Specialising in commercial fiction and innovative digital publishing, HQ publishes a wide range of fiction titles including crime, thriller, contemporary fiction, historical and book club, alongside our bestselling non-fiction list, and thriving digital-first imprint. Combining rapid growth with commercial success, HQ has a stellar record in launching fiction debuts such as BA Paris’s Behind Closed Doors, Nadine Matheson’s The Jigsaw Man, along with an array of outstanding brand bestsellers.

This commissioning editor role requires a good understanding of the crime and thriller fiction market, the ability to spot trends and publishing opportunities for the list, and the chance to work with an ever expanding team.

Key Accountabilities

• To commission, edit, desk-edit and publish titles successfully and profitably for the HQ Fiction and HQ Digital lists

• Build relationships with agents, with a view to bringing in the best talent to HQ

• Ownership of and main point of contact for own stable of authors, working across crime/thriller, adventure, book club and historical as required

• To work closely with the production team and pub ops manager to keep titles on critical path

• Strong market knowledge and market-focused publishing strategies

• Briefing jackets and liaising with designers, seeing covers through from start to finished proof

• Copywriting and checking sales/marketing material, e.g. catalogues, sales presenters, etc.

• Creating strategy documents for key titles, and presenting these to the wider team as required

• Presenting titles at monthly International, Rights meetings, sales and marketing meetings

• To raise and check contracts as required

• Liaising with in-house digital teams to facilitate digital promotions, and securing selections for books on the list

• Ability to create content for sales presentations, awareness of physical retailers requirements and working with the sales team to deliver information in a timely fashion

• Work closely with the in-house Publicity Manager to ensure maximum exposure for authors, according to priority list

• Attend launches and festivals as required

Person Specification

• Previous experience in an editor role

• Proficient structural editor

• Demonstrable experience in commissioning fiction titles

Skills and Disposition

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Creative 

• Extremely organised

• A keen eye for detail

• Technically comfortable

• Passionate about crime and thriller fiction titles

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to our Senior Recruitment Manager at Kally.simmonds@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.