Avon is a division of HarperCollins, one of the UK’s most prolific, diverse and innovative multi-platform publishers. Specialising in commercial, high-volume fiction, Avon won Imprint of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2020, and publishes a wide range of titles across crime, women’s fiction, historical and saga, for a predominantly female readership. Selling through both the high street and the supermarkets, Avon is a leader in trend-setting commercial fiction, with million-copy bestsellers such as C.L. Taylor to its name. Avon titles are frequently seen at the top of the ebook charts, as well as in the Sunday Times bestseller lists.

Avon offers the opportunity for employees to contribute to discussions across the division, ensuring constant learning and development opportunities as new projects arise. As an exciting, market-leading division, Avon prides itself on being at the forefront of industry developments, continually challenging the norm and aiming for best-in-class commercial fiction at all times.

As Commissioning Editor, you will acquire titles that feed into the acquisition strategy of the list. Ideally, the successful candidate will have some commissioning experience already, and will have a good range of industry contacts. You will have ownership of your own stable of authors, seeing them through from acquisition to publication for both physical and digital editions. The successful candidate will be commercially savvy, having an extensive knowledge of the commercial fiction market across a range of genres, and a passion for the books that Avon publishes.

Responsibilities:

• Ownership of and main point of contact for authors, working across women’s fiction, historical and crime/thriller from acquisition to publication for both physical and digital editions.

• Work on all edits for authors, taking books through from delivery to publication.

• Working on desk edits, liaising closely with the production team to keep them in line with critical path.

• Briefing jackets and liaising with designers.

• Commissioning, overseeing and checking sales/marketing material as necessary.

• Continue to build and foster relationships with agents and acting as an ambassador for Avon, cultivating established relationships and developing new ones.

• Acquiring titles in line with Avon’s acquisition strategy.

• Negotiating deal memos and progressing contracts for all acquisitions.

• Writing cover/catalogue copy as required.

• Overseeing metadata/AIs for authors/titles. Liaising with the pricing/analytics team to get the best out of the titles.

• Working on backlist reissues.

• Liaising with the Marketing Manager to help develop innovative digital campaigns.

• Create content for company/divisional presentations.

• Work closely with the in-house Publicity Manager to ensure maximum exposure for authors, working in conjunction with her on author events/launches.

• Attend launches, industry events and festivals.

Experience:

• Experience working at editor level or above.

• Experience of desk editing processes and working directly with authors.

• Able to demonstrate sound market knowledge of commercial fiction across a range of genres.

• Able to work evenings and weekends when required 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) 

  Relocation rent loan

  2 volunteering 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 

  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 

  Charitable donation matching and volunteering day 

  We're a certified Carbon Neutral company 

  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.