We are looking for a highly organised and energetic Desk Editor to join the HarperVoyager team. HarperVoyager is HarperFiction’s dedicated SFF imprint, and includes both our YA & NA imprint Magpie as well as our subscription box The Locked Library. For almost 25 years, HarperVoyager have been home to legends and rising stars of SFF including George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Jay Kristoff, R.F. Kuang, Juno Dawson, Saara El-Arifi and Hannah Kaner.

Reporting to the Publisher of Voyager, the Desk Editor will play a key role in planning and overseeing the delivery of manuscripts into production and to finished copy stage. They will take full desk editorial responsibility for a range of titles across all areas of the Voyager list as well as having a strategic role in Voyager’s growing subscription box. This is not a commissioning role, but the position offers a rare opportunity for a diligent, organised, efficient and creative team player to step into a challenging editor’s role and the chance to work with a growing, ambitious collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities

• Project managing print and digital titles from handover of manuscript through to production/final files

• Full desk-editing responsibilities – seeing titles through from manuscript to finished copies for a range of Voyager titles, including digital formats, and managing freelance copy-editors and proof-readers, ensuring plant costs are in line with budget for each project

• Liaising with authors over the progress of the book through production, copy approval and day-to-day editorial matters

• Overseeing a select number of key backlist titles, collaborating with sales and marketing teams to develop reissue programmes and lead digital pricing and promotion strategy

• A key member of the Locked Library team, working with Community Relationship Executive to optimise our product offering using customer feedback and data, including special edition briefing, website optimisation, and title selection

• Writing jacket copy (hardback and paperback) and selling copy for external sites, drafting jacket briefs and delivering covers to critical path

• Managing editorial information and metadata about the titles (AIS, Plan G Acquisitions, Metadata, P&Ls) to ensure accurate and up-to-date title/list information is available internally and externally

• Working with the Voyager team to deliver team objectives on diversity and inclusion, author care, critical path and reaching readers

• Overseeing the quality and accuracy of editorial standards internally and externally

• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external teams and stakeholders in each title

Experience Required

• Desk-editing and project management experience

• Direct relevant experience with author care and agent relationships throughout the publishing cycle

• Experience working in a commercially focused team within a major publishing house or within a major group

• Knowledge of SFF market

Skills Required

• Being a key, energetic and positive member of a busy, creative editorial team; flair and passion for SFF books; the ability to work calmly under pressure to meet tight deadlines

• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence managing numerous relationships involved in each title both within Voyager team as well as wider teams such as Sales, Marketing, Production and PR

• Strong organisational skills and self-motivated

• Must be confident, prepared to work on own initiative, be able to present solutions to senior editorial team, liaise effectively and decisively with design and production and capable of working efficiently to tight deadlines

• Effective multi-tasker; flexible when required

• High level of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail

Benefits 

• Hybrid working model (3 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.

Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.