Senior Editor, Children’s Custom – Silver Dolphin & Studio Fun

ReaderLink; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans (Medical, Dental & Pres.)

Vacation pay & paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Author events

Publisher-sponsored book club

Job summary

ReaderLink in San Diego is seeking an experienced Senior Editor to lead a diverse list of children’s books for ages 0–12. This hybrid, in-house role involves development through licensor approvals with rapid turnaround publishing in a high-volume environment.

The ideal candidate will manage development schedules, edits, and copywriting, coordinate with licenses, and supervise freelance editors to ensure quality and timely delivery. Remote applicants may be considered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English or Journalism is required.
• Five to seven years of editorial experience in a children’s publishing house preferred.
• Editorial and licensing experience with children’s books and novelty formats preferred.
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is preferred.
• Strong to advanced experience in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.

Responsibilities

• Project manage and develop Silver Dolphin and Studio Fun custom books and licensed titles.
• Oversee mock-ups, formats, and licensor presentations.
• Build and manage development schedules and track all approvals.
• Review, edit, and route manuscripts, dummies, designs, proofs; copyedit as needed.
• Write copy for back cover and marketing materials when needed; collaborate on art notes for illustrators.
• Coordinate with licenses for asset approvals and timely processes.
• Communicate with production, design, and freelancers throughout development.
• Attend weekly status meetings and report on title progress and design concerns.
• Brainstorm new publishing opportunities and lead complex projects with new ideas.
• Manage outside freelance editors as needed and ensure title data accuracy in title management systems.

Skills

Editorial experience

Licensing experience

Project management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English or Journalism

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Silver Dolphin Books and Studio Fun International, the children’s publishing imprints of Printers Row Publishing Group, are seeking an experienced, highly motivated Senior Editor to lead a diverse list of licensed and non-licensed children’s books for ages 0–12. This hands‑on role oversees projects from development through licensor approvals and final print‑ready files, with a particular emphasis on rapid‑turnaround publishing. The ideal candidate is an exceptional editor, writer, communicator, collaborative creative partner and self‑starter who thrives in a high‑volume, fast‑paced environment and takes initiative to problem‑solve, prioritize, and move projects forward. A hybrid, in‑house position in San Diego is preferred, with preference given to Southern California candidates; remote applicants may also be considered.

What You Will Be Doing

• Project manage and assist in the development, planning, and execution of Silver Dolphin and Studio Fun custom books, including novelty, activity, and licensed titles for specific customers.
• Oversee creation of mock‑ups, new format or Licensor presentation pitches.
• Build and oversee development schedules, coordinate and track all approval stages.
• Adept at reviewing, editing, and routing manuscripts, dummies, components, designed pages, and proofs.
• Write (not including picture books or chapter books) when needed, and adapt manuscripts, collaborate with designers to create book maps and art notes for illustrators, execute copywriting assignments on an as‑needed basis.
• Create back cover and marketing copy.
• Coordinate with various licenses for format approvals, to acquire needed assets, and complete all required approval processes in an organized and timely manner.
• Communicate with production, design, and freelance talent during all phases of development and troubleshoot any related issues.
• Attend weekly status meetings and communicate the status of each title related to the schedule, changes to format, and art or design concerns.
• Participate in brainstorm sessions to identify new publishing opportunities.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities by bringing thoughtful new ideas for custom opportunities to the table, identifying improvements to current processes and procedures, and taking on complex projects.
• Manage outside freelance editors as needed.
• Responsible for the accuracy of all information related to titles in title management database.
• Ensure all titles meet PRPG’s standard of quality and artistic excellence.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, or a related field is required.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of editorial experience in a children’s publishing house is preferred.
• Editorial and licensing experience with children’s books and novelty formats is preferred.
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is preferred.
• Strong to advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Excellent project management, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects at one time.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively across various audiences.
• Strong editorial, proofreading, and copyediting abilities, with a working knowledge of the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Creative problem‑solving skills, with the ability to approach challenges from multiple perspectives and develop thoughtful, effective solutions.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and consistency across all written materials and deliverables.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to speak with all levels of the organization and outside partners.
• Ability to communicate complicated information to others.
• Familiarity with publishing industry terms necessary.
• Should be able to draft reports and correspondence.
• Strong project management skills; ability to identify and assess issues.
• Interpersonal skills – the individual maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas, and values teamwork.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• A methodical and organized approach to problem‑solving.
• Must be a strategic thinker.
• Must possess analytical abilities.
• Must be energetic and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Must be able to multi‑task, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Problem solving – the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully and can offer out of the box solutions.
• The work performed is in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at low decibels.
• Must be able to work in a fast‑paced, team environment.

Salary: $74,000.00 - $82,000.00

Employee Benefits Include

• Health Plans - Medical, Dental & Prescription
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health & Dependent Care
• Life and Accident Insurance
• Vacation Pay & Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Author Events
• Publisher-sponsored Book Club

ReaderLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability. EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran.

ReaderLink is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to [email protected], or call: [phone].

ReaderLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. EOE/Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran. ReaderLink is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to [email protected], or call: [phone].