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

The Manager, Book Publications & Outreach will lead and coordinate all aspects of book publishing — from concept development, manuscript acquisition, editing, design, and production to printing, distribution, and archiving — while also driving the promotion, outreach and uptake of ITA’s published titles. The position ensures that all titles produced are of high quality, culturally relevant, inclusive, and aligned with foundational learning goals and ITA’s mission of promoting reading and literacy among children in Pakistan — and that those titles reach and are actively used by the widest possible number of children, schools, libraries and partners. The role requires strong coordination with writers, illustrators, designers, printers, publishers and education partners, as well as government counterparts, donors, civil service organization, provincial education departments, and distribution/outreach channels.

Qualifications and Experience
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Publishing, Marketing, Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in book publishing, children’s book development, or educational content production, with demonstrated marketing, promotion, or outreach experience.
• 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.
• Proven ability to plan and execute outreach, promotional or audience-building campaigns (digital or in-person).
• Proficiency in MS Office and design software (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator preferred); familiarity with social media and basic digital marketing tools is an advantage.
• Strong communication, coordination, negotiation, and documentation skills (English and Urdu).

Preferred:

• Background in marketing, brand promotion, or audience/demand-generation work, ideally for educational or children’s products.
• Existing networks within the publishing, distribution, and education sectors.
• Experience facilitating writers’ or illustrators’ workshops.
• Experience working with public education systems, NGOs, donors, or literacy projects.
• Knowledge of book leveling systems and familiarity with foundational literacy frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

1. 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.

2. Marketing, Outreach and Distribution

• Develop and execute an outreach and promotion plan for each new title and for ITA’s publishing programme as a whole, to build awareness and demand among schools, libraries, parents and partners.
• Plan and manage the distribution of published books to project schools, libraries, and partners, and actively work to expand the reach of titles into new schools, communities and partner networks.
• Develop marketing and promotional materials — catalogues, brochures, digital content and social media assets — in coordination with the design team, to raise the visibility of ITA’s publications.
• Build relationships with booksellers, distributors, the National Book Foundation and other channels that can extend the uptake of ITA-published titles, including identifying opportunities for cost-recovery or resource mobilization where appropriate.
• Maintain digital and physical inventory of published titles and ensure proper documentation of stock movement and storage.
• Plan and lead ITA’s presence at book fairs, exhibitions, school events and reading festivals, using these as outreach and promotional opportunities to widen the reach and recognition of ITA’s titles.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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 [email protected] 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).