enable the program to disseminate magazine articles (and eventually books) to the underserved readers in the Arabic speaking world.
You will also guide the editorial process: establishing an editorial policy, leading the article selection process, negotiating for rights, supervising the Content Manager and third-party, overseas based translation partner.
The Program Director will also supervise the marketing and promotion of the content which we expect to be via short social media videos (text based and with some photography).
To succeed you will:
- Have a demonstrated and proven record of success working with publishers across several genres such as science, philosophy, the arts, political science. etc.
- Speak, read, and write Arabic.
- Be familiar with the video production process
- Have excellent business management skills that demonstrate professionalism
- Be able to build relationships with potential partner publishers and understand the legal frameworks that the project will need to navigate.
- An understanding of the cross currents of political thought that will be the context for the program as well as a sensitivity to the cultural landscape.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and execution of IBB translation program
- Supervise editorial policy development
- Secure content rights
- Select articles
- Supervise translation process
- Coordinate with overseas translation partners
- Manage and approve social media video production
- Write 1 - 2 min text based teaser that promote articles
- Work with video team to develop teasers
- Manage budget and staff (2 FT, plus outside resource)
Areas of Expertise & Necessary Skills
- Publishing and rights acquisition
- Landscape of nonfiction magazine publications
- Understanding of the market for content in the Arabic speaking world
- Editorial policy design
- Arabic language skills
- Social Media marketing, Budgeting and project management
- Partnership development
Please indicate salary requirements as we do not want to waste your time.
Excellent, fully paid benefits including health, vacation, 401K, etc.
Very collegial atmosphere
An opportunity to make a significant different in the world. (Yes, really).
Please send a thoughtful letter describing your understanding of the new program and please provide some insights as to how you would approach this important challenge.