Commissioning Editor (12-month fixed term contract)
Do you love developing ideas for brilliant children’s non-fiction and gift books, and bringing them to life?
Quarto creates inspiring books for adults and children published across the globe. Wide Eyed Editions is looking for a passionate children’s Commissioning Editor to show off their commercial flair and editorial creativity with a role acquiring Wide Eyed’s list of design-led books. The successful candidate will have proven experience commissioning books for a global audience and be hungry to innovate whilst meeting all the commercial objectives of the division. This is an exciting role for someone who can blend proven people- and project-management skills with creativity and exemplary author/illustrator care. What we offer in return is the chance to develop your skills in an award-winning team that respects cross-departmental collaboration, and where all ideas are valued.
Contract
12 months fixed-term maternity cover
Salary
Starting from £36k dependent on experience
Closing date
28th July 2024
Working hours
35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. We currently operate a discretionary hybrid model, with three days in our London or Brighton office and two working from home.
About the role
As Commissioning Editor you will be responsible for acquiring and editing market-leading children’s non-fiction titles that inspire and entertain young readers.
What you will be involved in:
- Developing and acquiring new titles for the Wide-Eyed list, including receiving external submissions and negotiating contracts with agents and authors
- Overseeing the management of live titles, from acquisition to publication
- Line managing the team’s Senior Editor, supporting them in their career development and helping ensure their work is completed effectively and to a high standard
- Liaising with authors, agents, sales, marketing design and production staff
- Aiding with overall team management
- Assisting with preparation for and attending bookfairs (as required)
About you
You will have at least three years’ experience editing and managing children’s books, with demonstrable experience commissioning commercially successful non-fiction product.
You will be able to show you can:
- Edit brilliant books from conception to publication
- Commission commercially successful children’s non-fiction
- Manage a high volume of projects on schedule and to budget
- Show awareness of trends in the children’s non-fiction publishing market
- Supportively manage our Senior Editor in their workload and career development
- Be a self-starter
- Work effectively as part of a team
- Maintain valuable connections with external agents and authors
- Use InDesign confidently
What we can offer
A supportive, open environment with development opportunities, as well as the following benefits:
- 25 days paid holiday per year (increasing up to 30 days per year), plus bank holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Staff discounts on selected shops, retailers, and restaurants
- Health Cash Plan
- Pension
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Summer hours
- Free books scheme
- Active social and diversity committees
How to apply
Please send a CV and cover letter to talent@quarto.com by the closing date and state the vacancy name in the email subject title.
Ensure you cover the following:
- Your motivation and match with the role requirements
- What appeals to you about this particular role
- What key skills, experience and achievements do you have that you think are relevant to this role, and why. Please provide examples of how you have used or demonstrated those.
- Where you saw the vacancy advertised
All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for the vacancy.
We employ individuals based on their abilities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds regardless of disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, belief, age, or sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we aim to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for disabled people. Therefore, we encourage you to inform us of any reasonable adjustments you may require during your interview process. Please note, you only need to disclose information that you are comfortable sharing in order for us to accommodate your request.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we only be able to respond to candidates selected for interview.