Position details:
The student’s position title is Editorial Assistant. The job classification is Student Assistant for the English Department, assigned to the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry book contest.
Minimum total of 64 hours for the Fall 2024 semester.
Work location may be on-ground and/or online, with primary supervision from the Levine Prize faculty coordinator and secondary supervision from the English Department communication specialist.
Position description:
Editorial Assistant (EA) duties will include simple to complex tasks that support the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry book contest and the graduate course English 242, Literary Editing and Publishing, taught by Prof. Mai Der Vang.
This will include: database management, logging and assigning manuscripts, spreadsheet tracking and management, monitoring of student reviewer progress, helping to guide and organize the editorial process, instructing less-experienced students in working with Submittable, and assisting Prof. Vang and office staff with other aspects of running the contest as assigned.
Depending on budget and resources, the English Department hires 3-4 EAs to assist with the Levine Prize each fall. The Department tries to hire at least one “senior” EA who has already successfully worked for the contest in the past, plus 2-3 additional EAs. Strong preference is given to students who have previously taken the English 242 course. This allows for a continuing flow of experience.
These 3-4 EAs will each work a minimum of 4 hours per week at $17/hour. There may be additional hours available, depending on the contest’s needs, available budget and resources, and individual student schedules.
EAs must register for and attend the English 242 course during the Fall 2024 semester. Class meets Thursdays from 6 to 9:50 PM. (The course counts toward the MFA degree’s emphasis in publishing and editing, OR as elective units.) Work hours include the 2 hours before class (4 to 5:50 PM required, when EAs do most of their work and need to be available) plus additional weekly work hours that are flexible and usually can be arranged around the student’s schedule.
Position evaluation:
- Shows serious and consistent commitment to the Levine Prize and the MFA program.
- Posts and maintains office hours of 4 hours per week, making effective use of time.
- Begins duties on time and consistently meets deadlines.
- Performs duties accurately and with a high attention to detail, keeping straightforward and clear records.
- Attends and participates in the Levine Prize weekly class meeting.
- Informs supervisors and fellow EAs in cases of illness or personal emergency.
- Maintains minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Required: Graduate student in the MFA program (any genre) and in good standing.
- Required: Registration and attendance in English 242 for Fall 2024; work hours include the 2 hours before class, to facilitate the manuscript distribution process.
- Preferred: Previous experience working with the Levine Prize. Strong preference to applicants who’ve already successfully completed English 242 at least once.
- Preferred: For “senior” EA position, strong preference given to applicants who have worked successfully as an EA for the contest in the past.
- Preferred: Applicants with experience and/or strong interest in the business end of literary writing, publishing, and editing. Also, those with experience working with Submittable, social media, database navigation, spreadsheet management, graphic design, and general office skills.
- Preferred: Ability to effectively work with a variety of personalities; the position requires maturity, tact, and respect, and it helps to have a sense of humor and an abundance of goodwill.
