Sunset offers a variety of creative, editorial, sales, consumer marketing and business opportunities.

• Working at Sunset

Open positions as of December 30, 2004.

• Staff Photographer
• Senior Editor, Book Editorial
• Sales Assistant, Atlanta, Georgia
• Home Program Director
• Associate Food Editor
• Account Manager, Los Angeles

Freelance Opportunities
• Proofreader

Internships
• Photo Intern, Custom Publishing (4 months)

Sunset does not have a formal internship program, however, some departments hire students for temporary jobs.  If you are a current student interested in working for a few months in a temporary position, please send us a letter indicating your area of interest along with a current resume.  We will keep your materials on file and contact you in the event that a temporary position for which you qualify develops.  Please e-mail or fax your information as indicated below.

Send resumes to:
Human Resources
Sunset Publishing Corporation
80 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
FAX (650) 324-5727
jobs@sunset.com

• Consistently produce well-lit, well-composed, visually compelling photographs in conformity with Sunset’s style for the Food department, as well as Home, Travel and Garden areas
• Work closely with and take direction from Creative Director, Art Director, Style Editor and Photo Editors at every stage of photo
• Attend story meetings relevant to photography; share expertise and provide input as a photographer
• Prepare locations, plan and set up shoots
• Shoot and edit photographs
• Consistently meet deadlines to ensure shoots and editing are completed in a timely manner
• Maintain photo studio and equipment

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

• 5+ years photography experience in at least one of the following areas: Food, Garden and/or Home
• Thorough knowledge of the photographic process, including lighting, composition, and editing
• Ability to communicate ideas visually
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of people
• Ability to work creatively within limited budgets & deadlines
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
• Enthusiasm for Sunset subject matter

• Develop book concepts for assigned titles
• Manage the work of freelance writers, editors, and graphic designers
• Coordinate with the activities of the Production department so that completed books are coherent, comprehensive, accurate and attractive, and their production timely, efficient and cost effective
• Stay well-informed on books published by competitors and advise Editorial Director and the publishing committee on prospective titles for Sunset’s lists
• Meet with writers and department heads to plan the development of the book
• Working with the Art Director, review design, photography and illustration components 
• Direct the process of editing text
• Direct the page make-up process and supervise correction of the page proofs
• Create the book’s schedule and communicate the schedule to the editorial team
• Provide Production Coordinator with detailed written instructions regarding editorial production
• Oversee work of the production department and outside vendors, approving proofs, monitoring costs and answering questions
• Participate in the book’s budget development

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION

• Highly polished writing skills
• Proficient with editing processes and procedures
• Experience as senior or executive editor
• Familiarity with gardening, home design and home improvement, and western lifestyles
• Familiarity with art and design techniques
• Ability to effectively evaluate book ideas
• College degree

• Word process correspondence, memos, letters and reports for several sales people
• Phones, mail, file set-up and maintenance
• Travel arrangements, expense reports and calendar maintenance
• Mailing list development and maintenance
• Media kit organization and mailings
• Event planning and basic marketing duties

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 3+ years advertising or sales office experience
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Filemaker Pro
• Extremely detail oriented and well organized
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects concurrently in fast paced ad office
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to work styles of several managers
• Good communication and interpersonal skills on the telephone and in person
• Excellent grammar, proofreading skills and math aptitude

• Site selection, plan development, home construction, landscape and interior design
• Sales collateral, advertising, public relations and sponsor participation

Manage development and execution of Sunset’s Western Home Alliance program:

• Builder memberships, conference planning , sponsor participation, sales collateral, advertising and public relations

Interface with program sponsors to ensure proper execution of marketing programs
Function as Sunset’s marketing authority in the home-related product category:

• Create sales tools, presentations and marketing programs
• Develop new revenue opportunities

Manage requests for home category sales proposals / presentations
Develop Home Plans business

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

5+ years professional project management experience

Consumer marketing and sales background
Thorough understanding of residential design and home building process
Extensive knowledge of western building resources
Solid negotiating skills
Ability to develop and deliver compelling, effective presentations
Interpersonal skills to work well with builder, developer, press, client sponsors and media
Ability to organize and manage multiple concurrent projects to meet deadlines and budget

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Generate and help select story ideas
• Work with senior editor to oversee execution of stories
• Ensure clean, accurate copy and visuals within specified deadlines
• Review and edit recipes and manuscripts, analyzing for logical cooking processes, consistency with Sunset’s food style, thoroughness, creativity, accuracy, and organization
• Produce fresh, useful food stories: Develop and cook recipes and write creative and accurate text

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 3+ years experience with food writing and editing
• Recipe development at a professional level
• Consumer magazine/newspaper publishing experience, including writing, editing & production
• Culinary training or professional experience with food preparation
• BA degree in Journalism/English (with culinary training)
  or
• BS degree in Nutrition/Food Science (with 3+ years food writing/editing experience)
• Knowledge of Western food and cooking, and food sensibility of Sunset readers
• Ability to effectively manage projects and meet deadlines

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meet or exceed sales targets
• Develop new advertising sales customers to increase revenues
• Conduct research to generate prospects
• Contact potential advertisers in person, over the telephone and in writing
• Prepare media kits and proposals
• Maintain contact with current advertising accounts to enhance customer satisfaction, upgrade accounts and/or sell new categories of advertising to further increase revenues; resolve customer problems
• Work closely with management to accurately forecast and promptly respond to customer needs
• Control selling expenses at or below budget

REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of print advertising sales and marketing techniques and practices
• Ability to obtain and dispense information through negotiation, interview, and discussion, employing perseverance and persuasion as necessary
• Ability to make and deliver clear, concise, compelling & effective presentations
• Solid negotiating skills
• Proven people management and organizational skills; ability to delegate, direct and coordinate work done by others
• Excellent customer service and telephone skills, and strong interpersonal skills
• Proficient use Microsoft Word, Excel, and email software
• Ability to work outside normal schedule
• Ability to safely operate a car (drivers’ license and clean driving record required)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain photography database
• Research stock photography
• Assist with photo shoot production, including permit procurement and set up preparation
• Office organization, including wardrobe and props
• Order prints, return portfolios, and file artist & model cards
• Process contracts for published photography

OPPORTUNITIES

• Experience in photo editing, including review of photographers’ film and portfolios
• Exposure to magazine publishing in a fast-paced department
• May assist with photo shoots, prop shopping or model booking

• Interest in magazine photography
• Strong initiative and project follow-through skills
• Excellent phone and interpersonal communication skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Superior organizational skills

2-3 days per month on site in Menlo Park

Proofread Sunset magazine stories for accurate spelling, punctuation, grammar usage, typography and placement of graphics.

Requires advanced training and substantial professional experience in a publishing environment as well as excellent written and verbal English skills and ability to work accurately and efficiently under deadline pressure.