Editorial Project Manager

In delivering social science that makes a difference in South Africa and the region the Research Units of the Human Sciences Research Council initiate and undertake policy-oriented research projects and programmes from its offices in Cape Town Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria. Its public-purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

HSRC Press the publishing division of the Human Sciences Research Council is a small but prolific and innovative publishing house of social science and humanities scholarship and outstanding non-fiction from and about Africa and the global south.

The Press is seeking a skilled and experienced Editorial Project Manager to join our team. This is a pivotal role within the Press responsible for driving the quality and timely delivery of our academic and non-fiction publishing programme from manuscript stage through to final print and digital output.

The successful candidate will bring a strong command of traditional and digital editorial and production workflows sound project management and financial oversight as well as the interpersonal dexterity to manage a diverse set of stakeholders from authors and suppliers to internal commissioning and marketing colleagues.

This will be a permanent appointment and the successful incumbent can be based in the HSRCs Pretoria office.

EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER

(Ref. No. EPM 05/2026)

Pretoria

Key responsibilities:

• Manage end-to-end editorial projects ensuring delivery against agreed timelines
• Quality control all production and layout outputs across print and digital formats
• Monitor and control project budgets tracking expenditure and flagging variances proactively
• Coordinate stakeholder communication across authors external suppliers and internal departments
• Maintain accurate project administration records reporting and documentation
• Ensure alignment with institutional corporate governance and compliance requirements

Please register and submit your application on-line at Instructions:

• Candidates can make use of their mobile devices or any browser to register on the Neptune recruitment site as well as to make applications for available vacancies; Candidates will be prompted to upload their CVs;
• Attachments must be less than 1MB there is an on-screen option to resize.

Your application must include:

1. A cover letter of motivation indicating your suitability for the position.
2. A detailed CV including your highest qualification and citizenship.
3. Contact details for three recent referees (telephone/cell email and institutional affiliation).
4. Certified copies of your identity document and qualifications.

For further information about the HSRC or the post please consult our website (). Enquiries to application process can be directed to Ms Aurelia Smith at and those relating to technical knowledge for the positions (NOT applications or CVs) may be directed to Ms Roshan Cader at .

Closing date: 10 June 2026. We encourage applicants to submit prior to this date. Applicants who have not been contacted within eight weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful. Only applicants who are interviewed will be advised of the outcome of their applications.

The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Key requirements:

• NQF level 8 in humanities and social sciences: A relevant 4-year undergraduate degree or 31(Honours) preferably in publishing humanities information science or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be advantageous.

Experience & Skills

• A minimum of 5 years proven experience in editorial and production project management with a track record of having produced at least ten academic or non-fiction books and/or journals
• Demonstrated ability to manage digital production workflows and publishing systems
• Experience working with printers and overseeing print quality from pre-press through to final delivery
• Exceptional attention to detail and a consistent commitment to producing high-quality outputs
• Excellent command of written and verbal expression in English and blingual in one South African language other than English would be advantageous
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines under pressure and to apply sound problem-solving judgement
• Strong demonstrable project management skills including planning scheduling and resource coordination
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage relationships with authors suppliers and service providers professionally
• Strong teamwork orientation with experience briefing and collaborating with commissioning editorial and marketing teams
• Good grasp of academic and scholarly publishing requirements and environment.