Awards & Honors Manager

The National Book Foundation is seeking a full-time Awards & Honors Manager, an instrumental position in the annual presentation of the National Book Awards alongside the Foundation’s other Awards & Honors, including its Lifetime Achievement Awards and 5 Under 35. Working closely with the senior leadership team and reporting to the Executive Director, this position requires exceptional organizational and prioritization skills, while simultaneously understanding both small tasks and the big picture. The ideal candidate is an experienced and thorough program administrator and event planner with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage a high level of detail and overlapping deadlines. Candidates should have a proven track record of successfully producing events while prioritizing the best possible experience for guests, authors, publishers, and other stakeholders. This position will supervise one coordinator as part of a two-person Awards team, and work collaboratively with a small, dedicated team.

The ideal start date for this position is February 2026. This is a full-time exempt position based in New York City and operates on a flexible hybrid schedule. Some evening and weekend work is required.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee the entry process for the National Book Awards submission period, including tracking ~2,000 annual submissions, communicating with publishers, answering eligibility questions and ensuring all entered titles meet eligibility criteria, and ensuring books are received physically and digitally.
• Coordinate the process of judge and selector recruitment for the National Book Awards and 5 Under 35, including gathering and tracking recommendations, invitations, declinations, and panel information.
• Support the Executive Director in judge and selector communications, including stewarding all administrative support (i.e., deadlines, submissions updates, scheduling meetings, and other logistics).
• Manage honored titles’ publishing contacts and communications about the National Book Awards and Awards Week activities and 5 Under 35.
• Liaise with the Communications & Marketing team, web consultant, and external vendors on all Awards-related announcements, designed materials, outreach plans, and logistics.
• Work with the Executive Director to facilitate the annual selection of Lifetime Achievement Award recipients alongside the Board of Directors, including maintaining updated lists of contenders and researching nominees as needed.
• Work with the Executive Director, Director of Programs & Partnerships, and the Awards team on talent research, recruitment, and communications.
• Oversee all logistics for the in-person and virtual National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, related Awards week programming, and 5 Under 35, including budget management, vendor relationships, and guest communications and management.
• Support the Executive Director and Director of Development, in meeting financial goals for sponsorship, ticket and table sales, ad sales, and fundraising, and ensuring benefit fulfillment and acknowledgement for all supporters.
• Support the Executive Director and Director of Development in Host Committee management, including onboarding new members.
• Supervise the Awards Coordinator, plus seasonal interns and Fellows on all Awards-related tasks, including eligibility checking and other projects.
• Ensure the National Book Foundation’s Salesforce database is updated with information pertaining to the National Book Awards, 5 Under 35, and other special events throughout the year, including maintaining annual invite lists.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Work with Administrative Coordinator to oversee the sales of medallions to the publishers of current and past National Book Award titles.
• Use data from National Book Awards entries, medallion sales, and National Book Awards Ceremony ticket sales to analyze and track performance and fundraising goals.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications:

• 4-6 years with relevant experience in event production and project management
• Experience with event planning, including logistics coordination, talent and vendor management, and budget oversight
• Extremely organized, communicative, detail-oriented, proactive, and deadline-conscious, with a demonstrated ability to balance overlapping project timelines
• Excellent oral and written communications skills with an ability to tailor messaging for internal and external audiences; copyediting experience is a strong plus
• Confidence with database/CRM, submission, guest management, and workflow platforms, such as Asana, Submittable, and Salesforce is required
• Applicants should demonstrate a capacity and flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively with others
• Knowledge of and experience working in or adjacent to the publishing industry is a strong asset
• Applicants must have a passion for books and possess an enthusiastic, flexible, patient, and kind spirit

Compensation:

Annual salary is $65,000 to $75,000 depending on experience.

This is a full-time position based in New York City with a two day per week in-office requirement through the four-month probationary period. After the probationary period, there is a flexible in-office/remote hybrid schedule.

NBF’s benefits package includes health and dental insurance with employer covered premiums at 90%, as well as vision, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and Paid Family Leave benefits. After one year of employment, NBF matches a 6% maximum of the employee’s 403(b) contribution. NBF provides 22 days paid time off per year, in addition to observing holidays, Summer Fridays and closing the office between Christmas Day and New Years Day.

To Apply for the Position:

Send resume and cover letter to jobs@nationalbook.org with the subject line “Full Name - Awards & Honors Manager”. Review of applications will be rolling and continue until the position is filled; priority will be given to applications received by January 19, 2026. No phone calls, please.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role. The National Book Foundation is committed to inclusivity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, parental status, military service, or disability.

NBF’s benefits package includes health and dental insurance with employer covered premiums at 90%, as well as vision, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and Paid Family Leave benefits. After one year of employment, NBF matches a 6% maximum of the employee’s 403(b) contribution. NBF provides 22 days paid time off per year, in addition to observing holidays, Summer Fridays and closing the office between Christmas Day and New Years Day.