The Power Plant

The Publications Officer will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and financial management of all publications and exhibition catalogues at The Power Plant, as well as copy editing and proofreading of program guides, annual reports, exhibition didactics, grant applications and other public-facing texts. In addition, this role manages the production of two to five publications per year in collaboration with cross functional teams at the gallery, liaises with design and production colleagues and collaborators, directs a team of independent contractors, and manages the department budget.

• Lead and oversee the production of all Power Plant publications in collaboration with The Power Plant Curatorial Department.
• Copy edit and proofread gallery texts, program guides, family guides, annual reports, grant applications and fundraising materials in collaboration with relevant teams across the gallery (Curatorial team, Communications & Marketing team, Development team).
• Assist with the production of Family Guides in collaboration with The Power Plant Power Kids & Outreach Coordinator.
• Serve as The Power Plant’s lead contact for publication coordination/planning, website, shop etc.
• Manage independent contractors including, authors, graphic designers, proofreaders, translators, publishers, and other vendors to convey editorial comments, resolve issues, and ensure deadlines are met, and facilitate clear communications between internal staff, authors and external vendors, and freelancers.
• As needed, manage volunteers, interns, and contractual staff hired in a support role within the department.
• Read, correct, rewrite, or revise the material to ensure that it is presented clearly, in precise language and proper grammatical form.
• Evaluate and insert requested author revisions and final editorial changes using Adobe Acrobat, review typeset revisions for accuracy, and check final print–ready files for quality and completeness.
• Prioritize and schedule work, organize workflow in accordance with agreed printing and publishing deadlines.
• Monitor, update and manage the publication budget on a regular basis overseeing invoicing, chargebacks and accounts payables/receivables, reconciling them in collaboration with the Finance Manager, ensure that invoices and reconciliations are done in a timely manner and that each publication stays within budget. Participate in budget development by summarizing, researching, and analyzing past expenditures.
• Coordinate the search for photographic material to illustrate a publication, manage copyright procedures for the gallery’s publication and apply for Library and Archives Canada (LAC) catalogue listings.
• Ensure publishing agreements for all texts and images are documented; coordinate post-production activities such as mailing publications to authors and key collaborators.
• Research potential distribution opportunities for publications in consultation with the Director, the Head of Curatorial Affairs and the Curator of Exhibitions.
• Develop and keep up-to-date The Power Plant’s organizational style guide.
• Perform special projects and other duties of a similar nature or level as needed and as assigned.

• University graduate or equivalent combination of education (degree in Communications, English or Journalism) and experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in publishing or related environment, including planning and managing publications, editorial, design, and/or production.
• An understanding of financial priorities and budgets associated with publications.
• A thorough awareness of copyright law.
• Familiarity with the publishing industry.
• Ability to organize and plan multiple and simultaneous activities to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to manage an interdisciplinary team of independent contractors and contractual staff.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent written and spoken English, knowledge of French or another language is an asset.
• Superior writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Expert knowledge of grammar, the ability to use language precisely and capacity to understand the intention of the author and, when necessary, rephrase their words so they read more precisely.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and relationship management skills to build positive relationships with colleagues and deal tactfully with a variety of stakeholders.
• Must be computer literate and familiar with current publishing and presentation software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop.
• Ability to work within different teams, as well as independently.
• An understanding of, and commitment to The Power Plant’s mission and values.
• Must be legally eligible to work in Canada. Non-Canadian applicants must have a valid employment Visa and proper documentation authorizing their ability to work in Canada for the full duration of the contract.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization is required and will form a condition of employment.