Publishing and Production Manager (parental leave cover)

Redfern, NSW, Australia

Reports to: Communications and Publishing Lead

Location: Option to work at our Redfern centre or our Parramatta centre. One day per week will be required to be worked from our Redfern centre, where our bookshop is located.

Direct Reports: None

Salary and conditions: $87,500 pa (pro-rated) plus superannuation. The role is part time, 22.8 hours per week (0.6FTE) and is a parental leave cover. Fringe benefit may be available, providing an additional $16k per year tax free. For more information, click here. 

About Story Factory:

​​At Story Factory, we believe that stories can change lives. We focus on enriching the lives of young people in under-resourced communities through quality creative writing programs, improving their writing skills, increasing their confidence and expanding their future prospects. 

Story Factory runs a wide variety of fun and engaging creative writing programs at primary and high schools across Sydney and Western Sydney, at our centres in Redfern and Parramatta, and digitally across Australia.  

Since opening in 2012, our achievements include:

• 65,000+ student enrolments, with more than 8,000 enrolments in 2024;
• 15% of student are Indigenous and 49% are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• Recognition of our work with multiple awards, including a Secretary’s Award for Excellence in the 2018 Public Education Foundation Awards, and Executive Director and Co-founder Catherine Keenan AM being named the 2016 Australian of the Year Local Hero.

We are currently in the third year of a five-year strategy that will see us grow the reach and impact of our work. 

For further information visit: https://www.storyfactory.org.au/ 

• Click link to view our Theory of Change document
• Click link to view our Strategic Plan document, including our Values
• Click link to view our Reconciliation Action Plan document
• Click link to view the latest Annual Report document 

The role:

The Publishing and Production Manager (parental leave cover) assists with and manages the publication of stories by young people enrolled in Story Factory programs, in both printed and digital formats. The role also supports the logistics of Special Projects, specifically project management of the production of public outcomes such as books, exhibitions or performances. This role is closely aligned with our strategic goal of amplifying young people’s voices to wider audiences.

The Publishing and Production Manager (parental leave cover) has the option to work at our Redfern centre or our Parramatta centre. One day per week will be required to be worked from our Redfern centre, where our bookshop is located.

The role will ideally start in early/mid September 2025, and will continue for 12 months.

Story Factory is a Child Safe Organisation. Like all staff at Story Factory, the Publishing and Production Manager (parental leave cover) must adhere to our Code of Conduct at all times, and be a role model in all matters of child safety. A current Working with Children Check and Police Check are prerequisites.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Assist with in-house book publication at the end of each term, supporting storytellers with layouts and covers.
2. Manage the professional publication of Story Factory anthologies, novellas and poetry chapbooks for year-long poetry and novella programs.
3. With the Special Projects Manager, project manage the logistics side of Special Projects from inception to delivery and legacy, ensuring collaboration across the organisation and timely completion of all projects to a very high standard.
4. Brief and manage design and editorial processes for all Story Factory publications, including liaising with external providers such as designers, typesetters, editors, publishers and printers.
5. In collaboration with the Communications and Publishing Lead and Special Projects Manager, develop creative strategies to promote student work across multiple formats (print, audio and video).
6. In collaboration with the Special Projects Manager, project manage all launch events related to Story Factory Special Projects.
7. Manage the bookshop (online and at our Redfern centre), including stock control, dispatching online orders and ensuring our physical book shop space in Redfern is well-organised and showcases our latest work.
8. Promote publications to schools, libraries and the wider community.
9. Visit schools as needed to support Storytellers in design and publication workshops.
10. Manage data for all Story Factory publications in Publishing CRM. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential: 

1. Experience in publishing or a similar creative field.
2. Familiarity with managing the production of printed and digital publications to a professional standard.
3. Proven ability to manage projects from inception to delivery, meeting deadlines and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
4. Proven ability to engage and manage freelance contractors for the duration of their term of engagement. 

Desirable:

1. Experience in copy editing.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At Story Factory, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people. 

We encourage people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. Residents of Greater Western Sydney are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you require specific support to apply for this position, please email jobs@storyfactory.org.au. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria. 

Applications close at 5pm on Thursday August 7th 2025.