MAYDAY is a fully remote organization staffed by unpaid volunteers who can work anywhere in the world. We seek out people who bring with them diverse intellectual and cultural backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and points of view that will inform the evolving identity of the magazine. Staff at MAYDAY are asked to limit their contributions to five hours per week to maintain the sustainability of our collective volunteer efforts.
We invite applications for the positions below until the positions are filled.
We will continue interviewing through November 30th.
NONFICTION EDITOR
Nonfiction editors are responsible for reading and assessing submissions in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis in accordance with MAYDAY’s eight-week editorial cycles. In collaboration with their colleagues, nonfiction editors select work for publication, meet virtually as an editorial team at least once per month to discuss submissions, and attend all-staff editorial meetings once every two months. The ideal candidate for a nonfiction editor position may or may not have an educational background in creative writing, journalism, or literature, but should demonstrate substantial experience with nonfiction as a student, teacher, editor, or writer. Editorial experience at a literary or journalistic publication is a plus. In addition to reading submissions and selecting work for publication, nonfiction editors also have the opportunity to solicit writers and to help develop feature series and other ongoing projects in collaboration with other editors on staff.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
The production manager at MAYDAY is responsible for organizing the workflow of the production editors. While a passion for literary publishing is encouraged, this is a position that relies on project management skills. The production manager will organize the Production Prep Sheet, make changes and adjustments as needed to the schedule, and maintain solid communication with contributors, their direct team, and the MAYDAY editors. We’re looking for someone who is able to:
- Promptly and professionally respond to emails or requests from MAYDAY contributors and staff
- Work collaboratively with the team while making leadership decisions
- Cultivate a flexible workflow within their team
- Manage contracts, or is willing to learn
Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style and WordPress knowledge is a bonus.
PRODUCTION EDITOR
As part of the managing editor’s office, production editors at MAYDAY are responsible for layout and publishing MAYDAY content. In addition to a general interest for literary publishing, we are seeking applicants with backgrounds/interests in digital journalism and publishing, as well as those who have experience proofing or editing copy. We’re eager for volunteers who:
- Have excellent attention to detail
- Can communicate promptly with other volunteer editors
- Feel comfortable adapting to new technology platforms
- Are invested in increasing their literary publishing skills
Knowledge or familiarity with WordPress and the Chicago Manual of Style is a bonus.
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
As part of the managing editor’s office, the promotions manager at MAYDAY acts as the official “voice” of the magazine, writing all the ad copy for the website, social media, and our bimonthly newsletter. In this role, the promotions manager assists MAYDAY in promoting new content, contests, special events, and volunteer recruitment searches. In this capacity, the promotions manager is always searching for creative new ways to promote MAYDAY’s content and initiatives. Thus, in addition to a strong background in (specifically copy) writing and editing, competitive candidates will be able to demonstrate their familiarity with the literary publishing scene and MAYDAY’s place within it as an independent publishing cooperative.
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Another crucial role in the managing editor’s office, the social media specialist develops and curates content for MAYDAY’s social media platforms, including important updates about MAYDAY content and activities, cross-promotions with peer publications and other effective forms of audience engagement. Additionally, the social media specialist acts as the publication’s liaison among the various audiences and communities with which we are engaged. We will be particularly drawn to applicants who can demonstrate their familiarity with audiences and communities across social media platforms who are likely to be drawn to the art, literature, and commentary at MAYDAY, as well as in applicants who have experience in graphic design and copywriting.
Why Should You Apply?
Everyone at MAYDAY is an unpaid volunteer, and most of us work fewer than five hours per week. We all have day jobs, but most of us get something here that’s missing in other parts of our professional and creative lives. These positions will actively contribute to the editorial vision of a publishing enterprise that is excited to embrace new perspectives, investigate emerging ideas, and discover new writers and artists. Candidates early in their careers will build marketable skills and develop their professional networks, and mid-career candidates will enjoy the freedom to reach out to the writers, artists, and thinkers they admire to solicit work, invite to interviews, and pursue other projects of their own design. Our publishing schedule is flexible, deadline pressure is minimal, and there is already a whole community of helpful and passionate editors on staff who love writing, books, art, and ideas. But we especially look forward to meeting you. Should you be invited to interview for a position, we’ll be very interested to talk about how your work at MAYDAY can help you achieve your own creative and professional goals.
How Do You Apply?
Use this link to submit a resume or CV, including a full list of your publications and/or relevant professional experience, and a cover letter that briefly describes your background, explains your interest in one of the positions, and addresses the following prompts:
- Describe your participation in the literary community. Have you done editing or administrative work at a journal or small press? Which literary journals, magazines, and/or small presses do you admire? Which lit blogs or other online culture spaces do you visit?
- Describe some books (of any genre) that matter to you. These may be books you’ve read recently or books you read a long time ago. Explain the impact each book had on how you think or what you think matters about literature.
Final Reminders
- Use this link to submit your application.
- All positions are unpaid and ask five or fewer hours per week.
- All positions are remote and editors can work anywhere there’s an internet connection.
- We will accept applications until the positions are filled.
- We will schedule interviews through November 2023.
- Send questions to chase@newamericanpress.com.