JOIN THE UK COMMITTEE

The Treasurer reports on financial activity across the whole of the SYP. They also take minutes at monthly committee meetings and distribute these to the committee.

Duties include:

• Being the key point of contact for financial-related enquiries.
• Monitoring committee spending for the SYP UK committee as well as for the regional branches
• Making timely payments for the UK committee’s subscriptions and accounts
• Leading the cross-branch Treasurer working group to maintain transaction records across committees
• Reviewing and exploring budget-efficient payment plans for SYP UK accounts and payments
• Taking minutes at regular committee meetings
• Overseeing signatory handovers for central accounts at the end of term and furthering the development of key documentation
• Compiling a yearly report on organisation financial activities in line with recommended practices.

This role demands attention to detail and organisation, the ability to use Excel/Google Sheets and work with numbers, be able to respond quickly to time-sensitive requests, and be accountable and reliable. This is a key position that offers opportunities to develop analytical and strategic planning skills, as well as communication and interpersonal abilities.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs and Regional Treasurers.

The Communications (PR and Email Marketing) Lead is responsible for sending monthly members and industry connections newsletters and occasional e-blasts to all active SYP members with updates on the organisation’s activities, job adverts and other opportunities relevant to those wanting to get INTO or AHEAD in publishing. They are also responsible for sending a quarterly events round-up email and liaising with the press regarding new developments and regular project launches.

Duties include:

• Curating a bespoke monthly newsletter for current SYP members across the UK and Ireland
• Communicating with different UK committee members and regional teams to seek updates for the newsletter
• Creating timely eBlasts to push the promotion of specific SYP news or events to current SYP members
• Working closely with the UK Events Leads to compile information on upcoming events across the organisation into an email every two months
• Leading a Communications Officer (Emails) working group, working with regional counterparts to refine cross-branch best practices and support one another on projects and wider initiatives
• Working closely with the UK and regional chairs to create press releases and send these out to all our press contacts
• Working closely with the UK Communications (Social Media) Lead to coordinate press releases with communications across all platforms
• Maintaining and updating our press list
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that email campaigns are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.

Knowledge of, or a willingness to learn about, newsletter creation, communication skills, design, subscriber retention, and promotion techniques is important, as are organisational skills. Awareness of different media outlets across the sector and knowledge of, or willingness to learn, how to raise the awareness of campaigns will be advantageous. This role offers opportunities to expand your media contact list and develop your writing, creativity, and communication skills, and is well suited to someone interested in marketing or publicity.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Communications Lead (Social Media), UK Events Leads, Regional Email Marketing Officers and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Social Media Lead is responsible for overseeing SYP UK’s social media activity.

Duties include:

• Managing the SYP UK’s LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram accounts
• Devising strategies to increase engagement and followers across our accounts, which includes engaging with partners and SYP social media followers
• Leading a Communications Officer (Social Media) working group, working collectively to refine cross-branch best practices and support one another with overarching SYP communications and inclusivity/ accessibility aims
• Overseeing a social media committee-wide content calendar focused around promoting upcoming activities, recently launched content, and membership benefits
• Designing social media assets (images and/or videos) for upcoming activities using Canva
• Setting up and promoting a new Society of Young Publishers Facebook page
• Ensuring accessible practices on social media, such as writing alt-text and reviewing social media in-built accessibility tools, in conjunction with the Inclusivity Lead,

An understanding of, or willingness to learn about, social media engagement and design skills are essential. This is a fast-paced and stimulating role that offers opportunities to develop your communication, creativity, design, and customer awareness and care skills.

Time Expectation: 4 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Committee, Regional Social Media Officers and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Website Officer is responsible for maintaining and expanding the SYP website. They work with committee members and regional committees to manage updates and support volunteers in navigating the WordPress dashboard and plugins.

Duties include:

• Troubleshooting website-specific issues and being the primary point of contact on the functioning of the website across the organisation.
• Working with our developers via email and chatbot to maintain the website and plugins, and add new features where needed as well as managing the appearance of the site and any issues that arise with it
• Maintaining sections of the website, thinking carefully about how we can best communicate our initiatives to members, non-members, organisations, alumni and more
• Coordinating with committee members and regional committees to ensure timely updates on the website and ensure webpages best reflect our activities and initiatives
• Supporting and advising the Digital Content Officers on website optimisation and SEO.

Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, about content management systems, particularly WordPress, and Google Analytics is essential. Applicants don’t have to have direct website management experience but experience could be advantageous. This role offers opportunities to develop website development and maintenance skills, technical and problem-solving skills, as well as copywriting and proofreading abilities.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Committee.

The Digital Content Lead (Blog and Resources) is responsible for creating, curating and promoting the SYP blog and resource centre, and overseeing output across the other 7 regional branches and external collaborators with a particular focus on curating content for entry-level and mid-career professionals.

Duties include:

• Leading a Digital Content (Blog and Resources) working group to keep a blog content calendar, share best digital content practices, and curate digital content that is inclusive and targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing
• Working with the Inclusivity Lead to create and curate posts and content that is inclusive and targeted at all SYP streams: INTO, AHEAD, and LAUNCH
• Working closely with the Website Officer to develop the Resource Centre and update the website with career-focused content and publishing insights in various formats
• Liaising with established publishing professionals and collaborators to curate and create SYP-exclusive content for our members through the Resource Centre
• Creating digital assets using Canva to sit alongside Resource Centre pieces and written blog content for the SYP website and content promotion
• Working with the Communications working group to promote the blog and resource centre and increase readership
• Overseeing the development of SYP LAUNCH resources on the resource centre, aimed at freelancers or those looking to set up their own business in the book and publishing industries,

Skills required to succeed in this role include an understanding of, or willingness to learn, WordPress. Excellent content writing and editing skills are required. This varied role offers opportunities to network, develop content management, communication and design skills, and develop a collaborative approach to working in the publishing industry.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Digital Content Lead (Podcast), regional Digital Content Officers, UK Website Officer and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Digital Content Lead (Podcast) is responsible for creating, editing, and promoting podcast episodes for the UK branch, and overseeing the podcast schedule across the other 7 regional branches.

Duties include:

• Leading a Digital Content (Podcast) working group which involves running meetings, coordinating the podcast schedule and developing best cross-branch practices involving marketing, transcription and accessibility
• Creating an internal SYP guide to support the use of Zencastr, Buzzsprout and the transcription website
• Curating career-focused and enticing publishing content for our podcast subscribers, primarily interviews, targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing
• Liaising with publishing professionals for podcast interviews ensuring a wide range of voices are represented
• Creating digital assets to promote new podcasts and liaise with the communications team to promote the podcast and increase subscribers
• Working with the Website Officer to ensure all podcast episodes are uploaded on the website on time and maintain the central SYP Podcast page
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that podcast episodes are as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Excellent organisational, time management and communication skills are essential. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, how to create and promote a podcast is required. Any previous experience in podcast production could be advantageous. This is an exciting role that offers opportunities to develop your editing, creativity, interviewing, and networking skills.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chair, UK Digital Content Lead (Blog), Regional Digital Content (Podcast) Officers, UK Website Officer and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Events Leads are responsible for organising and promoting all SYP UK events and coordinating the events schedule across the other 7 SYP branches.

Duties include:

• Leading an SYP Events working group to coordinate an events calendar rich in events targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing, and share best cross-branch practices involving inclusivity objectives, marketing approaches, and cross-branch event collaborations
• Organising and running predominantly online events targeted at members (free and/or exclusive) and non-members across areas of the UK and Ireland not covered by our regional committees (webinars, masterclasses, networking events, etc)
• Collating event information from regional Events Officers every month and feeding the information to the UK Communications Lead (PR and Email Marketing)
• Liaising with publishing professionals and the UK Inclusivity Lead to find a diverse range of speakers, and with various organisations to organise collaborative events
• Creating digital assets to promote upcoming events, uploading comprehensive event information to the site, and communicating with attendees to answer enquiries and share event information
• Working with UK committee members to plan and advertise events including marketing events through a variety of channels, ensuring that events are advertised one month in advance at a minimum
• Working with UK Chairs to maintain the First Chapter Awards Timeline including the selection of judges, coordination of judging panel meeting and award and shortlist/ winner promotion
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that events are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format
• Key Events: SYP presence at London Book Fair, On the Map / On the Road Series, UK Book Club, Masterclass events, Member Networking events, Mentorship/Alumni Events, Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Great organisational and interpersonal skills are required, as are flexibility and the ability to adapt to unexpected developments. Prior event planning experience would be advantageous, but not essential. This role offers the opportunity to develop several skills often required in publishing: event planning, networking, promotion and event marketing, and collaborative working. 

Time Expectation: 4 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Communications Leads, UK Inclusivity Lead, UK Alumni Officer, UK Mentorship Lead and regional Events Officers.

The Inclusivity Lead ensures inclusive thinking is intrinsic in all the SYP does, working closely with the entire UK committee to allow both members and non-members to feel included and have a voice.

Duties include:

• Leading a cross-branch Inclusivity working group which includes running meetings every two months to standardise procedures and discuss best practices across the organisation
• Keeping abreast of new research in Diversity & Inclusivity and considering how the SYP can implement new practices
• Reviewing SYP policies and initiatives to improve our drive to be more inclusive
• Assisting with and organising the anonymising of applications for application-based events or schemes, such as committee applications, mentorship scheme applications, and First Chapter Awards
• Network and collaborate with internal employee network initiatives that support under-represented communities
• Managing the SYP Inclusivity Survey 2025 report, including creating and promoting a survey for SYP audiences, collating and analysing responses and defining key organisation objectives
• Working closely with several UK committee members to bring new procedures and guidelines to fruition. This includes working with Events Leads to ensure all external speakers represent diversity and inclusivity, and the Membership Lead to collaborate on membership promotion strategies
• Work closely with the UK Event Leads to run events exclusive to those under-represented in the publishing industry, such as masterclass and panel events
• Work with the InPrint team to ensure accessibility and inclusivity across all publications.

Key skills needed for this role include good research, communication, and organisational skills, as well as diplomacy. This wide-ranging role offers research, collaborative working, and an opportunity to work alongside the whole committee to ensure its continual effort in maintaining and implementing inclusive policies and activities.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, Regional Inclusivity Officers, all UK Committee positions and InPrint team.

The Job and Student Outreach Lead is responsible for promoting job roles and maintaining relationships with universities not covered by the regional branches. Job roles advertised by publishing organisations need to be promoted on, updated on, and removed from the website in a timely manner. They will also establish and maintain relationships with universities to collaborate and promote SYP activities.

Duties include:

• Leading a cross-branch Student Outreach working group which includes working with regional counterparts to report successes, explore opportunities for growth, build best practices, maintain the overall SYP university outreach database, and develop student outreach resources
• Building relationships with universities and student-run organisations over email and through meetings, sending information about the SYP and maintaining the UK Committee university contact database
• Exploring event or collaboration opportunities with university professionals and the student community itself, and attending/organising student-focused events
• Liaise with publishing professionals to gather and advertise roles
• Advertising job roles on the SYP website, making sure that posted roles are compliant with our salary transparency policy
• Working closely with the Communications team to ensure job roles are advertised on social media and our monthly member exclusive newsletter
• Keeping abreast of new developments in payments and salaries in the publishing industry.

Key skills needed for this role include diary management, communication and organisational skills. This dynamic role offers insight into recruitment and job opportunities, develops research and leadership skills, and involves collaborative working with committee members to promote SYP activities to the student community. 

Time Expectation: 3-5 hours a week (peak period during the beginning of term time: September/October and January/February).

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Communications Lead (PR and Email Marketing) and Regional Student Outreach Officers.

The Membership Lead is the first point of contact for new members across all branches and is responsible for maintaining membership records and exploring partnerships and new avenues to increase membership.

Duties include:

• Leading a cross-branch Membership working group to explore opportunities for growth across both our INTO, LAUNCH and AHEAD streams throughout the organisation
• Running Member Welcome and Retention automations across the website and email communications, and maintaining the Member Welcome pack
• Keeping membership records up-to-date and liaising with InPrint Managing Editor to ensure the successful distribution of the InPrint magazine to full members
• Devising strategies and campaigns to attract new members and build on our current offerings
• Collaborating with the UK Chairs on liaising with other publishing organisations to ensure promotional opportunities and partner discounts for the SYP membership
• Updating the members’ area of the website with exclusive discounts and special offers with our industry partners
• Responding to a wide range of queries and providing general troubleshooting advice
• Onboard new committee members, involving the collation of contact details, registering of memberships and distribution of the SYP handbook
• Work with regional Membership Officers to create and share twice-yearly pulse surveys to committee members and feedback findings to the UK chairs to support volunteer satisfaction and retention
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that the experience for members is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Strong interpersonal and administrative skills are essential in this role as is the ability to be organised and communicate effectively. This exciting role offers opportunities to network, navigate member retention skills and subscriber marketing campaigns, and provide member-care service. This is a great role for anyone interested in making a difference to the operations and growth of a volunteer-run member organisation.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, InPrint Managing Editor, UK Website Officer and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Mentorship Scheme Lead is responsible for overseeing the development of the SYP’s mentorship scheme across the whole of the UK and Ireland, including the recruitment of mentors from April, the onboarding of mentors and mentees and the running of the scheme from August through to January.

Duties include:

• include:
• Leading a cross-branch Mentorship working group to oversee the mentorship scheme across branches
• Leading the UK committee’s mentorship scheme, which focuses on areas not covered by the regional branches
• Working closely with the Inclusivity Lead and UK Chairs to ensure all applications are fair and represent diverse and inclusive applicants
• Promoting the mentorship scheme in conjunction with the communications team across SYP channels
• Running Mentorship-specific events and overseeing the Mentorship cross-branch Slack channel for mentors and mentees
• Keeping in touch with existing mentors and mentees and troubleshooting mentor/mentee concerns throughout the year
• Gathering feedback from mentors and mentees of the UK scheme, and collaborating with other branches to make improvements to the project.

Excellent organisational, time management and communication skills are essential. This is a great role that allows the successful applicant to take ownership over a long-running SYP initiative and make a difference to those seeking a mentor. The role offers opportunities to network with the wider industry, develop communication and promotional skills, event planning and hosting as well as people skills.

Time Expectation: 2–4 hours a week but time commitment will be higher in the run-up to the scheme launch.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Spare Room Project Officer, UK Events Leads, UK Alumni Officer, Regional Chairs and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Alumni Liaison Officer is responsible for creating a network of SYP alumni and exploring ways to involve and engage them with the organisation’s current activities.

Alumni includes previous committee members, mentors, mentees, and Spare Room Project and Spare Zoom Project hosts and mentees.

Duties include:

• Establishing contact with SYP alumni and maintaining relations
• Maintaining and developing an SYP alumni database in line with GDPR regulations to build communications with new and existing contacts
• Keeping alumni updated on SYP’s current activities through email newsletters and other marketing material including maintenance of the Alumni Network page
• Organising alumni-exclusive events to create a network and promote the support we continue to offer
• Finding ways to involve alumni in current SYP activities and seeking sponsorship deals from SYP alumni

Knowledge of, or a willingness to learn about, alumni retention and promotion techniques is important, as are organisational skills. This role offers creative freedom to organise events and network with established professionals in the publishing industry.

Time Expectation: 4 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, Spare Room Project Officer, UK Events Leads and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Spare Room Project Officer is responsible for the weekly maintenance of the Spare Room Project (SRP) and Spare Zoom Project (SZP) and supporting the promotion of these initiatives. The SRP is an initiative that matches publishing hopefuls from outside London with professionals who work in the industry to offer them temporary accommodation while interviewing, interning or starting a job, whilst the SZP offers free 30-minute talks with industry professionals.

Duties include:

• Updating and distributing a weekly SRP email to potential publishing professional hosts.
• Fielding applications for the SRP and SZP, as well as facilitating communication between participants
• Maintaining databases, sending and refining participant surveys and gathering feedback from participants of the Projects to form an annual impact report.
• Working closely with the Social Media Lead and Communications Officer, and regional committees, to promote the SRP and SZP.
• Liaising with publishing professionals and organisations to raise awareness of the SRP and SZP initiatives.
• Developing ideas for SZP with Mentorship Scheme Lead.
• Collaborate with the Alumni Officer to connect with SRP Alumni and invite SRP and SZP alumni to the Alumni Network.
• Reach out to SYP London and SYP Oxford Mentorship Officers to expand and improve the scheme in those regions.
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that the experience for Spare Room and Spare Zoom recipients is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

This exciting role requires excellent organisational, communication skills and an ability to respond quickly to time-sensitive requests. Knowledge of, or a willingness to learn about, Mailchimp and confidence using Excel/Google sheets is required. This is a great opportunity for someone with a passion for increasing opportunities for publishing hopefuls who live outside of London to network and develop their administrative skills.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, UK Mentorship Lead, UK Alumni Officer and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Managing Editor oversees the production of the quarterly InPrint magazine, a quarterly 32-page publication for SYP members, and manages a team of writers and designers.

Duties include:

• Project managing InPrint production: setting submission, key production, and print dates and liaising with the designer for each issue
• Overseeing the design of the magazine alongside the Design Editor
• Managing meetings to determine the theme of each issue, dividing responsibilities, and commissioning extra writers where necessary
• Proofreading articles in line with the house style guide
• Acting as the key point of contact for the printers and liaising with the UK Membership Lead to ensure the successful distribution of the InPrint to full members
• Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that InPrint issues are as accessible and inclusive as possible.

A keen editorial eye is required, as are people management skills and some knowledge of InDesign. This is a key role that offers opportunities to develop project management, communication, leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as organisational and time management abilities.

Time Expectation: 4-5 hours a week.

Works closely with: UK Chairs, Regional Chairs, InPrint team, UK Membership Lead and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Writers report to the InPrint Managing Editor and are responsible for writing articles for the quarterly issues of the magazine.

Duties include:

• Discussing the theme of the issue and writing articles for it
• Editing fellow editors’ work on a regular basis
• Proofreading the magazine
• Providing additional content for the SYP blog and resource centre in discussion with the Digital Content Officer (Blog and Resource).

Attention to detail is key, as is an interest in exploring current and upcoming trends in the publishing industry through research and interviews where necessary. This is an exciting role in which you can develop your creativity and content writing skills, as well as expand your knowledge of the publishing world.

Time Expectation: 2 hours a week.

Works closely with: InPrint team and UK Digital Content Lead (Blog and Resource).

The Design Editor works predominantly on the society’s quarterly magazine, InPrint, working closely with the InPrint Managing Editor and the editorial team.

Duties include:

• Designing the layout of the InPrint magazine
• Typesetting the text for the magazine
• Working with the Picture Editor to incorporate images with the text
• Ensuring digital versions of InPrint are accessible with the UK Inclusivity Lead and Picture Editor – writing alt-text, testing alt-text, checking contrast of text
• Opportunity to contribute pieces to the InPrint on an ad hoc basis

A working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite is essential, as is the ability to work effectively in a team and to a deadline. This role offers opportunities to develop your technical and creative skills, as well as organisational and interpersonal abilities.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: InPrint team and UK Inclusivity Lead.

The Picture Editor works with the InPrint Writers and Design Editor on the quarterly InPrint magazine.

Duties include:

• Sourcing relevant and engaging images for our publications
• Ensuring images are legally suitable for publication
• Creating visual content to complement the text in a striking way.
• Working closely with the Design Editor to optimise images for use
• Ensuring images are accessible with the UK Inclusivity Lead and Design Editor– writing alt-text, testing alt-text, checking contrast of images
• Opportunity to contribute pieces to the InPrint on an ad hoc basis.

You may have a background in photography, illustration, art, or design – or just have an eye for a good image. Some experience or a demonstrable interest in picture research, illustration, or design role would be a benefit. This role offers opportunities to develop your research and creativity skills, as well as organisational and interpersonal abilities.

Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.

Works closely with: InPrint team and UK Inclusivity Lead.