Commissioning editor

Are you a creative, commercially minded commissioning editor with a passion for health and well-being, personal development, lifestyle and cookery? Headline Home is looking for an entrepreneurial commissioner to manage the established publishing programme and acquire exciting, commercially successful books across these key areas.

Who we are and what we do

Headline was founded in 1986 with a single promise at its heart: to publish the books people want to read. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are best.

Headline has spent over three decades creating bestsellers. Our passion for the commercial means we are home to some of the UK’s biggest-selling authors and that we can continue to invest in new talent with stellar sales potential.

Established in 2017, Headline Home publishes commercial, inspiring and practical non-fiction across health and well-being, personal development, lifestyle and cookery. Our books help readers live better, think differently, discover new passions and make the most of everyday life. Our authors have included chef Raymond Blanc, musician and broadcaster Clemency Burton-Hill, comedian Cally Beaton and TikTok sensation Ann Russell.

The Headline Non-Fiction team is a close-knit, ambitious group of editors with a reputation for outstanding author care and a mission to make our list as profitable as possible. Here’s what some of the team say about working at Headline:

‘Being part of the Headline Non-Fiction team is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in a broad range of genres, stories and voices. Our team champions creativity and new ideas as we strive to publish the books readers want.’
Bethany Jenkins, Editorial Assistant, Headline Non-Fiction

‘Headline Non-Fiction is a friendly and ambitious team with a shared passion for publishing great books. If you’re looking for a job where every day is different, this is the place for you!’
Bianca Bexton, Editorial Director, Headline Press

What you'll be doing

Working within the Headline Non-Fiction team and reporting to the Publishing Director of Headline Non-Fiction, you will be responsible for commissioning and publishing 8-10 new non-fiction titles a year for Headline Home.

You will have day-to-day responsibility for the Headline Home list, commissioning a dynamic range of practical, inspiring and accessible non-fiction that responds to emerging trends and changing consumer interests.

You might spot the next breakout wellness expert, discover a brilliant new food influencer or develop an original book idea around a growing lifestyle trend. We want someone who understands the needs and interests of different audiences, knows what makes readers tick and can turn a great idea into a profitable book.

You will build and nurture relationships with authors, agents and talent, proactively generate your own ideas and work closely with colleagues across editorial, sales, marketing and publicity to bring your books to the widest possible audience.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious editor to make a real impact, bringing fresh thinking, commercial instinct and creative energy to an established imprint with plenty of room to grow.

Within your cover letter, please tell us about one book you would love to commission for Headline Home. It could be a fresh take on personal development, an emerging lifestyle trend or an original IP idea.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an ideas-driven, entrepreneurial commissioner with a strong commercial instinct and a passion for the areas in which Headline Home publishes.

You will have experience commissioning successful commercial non-fiction, ideally across health and well-being, personal development, lifestyle or cookery, and a keen understanding of the trends, personalities and conversations shaping these markets.

You will be confident identifying exciting new talent, building strong relationships with authors and agents, and recognising the potential in an idea before anyone else does. You will have excellent editorial judgement, an eye for what makes a book stand out in a crowded market and the ambition to turn promising projects into commercial successes. You will also have keen awareness of what works for international markets, foreign rights and the growing audio market.

We are particularly interested in someone who enjoys developing their own ideas and finding creative ways to bring them to market. Original IP development is a key priority for Headline, and we want someone who can spot opportunities within our established publishing areas, think imaginatively about formats and audiences, and find the right voices to bring brilliant concepts to life.

Above all, you will be a collaborative, proactive and enthusiastic colleague who thrives in a fast-paced publishing environment, takes pride in excellent author care and is excited by the opportunity to grow Headline Home.

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
• Dental 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
• An active range of staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing, Women in Techand religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

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

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.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, you can let us know at the ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ section of your application. We’ll make sure you’re supported throughout the process.

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 https://btbs.org/grants

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.