Senior Editor

ABRAMS; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid holidays

Summer Fridays

Winter closure

Health benefits

401k

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

ABRAMS in New York, NY is seeking a Senior Editor to join the Adult Editorial team, acquiring illustrated and narrative non-fiction health, wellness, and lifestyle titles, plus related arts and culture works. The role involves presenting at Pub Board and Launch meetings and collaborating with Marketing, Publicity, and Design teams to position books.

You will manage relationships with authors and literary agents, edit manuscripts, and ensure manuscripts meet editorial standards for content,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of editorial experience in trade publishing.
• Experience editing and acquiring 4-Color and non-fiction books.
• Network of agent contacts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Must meet deadlines while juggling multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Solicit, acquire, and evaluate illustrated and narrative non-fiction titles.
• Identify market trends and pursue original book ideas.
• Manage lifecycle from acquisition to publication with cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate proposals submitted by literary agents.
• Present and cost new projects.
• Negotiate deal points for new projects.
• Edit manuscripts with authors and contributors.
• Champion projects acquired by the Adult Editorial team.

Skills

Editorial experience

Acquiring illustrated books

Non-fiction acquisitions

Networking with agents

Deadline management

Job description

If you're looking to grow your career at a company where creativity meets legacy, ABRAMS is the place for you. As a trailblazer in illustrated publishing since 1949, ABRAMS continues to set the standard for beautifully crafted books across art, design, culture, and children’s literature. We’re looking for a Senior Editor, to join our Adult Editorial team and help acquire both our new wellness imprint and the ABRAMS Adult list. This role will include working with authors of both illustrated and narrative non-fiction books to ensure that manuscripts meet the accepted editorial standards in terms of content, scope, development of the subject, organization, and accuracy.

As the Senior Editor, you will be responsible for acquiring illustrated and narrative non-fiction health, wellness, and lifestyle books by experts in the field, plus also acquiring categories that include arts and cultural history, memoir and biography, pop culture, and more. The position will require formal presentations at key meetings, such as the Pub Board and Launch. The Senior Editor will act as a liaison with the Marketing, Publicity, and Design departments, developing and managing relationships with key authors and literary agents.

This position is a union role represented by UAW Local 2110 and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

What You’d Be Doing

• Actively soliciting, acquiring, and evaluating illustrated and narrative non-fiction titles
• Identifying market trends and pursuing original book ideas
• Managing the lifecycle of the editorial process from acquisition to publication: collaborating with designers, art directors, and production teams, as well as with sales, publicity, and marketing teams, to publish and position books efficiently and effectively
• Evaluating book proposals submitted by literary agents
• Presenting and costing new projects
• Negotiating deal points for new projects
• Editing manuscripts and working directly with authors and contributors
• Serving as internal champion for projects acquired by the Adult Editorial team

We’re Looking For Someone Who Has

• 5+ years of editorial experience in trade publishing required
• Experience editing and acquiring 4-Color and non-fiction books; experience and interest in books about wellness and health is a plus
• Must be detail-oriented
• A network of agent contacts
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and to be supportive of other team members as well as authors
• Must be able to meet deadlines while juggling several simultaneous tasks

This position is in New York, NY and follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring in-office presence three days per week.

The base salary range for this position is ($75,000 to $80,000) per year. The final offer will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications.

What We Offer

• Generous paid holidays and Summer Fridays.
• Paid winter company closure at year-end
• Comprehensive health benefits, including short-term and long-term disability.
• Retirement savings (401k) and life insurance.
• Paid time off and professional development opportunities.

About ABRAMS

Founded in 1949 as the first U.S. publisher to specialize in art and illustrated books, ABRAMS has a long-standing reputation for publishing visually stunning, critically acclaimed, and bestselling works. Today, ABRAMS continues to lead in the creation and distribution of high-quality books across a wide range of categories—including art, photography, design, fashion, entertainment, cooking, craft, and popular culture—as well as award-winning children’s and young adult titles under imprints such as Abrams Books for Young Readers, Amulet Books, and Abrams Appleseed.

Headquartered in the creative heart of New York City, ABRAMS is home to a passionate team of editors, designers, marketers, and publishing professionals who bring bold ideas to life in collaboration with celebrated authors, artists, chefs, photographers, and cultural icons. Our books are distributed globally and have helped shape conversations in classrooms, kitchens, museums, and living rooms around the world.

ABRAMS is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion—both in the stories we publish and in the culture we foster. Through programs like the ABRAMS Amplify Award, we uplift and support underrepresented voices in children’s publishing. Internally, we promote inclusive hiring practices and an environment where employees of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences are encouraged to bring their full selves to work.

At ABRAMS, creativity, integrity, and collaboration are the foundation of everything we do. If you’re inspired by books that make a difference and want to be part of a team that values art, impact, and inclusion, we invite you to join us. Learn more at abramsbooks.com.