Commissioning Editor

Salary range: £35,000-£38,000 per annum (subject to experience)

General Summary

Footnote Press and Ithaka Press are looking for a passionate, highly organized and proactive commissioning editor to spot and seek out new talent and deliver exceptional publishing that has broad reach and literary clout.

An upmarket imprint with a focus on narrative nonfiction and translation, Ithaka Press was launched in 2023 and publishes acclaimed authors such as Andrew Harding, Martin Puchner, Viv Groskop and Julia Ebner.

Footnote Press launched in 2022 as a mission-oriented publisher committed to amplifying marginalised stories and perspectives. Recent highlights include Camp! by Paul Baker, A Bollywood State of Mind by Sunny Singh and Yelena Moskovich’s new novel Nadezhda in the Dark.

The successful candidate will make a significant contribution to the development of both imprints’ lists, acquiring new literary talent and contributing towards the identity and strategic direction of the fiction publishing programme.

This is a perfect next step for an experienced, hard-working assistant editor or editor with a demonstrable passion for literary and upmarket fiction. They would be a strong team player and combine a keen eye for detail with high editorial standards along with plenty of ideas, enthusiasm and energy. They will enjoy working closely editorially with authors, leading the publishing of their books and inspiring the broader team.

Key responsibilities

Commissioning up to circa 10 books a year with a particular focus on literary and upmarket fiction that reflects the values of the imprints.

Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with authors, agents and scouts.

Being part of a closely-knit team and contributing to list strategy.

Managing relationships with other departments, including sales, marketing, publicity, design and production.

Qualifications and Experience

You will be a passionate reader with exceptional taste and strong commercial acumen.

You will have at least two years’ experience within a trade publishing team.

Excellent project management skills, ideally with experience of desk editing and successfully steering books from acquisition to publication.

Self-motivated with the ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload to meet multiple deadlines.

Exemplary attention to detail.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

An interest in learning and developing skills within a fast-paced, energetic and outward-looking department.

A keen understanding of the print and digital markets.