Editor - picture books

Closing date: 2nd November 2025

Salary: The starting salary for this role is £35,000.

Contract type: This is a full-time position and is a hybrid role, working a minimum of three days per week in our office near London Bridge.

This mid-level role is ideal for someone with significant experience in a children’s picture books editorial department.

Nosy Crow is a multi-award-winning independent children’s publishing company with operations in both the UK and the USA. We make child-focused, parent-friendly children’s books for ages 0-12.

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, organised and creative individual to join the picture books editorial team as an Editor on a full-time basis. We are looking for someone eager to work in a fast-growing independent company that publishes many high-profile and award-winning authors and illustrators.

The editor will work with the picture books creative team to create commercially focused, immaculate books to deadline across the frontlist and backlist, and provide editorial support for the department. You will provide high standards of care for authors and illustrators and liaise with other key areas of the business.

Reporting to the publishing director, you will work particularly closely with the senior commissioning editor and the design department, and will be joining a dedicated, lively and vibrant editorial team. We are a small, close-knit team, and we value the experience and creative input that we can each provide to help shape our titles to be the best they can be. As such, you must be flexible, proactive and motivated, and able to use your own initiative to prioritise your workload. We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running, working across a range of titles and formats for young children.

Key responsibilities include:

• Project-managing a range of titles from inception through to print, ensuring high editorial standards and attention to detail.
• Project-managing the reissues and reformats programme, coming up with new ideas to reinvigorate the backlist and boost sales.
• Working closely with authors, illustrators and agents, providing them with excellent care.
• Assisting editors with proofreading and copy-editing books and catalogue copy.
• Project-managing Americanisations with Nosy Crow Inc (our sister company) on time and to a high standard.
• Managing schedules closely to deliver projects to brief, on time and on budget.
• Liaising with other departments in Nosy Crow, working especially closely with design and production.
• Reading and responding to submissions from literary and illustration agents and taking an active role in editorial meetings and creative brainstorms.
• Providing general departmental support, including Biblio upkeep and management of titles going out of print.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Significant, proven experience in a children’s picture books editorial department.
• Significant, proven experience managing multiple book projects independently (with support from senior colleagues) and working closely with authors and illustrators to create compelling picture books.
• A real understanding of how words and pictures work together to tell a meaningful story.
• Exceptional proofreading, copy-editing and copywriting skills.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, and the ability to prioritise in a busy and high-pressure environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a keen eye for detail and creative flair.
• A demonstrable passion for picture books.
• Proven experience of spotting commercial stories and artwork and developing them into successful picture books.
• Thorough knowledge of the picture book market, both in the UK and abroad.
• Mastery of Biblio, or familiarity with a Biblio-type system and an ability to learn quickly.

Benefits

• Pension scheme
• Christmas closure
• Summer hours
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Income Protection
• Critical Illness cover
• Group Life Assurance
• Enhanced parental leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Eye care vouchers
• Up to 80% off RRP for Nosy Crow book purchases
• Emergency loans
• Free fruit and snacks in the office
• Moving day leave
• Charitable/socially beneficial leave
• Remote working anywhere in the world for up to 2 weeks per year

To apply

• Please email your CV, accompanied by a covering letter of no more than 500 words outlining why you think you would be the perfect candidate for this exciting opportunity, to Rhianna Sandford via the 'Apply' button with the subject heading Editor – Picture Books, telling us where you heard about the job.

We ask that when submitting your covering letter, you authentically outline why you believe you are the perfect candidate for the advertised role, without the use of AI tools. We want to see your creativity shine through and gain an insight into who you are and what you can offer Nosy Crow. Using your own voice is the best way to express how you meet our selection criteria.

The closing date for applications is Sunday the 2nd of November at midnight (UK time).

Please let us know, if you are comfortable doing so, whether or not there are any reasonable adjustments that we should consider that would help during the recruitment process.

The successful candidate will have the right to live and work in the UK.

Nosy Crow is a Disability Confident, committed equal opportunities employer. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is an important factor in success and make recruiting decisions based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership.

Applications are treated with due confidentiality.

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