Editor, Aries - Head of Zeus Fiction

Hachette UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in the UK seeks a dynamic editor to join their fiction team, focusing on crime and thriller genres. Responsibilities include managing current authors, acquiring new submissions, and fostering relationships within the industry. Ideal candidates will have a strong editorial background in this genre, enthusiastic about publishing, and able to work both collaboratively and independently. The role offers a competitive salary, hybrid work options, and significant opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Hybrid working pattern

25 days holiday and additional holidays

Personal Wellness Days

Flexible work options

Season Ticket Loan

Learning & Development opportunities

Private Medical Insurance

Employee wellness programs

Qualifications

• Demonstrated editorial experience in crime and thriller publishing.
• Strong market awareness and diplomacy in author relations.
• Ability to inspire internal colleagues and manage tasks efficiently.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Editorial experience in crime and thriller publishing

Attention to detail

Excellent proofreading and copy-editing skills

Proactive in developing IP

Organizational skills

Proficiency in IT for enhancing publishing

Job description

Closing date for applications: 16th December 2025

Salary: £29,000-£34,000 pa depending on experience

Are you an editor with a background in crime, thriller and horror publishing? Or an assistant editor looking for your next step?

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. 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 strategising 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

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Demonstrated editorial experience in crime and thriller publishing; experience with horror genre desirable
• Publishing vision: A proactive publisher and acquirer; interested in developing IP
• Passionate: An 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 literate, understands how technology can enhance publishing
• Organised and excellent at prioritising tasks
• Articulate, an excellent copywriter
• Strong visual sense (confident briefing covers and communicating vision for positioning)
• A willingness to develop skills in relation to contractual negotiations, auctions, etc.

Additional information

The role is full-time and permanent. The role is based at our London office 5-8 Hardwick St, London EC1R 4RG on a hybrid-working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred).

This position is eligible for Bloomsbury’s Rental Deposit Loan Scheme. To assist candidates who want to start and to establish a career in publishing, Bloomsbury offers an interest-free rental deposit to support securing somewhere to live. The rental deposit loan can be up to £3,000 and will be paid back over 2 years.

Please apply with a CV (Word or PDF format only) and answer the applications questions via our website detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by 23:59 on Tuesday 16th of December 2025. For best results, please use a desktop to apply as some mobile browsers may not fully support the application portal. Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Bloomsbury benefits

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

• Hybrid working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)
• 25 days holiday and 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. The minimum period for Working Anywhere is one week, the maximum period is two 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, and Parents, Guardians and Carers, Multi-Faith) and Mental Health First Aiders trained across the UK offices, Publishing Events and access to free Publishing Resources

Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, or socio-economic status can thrive, feel comfortable, and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please flag to the recruitment team if required.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.