Make your mark on the leading English-language poetry magazine of Wales. Poetry Wales is looking to appoint its new editor to be in post for the next 3 years in the first instance, starting Autumn 2021 for the March 2022 issue. Individual and two-person joint applications are welcome.
Fee
£3000 per issue, with potential to increase subject to funding
Role overview
We are excited to open applications for the role of editor at Poetry Wales. We are looking for an individual (or two-person collaboration) to join the Poetry Wales team, who will continue our work to welcome and celebrate all writers, and under whose editorship the magazine and its poets will flourish, both in print and online.
Required skills
We are seeking an individual or joint application that shows how the candidate/two-person team:
- has a vision of how to build on the work of the previous editor, to enhance the work of the magazine as the primary English-language poetry magazine of Wales.
- has appropriate experience of handling editing tasks, including dealing with a high volume of submissions.
- is respected in the poetry world – in Wales or beyond – with a well-established career as a poet, commentator, editor, or critic.
- can work constructively within a team.
- can work independently, particularly in terms of exercising editorial judgement, i.e. around the construction of individual issues of the magazine and the quality of materials included.
- understands the importance of maintaining positive working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.
- is comfortable working to deadlines.
- is comfortable working remotely.
- has good IT and social media skills.
- can mentor contributing editorial staff.
- is open to learning about the funding landscape within Wales and can show the flexibility to work within its constraints.
Key responsibilities
In their role, the Poetry Wales editor is foremost expected:
- to deliver the magazine to budget and to deadline three times a year.
- to edit the magazine.
- to read and respond to submissions, and solicit work.
- to mentor new contributing editors and reviews editors.
- to work with the Publisher, Design/Production, admin manager and editorial staff.
- to write and contribute to grant applications as required.
- to communicate with the Poetry Wales oversight committee (Poetry Wales Board) and other stakeholders.
- to attend Poetry Wales Board meetings usually three times a year.
- to represent the magazine as required.
- to host and programme launch events/readings for issues of the magazine.
Full job description and responsibilities are outlined in the downloadable document below.
What to expect
Our projected timeline is as follows:
9th June
Applications open
30th June
Applications close
7th July – 9th July
All applicants will be contacted, and shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. Interview questions will be sent ahead of time.
21st July
Interviews
Week of 28th July
Editor formally announced
Contact details and how to apply
For informal queries about the post, please contact Chair of Poetry Wales Board Professor Matthew Jarvis on maj52@aber.ac.uk (he/him)
Poetry Wales is an equal opportunities employer and actively encourages applications from candidates who are from under-represented groups, including but not limited to people of colour, working-class people, disabled people and LGBTQ+ people. Applications from bilingual or multilingual applicants are very much welcomed.
Please submit your application including a CV of no more than 3 sides, and a cover letter of no more than 1000 words, addressed to Mick Felton with the subject line EDITOR APPLICATION 2021 to info@poetrywales.co.uk
About Poetry Wales
Poetry Wales was established in 1965 and is one of the leading literary journals in the UK. The magazine has an enviable reputation for critical rigour, and supports excellent writers, both new and established, from Wales and beyond. The magazine is published three times a year by Poetry Wales Press Ltd, and receives financial support from the Books Council Wales for which funding applications are regularly made. For more information about the magazine, visit www.poetrywales.co.uk