Job Board

Portage & Main Press/HighWater Press

Location: Winnipeg
Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid

Application Deadline: September 8, 2026
Reports to: Publisher 

Work Location

This position works out of the Winnipeg office located in the Exchange District, a minimum of 3 days per week, or as required, with flexibility to work from home on other days. Occasional special event evening work or weekend work may also be required.

Role Overview

The Marketing Manager will lead the planning and execution of marketing campaigns for our frontlist and backlist titles, along with broader brand initiatives. They will be supported by the Marketing Coordinator and publicity teams in Canada and the United States. They will combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution, working closely with editorial, sales, publicity, authors, and external partners to ensure our books reach the right audiences in meaningful and measurable ways.

This position requires a strategic and creative thinker with strong organizational skills, a passion for books and culture, and a curiosity about current trends, media, and emerging marketing.. The candidate is adaptable and solutions-oriented, and will be responsible for building data-informed campaigns while working in an independent environment.. 

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead strategic marketing efforts/campaigns for seasonal lists, individual titles, series, and brand initiatives.
• Develop and manage integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social, email, print, retail, media, events, and partnerships.
• Guide digital marketing efforts, including paid and organic social media, email marketing, website campaigns, AEO/SEO/GEO/, and online discoverability.
• Collaborate with editorial, sales, and publicity teams to position titles effectively and align messaging across departments.
• Create audience growth strategies that expand readership, deepen community engagement, and support long-term brand loyalty.
• Oversee title positioning and campaign planning from acquisition through publication and post-publication.
• Manage marketing budgets and priorities. 
• Support author marketing activities by advising on platform development, launch strategies, and promotional opportunities.
• Build and maintain partnerships with booksellers, festivals, cultural organizations, educators, libraries, media outlets, and industry stakeholders.
• Analyze campaign performance and sales-related metrics to optimize future strategy and improve ROI.
• Ensure brand consistency across all consumer-facing materials and channels.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree or post secondary certificate in a discipline relevant to communications and marketing.
• 3+ years of marketing experience, ideally in book publishing, media, arts, culture, or another content-driven industry.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-channel marketing campaigns from concept to execution.
• Strong understanding of book consumer behavior, audience segmentation, and title positioning.
• Experience with digital advertising, email marketing, social media strategy, analytics, and CRM/audience development tools.
• Excellent copywriting, communication, and storytelling skills. 
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and deadlines at once.
• Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial, resource-conscious environment.
• Familiarity with the Canadian publishing ecosystem is a strong asset.
• Passion for books, ideas, readers, and independent publishing.

About Us

Portage & Main Press has been an independent, Canadian, woman-owned publisher of educational resources since 1967. We create inclusive, child-centered materials that prioritize Indigenous and marginalized voices, supporting diverse, dynamic learning communities. Our books, written by subject-area experts and classroom-tested, include teacher guides and resources for K–12 students, fostering social justice and collaborative education.

HighWater Press, an imprint of Portage & Main Press, publishes critically acclaimed works by Indigenous writers, including national bestsellers and modern classics. We are dedicated to amplifying stories that celebrate Indigenous resurgence, creativity, strength, and community. Our diverse catalogue includes non-fiction, novels, graphic novels, and children’s literature, all featuring exceptional storytelling and production quality.  

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $54K – $58K with a comprehensive benefits package, paid vacation time, and additional paid days off when the office is closed December 25 to January 1. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume in a single PDF document to Catherine Gerbasi, Publisher at cgerbasi@portageandmainpress.com, by 5:00 pm CT on September 8, 2026. 

Portage & Main Press is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you self-identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, a person living with a disability, or as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community or another marginalized group, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Please note that all applications will be carefully reviewed by our team, and all interviews will be in person. We thank applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.