Commissioning editor (Crime & Thriller), Zaffre Fiction

Closing date: 10th December 2024

Salary range: £35,000 - £38,000 per annum, depending on experience 

Working pattern: Hybrid – minimum of two days per week in the office; up to three days per week working from home

Location: HYLO, Bunhill Row, London EC1Y

Imprint: Zaffre Fiction 

Reports to: Publisher, Zaffre Fiction 

Department: Editorial 

Are you an experienced assistant editor / editor looking to take the next step in your publishing career? Bring your passion for crime and thriller fiction to this award-winning imprint. 

Zaffre Fiction, the home of bestselling and award-winning commercial fiction at Bonnier Books UK, are looking for a passionate, highly organized and proactive crime/thriller commissioning editor to work alongside our Publisher to spot and seek out new talent and deliver exceptional publishing. 

Zaffre was launched in 2015 and includes bestselling authors such as Lynda La Plante, Wilbur Smith, Rosie Goodwin, Robert Peston, Susie Dent and T. M. Logan. The successful candidate will make a significant contribution to the development of the crime and thriller list, by nurturing and confidently publishing our existing authors, acquiring market-leading new talent and contributing towards making Zaffre a destination imprint. 

This is a perfect next step for an experienced, hard-working assistant editor or editor with a demonstrable passion for commercial crime and thriller fiction. You will be a strong team player and combine a keen eye for detail with high editorial standards along with plenty of ideas, enthusiasm and energy. You will enjoy working closely editorially with authors, leading the publishing of their books and inspiring the broader team. 

Key responsibilities 

•  Working with the Publisher and Editorial Director on the publication of existing Zaffre Fiction authors – from author care and administrative duties to editing, project-managing and desk-editing – including taking sole responsibility for a number of titles.  
• Commissioning books with a particular focus on trend-leading crime and thriller fiction with broad appeal. 
• Add to an already strong network of authors, agents and scouts, working to make Zaffre Fiction a destination imprint. 
• Being part of a closely-knit team and contributing to list strategy. 
• Managing relationships with other departments, including sales, marketing, publicity, design and production. 

Knowledge, skills and experience

• You will be a passionate reader of crime and thrillers with exceptional taste and strong commercial acumen. 
• You will have at least two years’ experience within a trade publishing team. 
• Excellent project management skills, ideally with experience of desk editing and successfully steering books from acquisition to publication. 
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload to meet multiple deadlines.  
• Exemplary attention to detail.  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  
• An interest in learning and developing skills within a fast-paced, energetic and outward-looking department.  
• A keen understanding of the print and digital markets. 

If you are interested in this role, please click the 'Apply' button to visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

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

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