As Commissioning Editor, you will be a key member of the Borough team, taking ownership of an existing stable of authors to see them through to publication for both physical and digital editions. There will also be the opportunity to commission your own titles for the list, in line with the acquisition strategy of the wider team. Although commissioning experience is desirable, more important is your ability to demonstrate that you have solid experience of owning and driving your own publishing successfully and strategically, and the market awareness, taste and hunger to commission. You will have an extensive range of industry contacts that you can call on, and the ability to build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be commercially savvy, having an extensive knowledge of the literary fiction and non-fiction markets and a passion for the books that Borough publishes.

Specialising in literary and literary-commercial fiction along with narrative non-fiction, The Borough Press operates as a boutique imprint within the HarperFiction division. Combining quality publishing with commercial success, Borough has a stellar record in launching fiction superstars such as Joanna Cannon (The Trouble with Goats and Sheep), Susie Steiner (Missing, Presumed), Bridget Collins (The Binding) and most recently, Bella Mackie (How to Kill Your Family), along with an array of outstanding bestsellers including Tracy Chevalier, Lionel Shriver, RF Kuang and Neal Stephenson.

Key Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of and being the main point of contact for own stable of authors, seeing them through to publication for both physical and digital editions.

• Managing and editing a list of existing Borough authors, maintaining communication with authors and agents and developing publishing strategies.

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

• Acquiring titles in line with Borough’s acquisition strategy, widening the breadth of Borough’s literary publishing, in particular for the UK and US markets.

• Negotiating deal memos and progressing contracts for all acquisitions.

• Liaising closely with the production team and pub ops director to keep all books in line with critical path.

• Understanding and wider reading of literary fiction and narrative non-fiction/memoir market, resulting in strong market knowledge and market-focused publishing strategies across the board.

• Briefing market-informed jackets and liaising with designers, seeing covers through from start to finish, particularly keeping in mind deadlines for retailer sell-in.

• Briefing, overseeing and checking sales/marketing material, e.g. catalogues, sales presenters etc. as necessary.

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

• Ownership of metadata/AIs for individual authors, ensuring this fits with emerging trends in the market, and is completed in line with critical path.

• Writing cover/catalogue/ copy as required.

• Continuing to build and foster relationships with agents, acting as one of Borough’s key ambassadors within the industry, cultivating the established relationships we have already, developing new ones and identifying more agencies to work with.

• Liaising with teams across the business including sales, marketing, publicity, rights and production.

• Working in conjunction with the Marketing and Publicity Managers on author events/launches where necessary.

• Attending launches, industry events and festivals.

Experience Required

• Previous experience of working on literary fiction

• Owning, devising and implementing publishing strategy

• Experience working at editor level or above

• Be able to demonstrate sound market knowledge of literary fiction

• Experience of desk editing processes

• Full knowledge of publishing processes

• Experience of working directly with authors

Skills Required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Global thinker -- someone able to think 'beyond the book' and help us develop digital, international and audio sales

• Passionate about books and literary fiction

• Hungry to own and drive own workload

• Ability to work individually and as part of a team

• A problem solver

• Quick-thinking

• Creative and a keen eye for detail

• Extremely organised

• Interpersonal and diplomacy skills

• Strong awareness of market trends

• Computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Due to the nature of the role, you may be required to work evenings and weekends to attend launches/events.

Benefits 

• Hybrid working model (2+ 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.