Jessica Gaal
Highland Lakes,NJ
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Portfolio Manager, Oxford Biology Primers Series
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
10.2024 - Current
- Expanded the biology primer list from 10 titles to 21 by clearing its backlist and acquiring 7 new titles since October 2024.
- Facilitates monthly trans-Atlantic meetings with 8 external series editors, who assist in identifying gaps in the biology market and finding potential authors for new titles in the series
- Assigns acquired titles to a team of 10 content editors, leading regular training sessions and meetings to offer support and maintain publishing schedules.
- Maintains procedures and templates to ensure standardization throughout the series for authors and internal teams
- Collaborates with internal teams and external stakeholders to develop strategies for selling new publications in the series
Content Editor - UK, US, and CAN
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
08.2022 - Current
- Responsible for all editorial aspects of book development for 8-11 titles a year, from contract to manuscript transmittal.
- Works closely with authors to develop ideas and optimize the clarity of their manuscripts, assisting with art programs and cover design when needed.
- Collaborates with internal teams to publish and position books as efficiently and effectively as possible.
- Maintains budgets; reviews and approves invoices and other expenses
- Assisted with editorial and production for OUP’s first e-only titles, establishing new standards and procedures.
Editorial Assistant, Life Sciences
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
01.2022 - 08.2022
- Handled administrative tasks, such as managing schedules, keeping track of deadlines, and organizing files.
- Assisted in the planning and development of content, such as brainstorming topics, and researching trends.
- Generated P&Ls, sales forecasts, and budgets for new acquisitions.
- Coordinated and managed communication with authors, freelance copy editors, proofreaders, and indexers.
- Assisted editors in all stages of the publication process.
Education
B.A. - Journalism and Media Studies, Creative Writing
Rutgers University
New Jersey01-2019
Certificate - Editing
Poynter ACES
01-2025
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat
- Strong knowledge of The Chicago Manual Style and other style guides
- Proficient in both written and verbal communication
- Multitasking in deadline-driven environments
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Manuscript editing
- Effective team leadership
- Author collaboration
- Portfolio management
- E-book formatting standards
- Proficient in publishing tools and platforms (Biblio, STAR, CoreSource)
Timeline
Portfolio Manager, Oxford Biology Primers Series
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
10.2024 - Current
Content Editor - UK, US, and CAN
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
08.2022 - Current
Editorial Assistant, Life Sciences
Oxford University Press, Higher Education
01.2022 - 08.2022
B.A. - Journalism and Media Studies, Creative Writing
Rutgers University
Certificate - Editing
Poynter ACES