Editor, Aries - Head of Zeus Fiction

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global publishing house is seeking a dynamic editor for their Fiction team. The role focuses on crime and thriller literature, requiring passion and experience in the field. Responsibilities include managing current authors, assessing submissions, and collaborating with various internal teams. The position offers a salary of £29,000-£34,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package including hybrid working and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Flexible Fridays

AXA Healthcare Plan

Learning and Development programs

Work Anywhere Fortnight

Qualifications

• Experience in crime and thriller publishing, with horror genre experience desirable.
• Excellent attention to detail and proofreading skills.
• Proactive and passionate about crime and thriller literature.

Responsibilities

• Manage ongoing publishing for current authors.
• Consider submissions for future acquisitions.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and authors.

Skills

Editorial experience in crime and thriller publishing

Excellent proofreading skills

Articulate copywriting

IT literacy

Strong visual sense

Job description

Bloomsbury Publishing's Head of Zeus are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and collaborative editor to join the Fiction team to help grow the publishing on Aries, our crime and thriller list. Are you an editor with a background in crime, thriller and horror publishing? Or an Assistant Editor looking for your next step? We're looking for someone with a passion for the Head of Zeus ethos and either a track record in editing and publishing commercial crime and thriller fiction, either in print or digital, or an assistant editor with extensive experience working in this field. This is an opportunity for an ambitious and creative individual to help publish, and commission as necessary, within a respected imprint, home to multiple award‑winners and Sunday Times bestsellers. Reporting to the Head of Zeus Editorial Director for Aries, Fiction, the successful applicant will be a voracious reader, have strong relationships within the industry, show demonstrable market awareness, and will be keen to seek out new publishing opportunities. The chosen candidate will have a clear vision for publishing books on the Aries imprint – either inherited or acquired – based on market experience, and how they would complement the list as a whole as well as exhibiting the skills and enthusiasm needed to bring colleagues, both in the home and international markets, with you on that journey.

Responsibilities

• Managing ongoing existing publishing for a range of current Aries authors, shaping and strategizing their publishing going forward
• Considering submissions with scope for acquisition going forward
• Building strong relationships internally with the wider stakeholders in Production, Sales, Marketing and Publicity
• Managing relationships with new and existing authors and agents with diplomacy and excellent author care
• Demonstrating strong market awareness of the current market and using this to inform your publishing, both inherited and newly acquired
• Working collaboratively with the Editorial Director, Aries, and the Publishing Director and the wider editorial team to develop new ideas and opportunities for growth

Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated editorial experience in crime and thriller publishing; experience with horror genre desirable
• Proactive publisher and acquirer; interested in developing IP
• Passionate: avid consumer of crime and thriller fiction
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent proofreading and copy‑editing skills
• Energetic and energising: able to inspire internal colleagues
• IT literacy, understands how technology can enhance publishing
• Organised and excellent at prioritising tasks
• Articulate, excellent copywriter
• Strong visual sense (confident briefing covers and communicating vision for positioning)
• Willingness to develop skills in relation to contractual negotiations, auctions, etc.

Additional Information

• Full‑time, permanent role based at our London office (5‑8 Hardwick St, London EC1R 4RG) with a hybrid working pattern of 2 days in office / 3 days from home (or fully office based if preferred)
• Salary: £29,000‑£34,000 per annum depending on experience
• Eligible for Bloomsbury's Rental Deposit Loan Scheme (interest‑free loan up to £3,000 repaid over 2 years)

Benefits

As well as a fantastic opportunity to join a global award‑winning organisation, Bloomsbury offers the following competitive benefits package:

• Hybrid working pattern: 2 days office / 3 days home (or fully office based if preferred)
• 25 days holiday
• 3.5 days Christmas company holiday
• Two paid Personal Wellness Days
• Flexible Fridays – take Friday afternoon off by working an additional 3 hours and 30 minutes earlier in the week
• Work Anywhere Fortnight – For two weeks of any calendar year (minimum 1 week, maximum 2 weeks)
• Season Ticket Loan
• Learning & Development – Free access to LinkedIn Learning, BookMachine Campus, InRehearsal & IPG Skills Hub
• Share Save Scheme
• AXA Healthcare Plan (Private Medical Insurance)
• Ride to Work Scheme
• Peppy Health App
• In‑house Doctor
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• EAP Advice and Counselling
• Company culture – employee voice meetings, staff networks (Bloom, Accessibility, Mental Health, Pride, Parent, Guardian & Carer, Multi‑faith) and Mental Health First Aiders trained across UK offices; publishing events and access to free publishing resources

Application Process

Please apply with a CV (Word or PDF only) and answer the application questions via our website detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by 23:59 on Tuesday 16th of December 2025. Apply via https://bloomsbury.current-vac.

Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications.