Introduction to the role

A highly-coveted role has become available within the Acquisitions team at Collins.  We are looking for an experienced, commercially-minded publisher, who can collate timely information from the primary market sector and turn it into viable product proposals - print or digital as the end-user requires. 

They will be responsible for: acquiring publishing projects; bringing new authors and partnership opportunities to Collins; the overall performance of the Primary list in the market; and for setting the strategic priorities and direction for the list.  We are excited to have this opportunity to bring fresh talent, ideas and authors to this high-performing portfolio.

Key tasks and accountabilities

• Market development

  • Spends time in/with schools, academies colleges, MATs, local authorities, DfE, educational consultants, special interest groups or subject groups, buying consortia, parents, consumers or other customers

  • Identifies market trends and publishing opportunities through close contact with the market

  • Stays abreast of educational policy and administrative developments in their area and shares with the wider team

  • Actively pursues, monitors, analyses and shares competitor information

  • Sources new authors and educational consultants, who are experts in their field, so that the pool of available talent for Collins to draw on, is grown

  • Manages relationships with organisations that work in partnership with Collins in the primary arena, and actively seeks to develop new relationships.

• Product acquisition

  • Develops product rationale, holds constant informal discussions with sales and marketing, and takes forward viable product ideas to formal acquisitions process

• Product development

  • Fully briefs the Product Development team so that they understand new product objectives and can take full ownership from commissioning the authors to delivering finished product to market

  • Where necessary, takes samples from Product Development team to customers and gains feedback

• Product performance

  • Works with sales and marketing to prepare market for launch, monitors progress against agreed strategy. 

  • Is accountable for product’s performance in the market, as part of the wider list

• List strategy

  • Responsible for the overall performance of the list in the market, and for setting the strategic priorities and direction for the list

  • Works with finance, sales and marketing colleagues to set ambitious but achievable sales targets, and plays a part in ensuring those targets are delivered.

Experience required

• Proven track record in acquiring and developing commercially-successful educational resources for the primary schools market

• Possesses the requisite leadership skills to influence/win over stakeholders, especially through presenting new products

• Confident in communicating to and developing relationships with authors, teachers, consultants, sector organisations, customers

• Strategic and lateral thinker – able to step back and see bigger picture to plan, prioritise and make decisions

• Strong commercial awareness – can spot mass market opportunities/identify gaps in the market

• Comfortable with ambiguity, can reconcile different points of view to produce a single product/idea/strategy

Benefits

• Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office)

• 26 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

• 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

• 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 volunteering day

• 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 our Talent Acquisition Manager at stephanie.jemmett@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.