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Publishing Director, HQ Digital (12-month Maternity Cover)

Be Applied Ltd

London

Hybrid

GBP 60,000 - 80,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Publishing Director for a dynamic digital-first list. This role offers the chance to shape the future of digital fiction publishing, driving growth through innovative strategies and a keen understanding of market trends. You will collaborate with a passionate team, overseeing new title launches and author development while ensuring the list remains competitive and profitable. If you are a creative thinker with a strategic vision and a love for commercial fiction, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact in the publishing world.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pay for parental leave

Private healthcare cover

Employee assistance programme

Season ticket loans

Unlimited training opportunities

Gym membership discount

Charitable donation matching

Free e-books and audiobooks

Qualifications

Robust experience in trade publishing at a senior level.
Strong analytical skills and market awareness.
Proven leadership skills and ability to manage teams.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a profitable digital publishing strategy.
Manage author relationships and oversee titles from acquisition to publication.
Lead international digital publishing efforts and collaborations.

Skills

Trade Publishing Experience

Creative Thinking

Commercial Risk Taking

Market Trend Awareness

Excellent Communication

Leadership Skills

Analytical Skills

Author Relationship Management

Education

Degree in Publishing or Related Field

Publishing Director, HQ Digital (12-month Maternity Cover)

Join to apply for the Publishing Director, HQ Digital (12-month Maternity Cover) role at HarperCollins Publishers

Publishing Director, HQ Digital (12-month Maternity Cover)

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Join to apply for the Publishing Director, HQ Digital (12-month Maternity Cover) role at HarperCollins Publishers

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HQ Digital is the digital-first list of HQ, specialising in innovative digital publishing across the commercial fiction market, from contemporary fiction, historical fiction to crime and thrillers. Recent bestsellers have included How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent, Murder by Candlelight by Faith Martin and The Marriage Lie by Kimberley Belle, and we’re proud to have launched stellar careers for a host of digital bestselling both in the UK and internationally, including Rebecca Raisin, Lisa Hall, Portia Macintosh, Neil Lancaster and Holly Martin.

A key role in the HQ division, you will be excited by the opportunity to manage our digital-first list, and have a clear, informed view of digital fiction publishing, with innovative, inspiring ideas as to how to bring the very best fiction ebooks to market. This is a senior role which harnesses both a creative and strategic approach driving growth for the HQ Digital list, encompassing new title launches, ongoing author strategy, and backlist management.

The role requires a passion for digital publishing, the ability to respond quickly to trends and publishing opportunities, and the chance to work with an enthusiastic, ambitious team. You will be an energetic champion of both your books and the list, working closely with the sales, publicity, marketing and rights teams, supporting junior colleagues in their development.

Reporting to the Commercial Fiction Publisher, you will be responsible for implementing a profitable publishing strategy, acquiring new titles and encouraging our commissioning editors in their digital publishing, ensuring that HQD remains at the forefront of this exciting, fast-moving part of the fiction market.

Key Responsibilities

Publishing Strategy

Plan, champion and execute a profitable and market-orientated digital publishing strategy for HQD.
Acquiring new titles for the HQ Digital list, creating bestselling digital brands and global bestsellers, through both acquisition and IP.
To review and develop profitable publishing plans in line with divisional targets; setting and sticking to publishing schedules, responding to changes in the market when needed.
Identifying gaps on the list and jumping on emerging digital trends, both home and internationally, ensuring our team of fiction editors is fully aware of the opportunities to commission to the heart of the digital market.
Sharing your understanding of the UK digital publishing market, competitor awareness and helping our editors build market-focused publishing strategies.

Budget

Responsibility for delivering budget revenues and controlling costs, delivering sales and profit.
To be key driver in the budgetary process, working with Sales and Marketing colleagues to set sales targets and play a strong part in delivering those targets.

Editorial

Working closely with your own list of authors, overseeing titles from acquisition to publication.
Publishing your authors creatively and profitably, while advising editors on how to maximise their own ebook publishing.
Promoting excellent author care within the team, building a supportive and inclusive author community, and building good relationships with agents to ensure HQD is a destination publisher.
Identifying opportunities for HQD titles in physical retailers, including supermarkets and The Works.
Briefing covers and liaising with designers on covers and copy.
Checking sales and marketing material, e.g. catalogues, sales presenters.
Reading, circulating and rejecting submissions as required.
With an assistant, managing HQD’s submissions inbox.
Presenting titles and imprint at key meetings in-house and externally.
Ensuring best-in-class metadata at all times.
Building HQD’s brand at trade events, such as as Book Fairs and Festivals, and to author communities.

Sales & Marketing

Leading our international digital publishing; helping our fiction editors find the best routes to market and developing long-term plans for author growth in the US and Canada; building strong relationships with our international partners – 360, Australia, India and Canada.
Working closely with our senior team to maximise all opportunities afforded by world rights, including Rights, Audio and Harper 360.
Liaising with Digital Sales to plan key promotions and pricing strategies throughout the year.
Ensuring other teams (Digital Sales, Pricing, International Sales, Audio and Rights) have all the advance information that they require to deliver on all opportunities.
Work with the Marketing team to maintain and share advice and best practise to authors and colleagues.
Responsible for delivering our digital sales budgets, developing both title-level strategy and an over-arching acquisition strategy to help drive growth.

Line-management

Line management of an editorial assistant.

Skills Required:

Robust experience of trade publishing experience at Editorial Director or Depurty Publishing Director Level
Creative thinker
Commercial risk taker
Quick reader
In tune with digital innovations within the industry
Strong awareness of market trends
Excellent communicator

Proven leadership skills

Strategic vision
Strong organisation skills
Strong analytical skills
Proven track of entrepreneurial commissioning
Experience of establishing and developing effective agent relationships
Passionate about commercial fiction
Flexible – able to work evenings and weekends as required to attend launches/events

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
Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme
Relocation Rent Support Loan
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.

Seniority level

Seniority level
Director

Employment type

Employment type
Contract

Job function

Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
Industries
Book and Periodical Publishing

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