PKP is hiring an Associate Director in charge of Publishing Services

Help advance the world’s most widely used scholarly publishing platform! The Public Knowledge Project (PKP), a Core Research Facility of Simon Fraser University (SFU), invites applications for the position of PKP Associate Director in charge of the Publishing Services portfolio.

PKP is the world’s leading developer of free and open source software for scholarly publishing — including Open Journal Systems (OJS), Open Monograph Press (OMP), and Open Preprint Systems (OPS) — and is an internationally recognized research and advocacy organization advancing sustainable and equitable open access to research.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a complex, international service portfolio — with real budget responsibility, a distributed team, and a client base spanning research institutions across dozens of countries — in direct service of one of the most consequential open access initiatives in the world.

The ideal candidate is someone who combines a solid understanding of scholarly publishing with business savvy and a deep commitment to nurturing client relationships, all while being meticulous on details and follow through. It’s a tall order, but if this sounds like you, please read on and get in touch to bring your leadership experience and business savvy to our team.

THE ROLE

As a member of PKP’s strategic leadership team, the Associate Director shapes the long-term direction and sustainability of, and provides operational direction for, PKP’s Publishing Services (PKP|PS) activities, leading a team of professional and support staff.

The Associate Director, Publishing Services:

• Oversees processes for client engagement, business development, service delivery, and reporting on PKP|PS activities.
• Manages an annual operating budget and is responsible for establishing and ensuring that revenue and expense targets are met.
• Drives PKP| PS to grow its reputation and market position as the leading provider of open source publishing infrastructure worldwide.
• As part of PKP’s strategic leadership team, plans the long-term sustainability of PKP, developing and implementing strategies to advance PKP priorities and opportunities, improve workflows and operations, and launch initiatives, products, and services.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Five or more years of progressive experience in areas such as client relations, service delivery, business development, or organizational management, combined with a relevant graduate degree (e.g., Master of Business Administration), or equivalent professional training.
• Excellent people management skills, encompassing leadership, supervision, mentorship, and delegation.
• Excellent strategic planning, decision-making, and change management skills.
• Excellent project management, prioritization, multitasking, and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (oral, written, presentation), and relationship management skills.
• Excellent knowledge of business development and innovation processes.
• Excellent knowledge of scholarly publishing, research, and academic environments.
• Good knowledge of scholarly publishing tools, techniques, and technologies.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, exercise initiative, diplomacy, and discretionary judgment.

PREFERRED

• Working knowledge of French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
• Experience working with software engineers and technical teams, especially PKP software, and/or other post-secondary open source software (e.g., DSpace, Islandora, etc.).
• Able to nurture a supportive sense of belonging and fulfillment among team members working in a virtual environment.

Full details are available here.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

Those who work and study at Simon Fraser University acknowledge the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) peoples, on whose traditional territories SFU’s three campuses stand. By recognizing the Unceded Traditional Coast Salish territories, we aspire to create a space for reconciliation through dialogue and decolonizing practices.

As an SFU Core Research Facility, PKP is fully embedded in the university community while maintaining a global reach and distributed team. The Associate Director, Publishing Services post is a full-time, continuing position with Simon Fraser University and is primarily remote, with the option to be based at one of SFU’s campuses. The successful candidate must be legally able to work in Canada.

Over the last twenty years, SFU has been consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities; it is repeatedly named one of British Columbia’s Top Employers, among Canada’s Top 100 employers, and a top family-friendly employer. SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings, spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, and has an international reputation for its innovative interdisciplinary and professional programs.

All new employees are welcomed to the team with a detailed onboarding program and are assigned a peer mentor to provide additional support through this important first phase of getting to know us.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

This is an APSA grade 12 position, with a salary range of CDN $99,865 – $119,148 depending on experience. The total compensation package — including SFU’s pension plan, extended health benefits, and generous leave provisions — represents significant additional value beyond base salary. The role also offers the stability of a continuing (permanent) appointment and the flexibility of fully remote work (see the generous benefits package here).

Position begins in August 2026, but can be flexible for the right candidate.

PKP is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment. We believe an open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have otherwise been underrepresented or discouraged. We seek to contribute to efforts and goals to develop and support the decolonization of scholarly publishing, to collaborate in postcolonial publishing initiatives, and to provide the means for a diversity of academic inquiry and voices to readily engage in scholarly publishing on a global scale. For more information on how PKP operates, please see our Organization page.

As part of Simon Fraser University, PKP is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from qualified candidates of all genders, visible minorities, persons of First Nations, Inuit, or Métis heritage, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2SIA+ identified persons.

TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted by 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on June 5, 2026.

For more information and to apply, please visit the posting on the SFU recruitment site here.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Please apply with a resume and cover letter as a single document. The cover letter should address your interest in the position and how your unique skills and experience will contribute to the continued success of PKP’s mission and our ongoing improvement as an organization. 

The search committee recognizes that we have unconscious biases, and as part of our commitment to challenging these, we will be following a fair and transparent process: 

• The search committee will review all applications shortly after the posting closes, create a short-list of the most qualified applicants, and send invitations for Zoom-based interviews. No on-site visit will be required for this competition. 
• Only the search committee will see the applications and names of the applicants. We are committed to maintaining your confidentiality.
• Shortlisting and interview assessment will use a rubric based on the requirements of the position. 
• All interviewees will be asked the same questions and assessed using the same rubric. 
• You will be asked to provide a brief presentation (15 minutes) to the search committee on a topic sent to you in advance.
• We will do our best to meet any specific needs you might have, such as giving extra time for your responses to our interview questions, providing a written copy of the questions during the interview, etc. We want to help you be successful!
• References will only be requested of the first ranked candidate after the interview process has concluded. 
• Constructive feedback is available to all unsuccessful candidates upon request. We also welcome the generosity of your feedback to us if you wish.

The search committee recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can impact career trajectory and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions may have impacted them. The committee also recognizes the value of mentoring, outreach, and professional service. 

Similarly, candidates are encouraged to apply even if they don’t feel their background is a 100% match with the position description. Research shows that some groups self-select out of positions at higher rates than others and, while applications will be evaluated based on the criteria above, the successful candidate will not necessarily excel in all areas.

CONTACT

We hope this invitation sounds as exciting to you as it does to us! If you’d like to discuss the position or the application process further, please get in touch.

Teresa Lee, Managing Director
Public Knowledge Project
Office of the Vice-President, Research, and International
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC

Email: pkpmd@sfu.ca