An opportunity has arisen to join the publicity team within HQ, Mills & Boon and Pavilion, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, to work on innovative campaigns for some of the leading names in commercial fiction and non-fiction.  Specialising in commercial fiction, non-fiction and innovative digital publishing, HQ is a young, ambitious, and award-winning imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  HQ prides itself on publishing books that are bold, brave, inclusive, and always with a compelling story to tell.

HQ Fiction is proud to publish The Sunday Times bestselling authors such as Adele Parks, Linwood Barclay, B A Paris, Sarah Morgan, Erica James and Carrie Hope Fletcher. Debut novels published by HQ, The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain and This Lovely City by Louise Hare, were recently shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2020 and the RSL Ondaatje Prize 2021 respectively.

HQ Non-Fiction publishes The Sunday Times bestselling BOSH!, The Batch Lady and The Prison Doctor books, as well as June Sarpong’s award-winning books on Diversity and Inclusion, and Caroline Hirons’ record-breaking and industry-leading book Skincare. In 2022, HQ published Joe Wicks’ Feel Good Food which was industry Number 1 for two weeks.

Sweeping women off their feet for over 100 years, Mills & Boon is the UKs #1 publisher of romantic fiction and won the RNA Industry Award for Publisher of the Year 2020. In the UK a Mills & Boon novel is sold once every ten seconds.  

Pavilion Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers specialising in illustrated non-fiction. The enviable roster of high-profile authors on the list includes MOB Kitchen founder Ben Lebus; Italian chef and TV personality Gennaro Contaldo; Sunday Sessions YouTuber Big Has; interior design expert Kate Watson-Smyth (creator of Mad About the House); Vintage Rolex expert David Silver and crochet queen Kerry Lord.  

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and implement fully integrated PR campaigns for books across our list (HQ, Mills & Boon and Pavilion) by liaising with the media, festivals, bookshops, and by using our digital platforms. Develop innovative and creative publicity campaigns in line with key objectives across individual titles or brand authors

• As part of the marketing and publicity team, deliver creative and stand-out publicity campaigns across both traditional and new media channels, on brief and within budget. Generate and foster review and feature coverage across relevant media, including newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, online and social media

• Plan and execute author tours / visits to raise author profile and generate sales

• Work closely with the Editorial, Marketing and Sales teams to ensure publicity opportunities are fully maximised and communicated across the Division

• Generate trade press releases and announce new title acquisitions

• Maintain, develop and grow relationships with key journalists, producers and new media contacts across all channels

• Stay in tune with trends and news within fiction and non-fiction publishing, to maintain an awareness of the market.

Experience Required

• Experience of working on fully integrated and dynamic PR campaigns

• Experience or knowledge of working within a publishing house

• Proven track record of providing high levels of author care

• Excellent knowledge of different media opportunities across print, broadcast and online and an established relationship with key media contacts

• A genuine passion for commercial fiction and non-fiction books

Skills Required

• A team player with excellent communication and people skills at all levels

• Innovative and creative with a strong eye for detail

• A motivated self-starter with a ‘can-do’ attitude

• Energy, passion, and enthusiasm to juggle workload under pressure, prioritise work effectively and be part of a dynamic publicity team

• Fantastic organisation skills

Due to the nature of the work, you may be required to work some evenings and weekends.

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.