Rights Permissions and Licensing Specialist

POSITION: Rights, Permissions & Licensing Specialist

LOCATION: Providence Rhode Island

ABOUT THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY

The American Mathematical Society (AMS), founded in 1888, is a non-profit membership organization that is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs. The AMS has 30,000 members worldwide and offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, and Washington, DC.

WHY WORK AT THE AMS

At the AMS we value excellence, inclusivity and teamwork. We work at the forefront of advancing and connecting the diverse mathematical community worldwide, and we are seeking curious, innovative, collaborative individuals to join our team.

• Excellent work-life balance with potential for hybrid work
• Generous benefit offerings including:
  1. 9.5% employer contribution to 403(a) Retirement Plan
  2. 100% employer-paid Life, AD&D, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  3. Medical and dental coverage with employer cost share
  4. Voluntary vision, Life/AD&D, and Long-term Care Insurance available through payroll deduction
• 12 paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Technology equipment reimbursement for applicable roles
• Tuition reimbursement
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and a welcoming environment

SUMMARY:

This key position is responsible for the business and day-to-day management of licensing and rights associated with all AMS publications. In addition, the role serves as a consultant to the Publishing Division and other AMS staff on all permissions issues surrounding content. The role will also be responsible for monitoring piracy issues for AMS content and coordinate our compliance with various publishing best-practices and requirements, including open access licensing, accessibility, and ethical publishing policies. The position will coordinate closely with the journal and book production staff, creative services staff, marketing and sales staff, and editorial staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform strategic management of permissions, rights and licensing business with the goal of providing revenue growth and quality author services.
• Serve as AMS expert on copyright and permissions for all divisions of the AMS, including handling copyright infringement.
• Identify opportunities and targets and pitch AMS content to potential licensees.
• Meet with licensees regularly to provide and receive updates and conduct business reviews.
• Provide expert advice on permissions policies and questions from AMS staff, across all AMS Divisions, on behalf of AMS and authors/content creators.
• Research contractual rights and third-party permissions information; handle granting of permissions for AMS owned material.

• Responsible for working with AMS book and journal contract terms to ensure that licensing is compliant with AMS contractual terms and that maximise use of the rights the AMS obtains from content owners
• Collaborate with other AMS departments (e.g., Editorial, Production, Sales, Marketing, Creative Services and Information Systems) to ensure relevant licensing input to developments and to ensure that technological changes (e.g., platform changes) do not impact licensing revenue or compliance adversely
• Ensure (via Editorial) that authors, editors and societies have sufficient information to understand our licensing activity. This may be accomplished through training, guidance notes etc.,
• Monitor licensing and rights income and allocation; work with Fiscal Division
• Develop and maintain AMS anti-piracy strategy
• Draft reprint licensing agreements and translation agreements for executive approval
• Keep abreast of industry changes in rights, permissions and licensing across all publication formats
• Coordinate compliance with open-access, accessibility, ethical publishing, and other policies in the Publishing Division.
• Perform other or similar related duties as requested or assigned.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

External:

• Licensees and translation publishers
• Anti-piracy vendor
• Copyright Clearance Center
• Journal and book authors

Internal:

• Editorial
• Production
• Publishing Marketing and Sales
• Information Services
• Fiscal
• Other AMS Divisions/Departments creating content (Programs, Meetings)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 5 years' related experience in academic or similar publishing
• Knowledge of rights and licensing trends and developments across target markets
• Knowledge of copyright law, conventions, practices, and issues from a national and international perspective, including digital rights, accessibility requirements, ethical publishing, open access, artificial intelligence, and fair use
• Demonstrated negotiating and sales skills
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Must be organized, responsible, and able to handle multiple priorities with minimum supervision.
• Excellent oral, written, and technical skills are essential.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and related databases required.
• Demonstrated ability to blend operational attention to detail and the ability to think entrepreneurially and strategically.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and flexibly, with strong communication skills, and relationship building skills.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Desirable:

• Prior experience working with permissions, rights and licensing
• Familiarity with contracts
• Understanding of compliance with best practices for accessible content and ethical publishing
• Experience working with outside vendors

ATTRIBUTES AND COMPETENCIES: The following attributes and competencies are indicators of the skills and/or behaviors necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of the position:

• Demonstrates understanding of organization's mission, structure, culture, and constituencies
• Demonstrates knowledge of own department's work activities and mission; understands how own job impacts work of department
• Responds positively to changes in the organization and the workplace
• Demonstrates flexibility in responding to work demands
• Demonstrates and communicates respect for the opinions and beliefs of other people at all levels and fosters a climate of mutual respect
• Plans and organizes work effectively
• Accepts accountability for job performance and results
• Works effectively with others in a variety of settings
• Uses communication tools effectively (e.g., presentation, verbal, writing, relationship building, negotiating, listening) to meet needs of audience and/or situation
• Maintains professional composure in challenging situations
• Exercises discretion in identifying, handling, and safeguarding confidential information
• Addresses issues constructively, building cooperative relationships within and across departments
• Receptive to feedback and willing to try different approaches in order to achieve the best results

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Duties performed cause light fatigue of eyes, fingers, or other faculties due to long periods of standing, sitting or repetitive motion
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other devices

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Typical office environment
• Climate-controlled
• Minimal noise
• Performing primarily sedentary work with limited physical exertion and lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Extended work hours may be required to meet project deadlines or resolve unexpected problems
• Minimal professional travel required up to 10%

• This position is required to be in-office with hybrid potential

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

The American Mathematical Society is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The AMS supports equality of opportunity and treatment for all individuals, regardless of sex, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability status . click apply for full job details