Senior Editor, Custom Publishing

Custom Publishing is a small, dynamic publishing department within HarperCollins that creates innovative, illustrated frontlist titles for gift and reference, as well as creative re-casts of HC’s rich heritage backlist. With a focus on non-fiction titles, our range is broad, from Mind Body Spirit to puzzle books, cocktail guides to natural history; our successes include Prosecco Made Me Do It, C.S. Lewis’ Little Book of Wisdom, The Little Book of Bees, The Healing Remedies Sourcebook, Backyard Birdwatcher’s Bible, Glorious Boards, and Winter Warmers.

HarperCollins’ Custom Publishing team is looking for a Senior Editor who is proactive, creative, and adaptable. The Senior Editor will co-generate and co-manage the lifecycle of titles within the Custom Publishing list – from ideas, commissioning, concept and development, through editorial stages and quality control to delivery to the customer – working across all HC imprints. The successful candidate will also assist in overseeing the Custom Publishing front list and backlist, assist in pitching ideas, and liaise with customers. Key to the position is the ability to create, develop, and adapt projects to meet the commercial needs of specific global markets and customers (primarily US and UK).

Key Responsibilities

Generate new ideas and manage a portion of Custom’s front list, including commissioning and title life cycle
Perform in-house editorial work
Work closely with customers, sales, production, editorial, rights, and design to see projects through to completion and delivery, including tailoring the project to specific customers or regions
Pitch originated content/customer led projects to external customers and in-house teams
Commission authors, illustrators, designers, etc to produce pitches and live projects
Maintain a strong network of freelance designers, developmental editors, authors, and illustrators
Co-manage and utilise in-house publishing systems and resources
Co-manage back list (reprints and reissues), including liaising with customers, production, and freelancers for corrections and redesigns/updates

Experience Required

Significant editorial management experience with colour, black and white, and books-plus projects
Significant editorial experience of copy-editing, proofreading, proof-checking, copywriting etc
Experience in commissioning
Experience in adapting existing content for new channels, formats, and customers
First-hand knowledge of US and UK market
Experience of dealing with Americanization (and occasionally Anglicisation) of content

Experience Of

Producing illustrated titles across range of subjects and formats
Working with co-editions
Dealing with different markets
Technical knowledge (ensuring files are co-editionable, etc)
Being sensitive to the global market in selecting imagery and text

Skills Required

A proactive, creative team player with a ‘go-getting’ attitude with the ability to be adaptive, flexible, and competent to work within tight timelines and budget constraints, combined with a broad range of editorial and project-management experience within publishing. The ability to establish and maintain good rapport with internal and external contacts is crucial.

Ability to deliver great products within specified schedules and budgets
Relationship management, including people management, collaboration, and negotiating skills
Production knowledge to ensure high-quality, attractive, and profitable books
Communication – Able to clearly present ideas and solutions to internal and external customers and freelancers
Innovation and creativity – To develop original and customer-targeted projects
Organisational skills

Benefits

Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office)
28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days)
Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
Private healthcare cover and life assurance
Summer Hours
Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal
Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme
Relocation Rent Support Loan
Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work and Pride at HC
Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes
Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers
Gym membership discount
Onsite physiotherapy (London only)
Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days
We're a certified Carbon Neutral company
Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books
Subsidised canteen and retail discounts
Onsite prayer room

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to recruitment@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.