Commissioning Editor / Senior Commissioning Editor, Century Fiction (9-month FTC)

Bertelsmann; London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Bertelsmann is seeking a Commissioning Editor or Senior Commissioning Editor to join Century’s women’s fiction publishing team for a 9-month fixed term. This role involves acquiring projects, managing the editorial process, and building relationships in a collaborative environment. If you're passionate about commercial fiction and ready for a challenge, apply with your CV and cover letter by Sunday 6th July.

Qualifications

• Genuine interest in commercial fiction.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to handle competing priorities.
• Curiosity about the commercial fiction market.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing the internal book process, including editing and scheduling.
• Collaborating with Sales, Rights, Marketing, and Publicity teams.
• Evaluating proposals and acquiring new titles.

Skills

Excellent communication

Relationship building

Time management

Self-starter

Confident negotiator

Job description

We're seeking a passionate and innovative Commissioning Editor or Senior Commissioning Editor to work on Century’s women’s fiction publishing, on a 9-month fixed term basis. This role offers a unique opportunity to cover an editor’s list during their parental leave, working closely with top-tier authors and agents, as well as acquiring new projects. If you have a keen interest in commercial fiction, an in-depth understanding of the market and a hunger for generating ideas and turning them into bestselling books we want to hear from you.

About the team

Century is one of the most successful and well-regarded commercial imprints in the UK and part of the Cornerstone division. On the fiction side, we publish some of the biggest brand authors in the UK, including James Patterson, Lisa Jewell, Harlen Coben, Paige Toon, Phillipa Ashley, Tom Hindle, Katie Flynn, Diana Gabaldon and Rob Rinder. We are a collaborative, creative and supportive team of passionate commercial fiction experts.

The role

Reporting to the Publishing Director, this role is an opportunity to publish fictionacross a varied commercial list, acquiring within a collaborative and entrepreneurial team. Y ou will be confident in overseeing and championing titles internally and externally as they pass through the publishing process. You will have a hunger to seek out new publishing opportunities and knowledge about what audiences want to read and how to reach them. You will be able to generate buzz, both internally and externally for your books and your list.

Key responsibilities:

• Overseeing the internal book process, including editing, scheduling, cover design, liaising with Editorial Management, Production and Text Design.
• Writing and updating high-quality copy and metadata to ensure book success.
• Collaborating with Sales, Rights, Marketing, and Publicity teams for successful book launches.
• Soliciting, evaluating proposals and developing ideas for new books, and acquiring a set number of titles.
• Staying informed about market trends and competitor activities to identify new opportunities.
• Building and maintaining relationships with authors and agents.
• Evaluating the viability and profitability of potential acquisitions.
• Handling negotiations and managing the editorial process for acquired titles.

What you’ll bring

This role would suit a Commissioning Editor looking to move or an Assistant Editor or Editor with acquiring experience who his hungry to step up into a more senior position. We’re also open to considering candidates from outside the Publishing industry. What is critical for this role is that you will have a truly commercial taste and a genuine passion for female-led storytelling.

Essential criteria:

• Genuine interest in commercial fiction.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people.
• Excellent personal organisation and time management skills, and the ability to handle competing priorities.
• A self-starter who thinks entrepreneurially.
• A confident negotiator who is not afraid to constructively challenge when required.

Preferred criteria:

• An established network of agents and/or talent managers.
• Editing experience up to and including Assistant Editor role level.
• Curiosity and an informed optimistic outlook of the commercial fiction market.
• A delivery-focused individual with experience of managing projects.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by Sunday 6th July.

Please ensure you include a cover letter, as it is a crucial part of our assessment process. The cover letter offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements. Typically, we expect the cover letter to be no more than one or two pages in length.

Salary

From £34,545 to £42,650 (annual figures) dependent on which role you are appointed to, and how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Hybrid working

While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will attend the office in person 3 days a week. We are happy to discuss this further through the recruitment process.

The recruitment process

You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing [e-mail] . Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Company:The Random House Group Limited

Country:United Kingdom

State/Region:London

City: London

Postal Code:SW11 7BW

Job ID:280524