Book Publishing Officer

Location : Lahore or Islamabad, with occasional travel across project sites and partners

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education, Publishing, Language, Fine Arts, Communication, or related field

Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in book publishing, children’s book development, or educational content production.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of the local publishing industry and children’s literature landscape in Pakistan.
• Experience with the full publishing process including manuscript development, design, pre-press, printing, and distribution.
• Proficiency in MS Office and design software (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator preferred).
• Strong communication, coordination, and documentation skills (English and Urdu).
• Experience working with public education systems, NGOs, or literacy projects.
• Knowledge of book leveling systems and familiarity with foundational literacy frameworks.
• Existing networks within the publishing and education sectors.
  
  

Position Overview

The Project Manager/Associate will support the development of early grade literacy instruction in Urdu in Pakistan. This role requires operational leadership to initiate, coordinate, and support all components of the literacy instruction program. Working in close collaboration with the Curriculum Development Committee (CDC), the associate will ensure high-quality planning, research, technical implementation, and stakeholder engagement. In this stream of work, it is anticipated that the existing letter introduction order will be used as a foundation, with enhancements to incorporate phonological awareness and revisions guided by the latest evidence. The associate is expected to support the Curriculum Development Committee in the development of a student book and teacher guide. These materials will be informed by a draft Scope and Sequence (S&S), outlining the logical progression of foundational reading and writing skills-including phonological awareness, phonics, oral language, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing. The S&S will serve as the backbone for aligning instructional content, teaching materials, and assessment tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Book Development and Publishing Management
• Plan and oversee the full publishing cycle of children’s storybooks and reading materials, from concept note to printed book.
• Coordinate the annual call for manuscripts and sample illustrations; facilitate review and selection processes with internal and external panels.
• Organize and facilitate writers’ and illustrators’ workshops, mentoring sessions, and follow-ups for story and artwork refinement.
• Work closely with selected writers, illustrators, and editors to finalize manuscripts and illustrations in line with feedback from reviewers and project leads.
• Ensure the final layout, design, and pre-press preparation of books by coordinating with designers.
• Liaise with printers for printing specifications, proofing, and production oversight to ensure quality and timely delivery.
• Maintain publishing documentation, design archives, and metadata for all published titles.
• Quality Assurance and Standards
• Ensure storybooks meet agreed quality standards for design, content, and production.
• Support the development and use of book leveling and categorization tools for age-appropriate and reading-level alignment.
• Monitor and evaluate the use of ITA-published titles in classroom libraries and community spaces, gathering feedback from teachers and children.
• Ensure adherence to ITA and partner branding and copyright policies.
• Distribution and Inventory Management
• Plan and manage the distribution of published books to project schools, libraries, and partners.
• Maintain digital and physical inventory of published titles and ensure proper documentation of stock movement and storage.
• Support logistics for book fairs, launches, and reading events showcasing ITA’s published materials.
• Capacity Building and Partnerships
• Facilitate capacity-building initiatives for local writers, illustrators, and publishers to strengthen the children’s literature ecosystem in Pakistan.
• Build partnerships with the local publishing industry, National Book Foundation, literacy organizations, and government departments.
• Represent ITA and PLP in book fairs, exhibitions, and forums related to children’s publishing and literacy promotion.
• Reporting, Budgeting, and Documentation
• Contribute to annual planning, budgeting, and forecasting for publishing-related activities.
• Track expenses, manage procurement documentation, and ensure cost-effective publishing operations.
• Prepare progress reports, workshop summaries, and documentation of best practices and lessons learned for donor reporting and internal learning.
  
  

We proactively encourage individuals from marginalized groups (e.g., minorities, persons with disabilities, and women from remote or underprivileged areas) to apply.

How to apply?

If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your updated Resume along with a Cover Letter clearly stating the position name, your current and expected salary. Applications can be sent via email to careers@itacec.org or by post to Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, 12-Sharif Colony, Iftikhar Ahmad Malik Road, Canal Park Gulberg 2, Lahore, Pakistan.

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, violations of safeguarding principles, and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).