Commissioning editor/senior commissioning editor, children’s fiction

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 11th March 2026

Salary: £36,000 - £45,000, depending on experience

Location: 5th Floor, HYLO, 105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LZ

Reporting to: Executive Publisher

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

Department: Editorial

Imprint: Children’s Fiction

Ready to shape the next generation of stories for young readers? Be part of the Children’s Fiction team at Bonnier Books UK.

At Bonnier Books UK, we believe that every book matters. We love to publish stories and content that open our eyes to new perspectives and bring us closer together. We offer a nurturing home for our authors, illustrators and brand partners, publishing bestselling books for readers and listeners everywhere. We know that fantastic stories can come from anywhere and our purpose is to bring them to as wide an audience as possible, a simple ethos that has led to us becoming one of the country’s leading publishers.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Children’s Fiction team to commission, edit and project-manage titles primarily across young fiction and middle-grade.

Key responsibilities

Essential

Creative

• As part of the Children’s Fiction editorial team to acquire books that support the vision and ethos of the Piccadilly Press list, Bonnier’s young fiction and middle-grade imprint. Limited teen and YA commissioning could be part of the role, depending on the candidate.
• Be familiar with successes in the children’s fiction market and use that knowledge when commissioning
• Proactively reach out to and create relationships with authors and agents
• Negotiate commercial terms directly with authors/agents with support from senior team as necessary
• Review submissions brought by other members of the editorial team to editorial meetings
• Play an active part within the team in new idea discussions
• Be part of pitches for hotly contested titles, working with the Design, Sales, and Marketing teams
• Be aware of the different needs and schedules for books where and when world rights are acquired
• Work closely with the Design team and/or freelance designers to brief artwork for cover and inside illustrations
• Work closely and supportively within the small Fiction editorial team
• Write AI copy, cover copy and sales copy as required
• Copyediting skills desirable

List and Project Management

• Project manage your books closely, working with the Editorial, Design and Production teams, ensuring key milestones, including sales materials, are maintained and final files are supplied on time
• Speak passionately about your books to the wider Sales, Marketing, Publicity and Rights teams, from acquisition stage and throughout the book’s publishing life
• As required, liaise with, negotiate fees and manage 3rd party contributors, for example freelance designers
• Problem-solve and/or escalate problems in the correct manner and in good time
• Fulfil additional ad hoc duties related to commissioned titles, including maintaining Biblio information and writing information sheets
• Work with the wider teams to produce appropriate sales material including cover copy, marketing material and material for bookfairs

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A track record of commissioning profitable, successful titles in the children’s young fiction and middle grade arena, both illustrated and non-illustrated, is essential
• A good understanding of formats, age-ranges and subject matters
• A good understanding of the editorial process
• A good understanding of the marketplace and our target audiences
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent problem-solving and trouble-shooting skills
• A good communicator
• A commercial thinker
• An insightful organiser
• A flexible and cooperative team player

Company Benefits

• Private health insurance
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Lively social committee hosting regular events
• Group Life cover - including 24-hour GP service
• Company-funded gym membership for all trade staff
• Comprehensive staff training and mentorship programmes
• Flexible working and flexible hours from day one of employment
• Additional holiday allowance accrued for long service – and a full bonus week of holiday to celebrate your 10th year at BBUK
• Enhanced family leave - with equal six months’ paid leave for all new parents
• Employee assistance programme available to all employees and their families
• Dedicated volunteering hours each year to support charities promoting literacy and reading for pleasure
• Cycle to work scheme with bike storage and changing facilities on-site at our London HQ
• Wellbeing programme and daily benefits such as fresh fruit and porridge in the office

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.