Introduction to the role

We are looking for a highly organised and energetic Desk Editor to join the HarperVoyager team. HarperVoyager is HarperFiction’s dedicated SFF team and includes our crossover & NA imprint HarperMagpie. 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 Desk Editor of HarperVoyager and HarperMagpie, the individual 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 and Magpie lists. The position offers a rare opportunity for a diligent, organised, efficient and creative team player to step into a challenging role and the chance to work with a growing, ambitious collaborative team.

Core responsibilities:

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

•   Full desk-editing responsibilities: seeing titles from manuscript to finished copies on all frontlist and backlist titles, including ebook and audio formats, and managing freelancers (copy-editors, proof-readers, structural editors) ensuring plant costs are in line with budget for each project

• Support Editorial Assistant with second format (paperbacks and ebooks)

• Brief audio books to the Audio team and keep the author updated on narrator choices

• Create Alt text for artworks in all ebooks

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

• Liaise with authors over the progress of the book through production and day-to-day editorial matters

o   Update authors on their book’s production schedule

o   send first and final proofs to authors

o   send covers to authors for comments and final approval

o   share internal artwork (maps, chapter headings) with author for comment and approval

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

o   With support from Editorial Director

• Project manage and sign off backlist files for subscription box special editions, co-ordinating with Production to use the latest files

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

• Brief Design on trade and special edition internal artworks (including chapter heading artworks, tip ins, author letter, title page, bonus content) in collaboration with the book’s editor

• Send finalised cover copy to Design

• Check and approve all book covers

• Collate, mark up and check reprint corrections

Scheduling

• Update and maintain the scheduling grid across the team

• Co-ordinate with US publishers on co-publishing titles to keep up to date on external schedules to meet Voyager and Magpie critical paths

• Attend all internal production meetings

• Oversee scheduling changes alongside Commissioning Editors and update the Pub Ops team

• Liaise with key stakeholders over schedule changes (Sales/Marketing/Publicity/360 Team/US Publisher/Right team)

•   Maintain a Production Grid that outlines every stage of every book’s journey for easy tracking of titles

• Ensure all cover briefs and cover copy are submitted according to critical path

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

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, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work

• 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, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books

• Subsidised canteen and retail discounts

• Onsite prayer room

At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity in our recruitment process. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of all applications, we ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities.  This allows us to fairly assess your knowledge, skills, and experience to determine how they align with the role. We value diverse perspectives and genuine contributions, even if answers are not perfect. The use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted for specific tasks.

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to 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. 

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