Collins delivers up-to-date and engaging learning and teaching resources worldwide. The small Product Development team manage multiple projects to create print and digital resources from concept to completion. We’re looking for a Product Developer who is confident and competent in scoping and managing projects, budgets and freelance teams to deliver high-quality resources.

Key Tasks and Accountabilities

Commissioning and scoping

• Work with a Publisher to capture requirements for new products, and input into the most efficient, cost-effective and appealing way to realise a product idea.

• Speak to internal and external stakeholders as necessary to refine the proposition.

• Produce briefs and project plans, commission and contract authors and other team members.

• Work up detailed costs and schedules for each product proposal and present for sign-off.

Product development and project management

• Work with authors and editors to produce and develop final manuscript.

• Manage designers and typesetters to produce proofs and covers.

• Manage and oversee proof schedules and processes.

• Ensure projects hit milestones on time, to budget and maintain a high standard.

• Manage and record projects including spend vs forecast and keep a clear overview.  

Experience Required

• Relevant commissioning and product development experience.

• Project management across simultaneous products, print and digital.

• Management of teams of authors and freelancers, especially to strict deadlines.

• Desirable: Maths/Science background; Digital publishing.

Skills Required

• Excellent organisation, time, budget and resource management.

• Able to step back and see the bigger picture, to plan, prioritise and make decisions.

• Reconcile conflicting viewpoints during product development process for benefit of product.

• Proactive in trouble-shooting and problem-solving.  

• Clear and effective communication skills, written and verbal.

• Questioning/analytical approach – suggestions to improve process/products including using AI to power efficiency.

 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

• Cycle to work scheme 

• 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

• Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)

• With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire

• 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.