Commissioning editor (12 month FTC)

Closing date: 29th April 2024

Salary: From £33,000 dependent on experience and location (+bonus +benefits)

Location: The role will be based at our London office, Carmelite House, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Do you have an insatiable curiosity and a keen eye for spotting the next big thing in non-fiction? Are you a skilled editor with a knack for nurturing author talent? 

Quercus is a dynamic, award-winning publisher. Known as a hit-maker that regularly finds books that surprise and delight readers, we are international in our outlook and publish an exciting and diverse range of authors. From established bestsellers to new voices, what draws our publishing together is the magic ‘quirk' in Quercus: independence, flair, warmth and creativity. 

Quercus is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 12 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds.

As a dynamic and successful UK publisher, we're on the hunt for a talented Commissioning Editor (12 Month Contract) to join our thriving non-fiction team. You'll be responsible for acquiring and developing a strong list of titles across a broad range of subject areas for the UK and international markets.

If you're a talented and ambitious commissioning editor who thrives in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply!

Responsibilities

• Acquiring and commissioning high-quality non-fiction titles across a variety of genres within the non-fiction spectrum, ensuring a strong and balanced list.
• Proactively exploring opportunities for IP development. 
• Working closely with literary agents and directly with authors to develop and refine proposals.
• Managing the editorial process from acquisition to publication, including working with legal, production, sales, audio, marketing, publicity and art. 
• Championing the NF list and ensuring all departments have the information they need to ensure books reach their full potential.
• Reading and reporting on departmental submissions as required.
• Staying abreast of current market trends, identifying gaps and opportunities within the non-fiction landscape.

What we're looking for

• A proven eye for spotting bestsellers in the making, preferably within a trade publishing house.
• A proven track record of acquiring and developing successful non-fiction titles.
• Excellent editorial judgement, with a keen eye for strong writing and commercial potential.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with authors, agents, and colleagues.
• A deep understanding of the UK non-fiction market and its various trends.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A passion for non-fiction publishing and a genuine enthusiasm for discovering new voices and stories.

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:

• 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 2 community days per year
• Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
• Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development programmes (including mentoring)
• Up to 70% off book purchases
• A charity bookshelf
• 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

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

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org