Editorial director or publishing director, general division (FTC - 4 or 5 days per week)

Closing date for applications: 2nd December 2025

Salary: Starting from £56,500 p.a. full-time equivalent (depending on experience)

Contract type: 10-month fixed term contract with a view to extending, part time hours will be considered

Join Bloomsbury's exciting new imprint, discovering fresh voices and shaping stories that captivate readers while driving the growth of a dynamic science fiction and fantasy list.

A really exciting opportunity to head up the newest star in the Bloomsbury constellation: the Bloomsbury Archer list. The Bloomsbury Archer imprint, launched in 2025, already boasts multiple Sunday Times bestsellers, Waterstones Books of the Month and more. Building on Bloomsbury’s heritage as a genre heavyweight, the imprint covers the full spectrum of commercial science fiction and fantasy (SFF) fiction including fantasy, science fiction, speculative romance, horror and mythological retellings. Authors include brands such as Samantha Shannon and Alan Moore, Paul Tremblay, super-star Alex Aster, #1 bestselling debut Brittney Arena, historical fantasy master Natasha Siegel, and forthcoming authors Sarah Mughal Rana, Sam Beckbessinger and Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson amongst others.

The successful candidate will lead and deliver on the established Bloomsbury Archer strategy, seeking out new publishing opportunities in line with this, as well as delivering on the potential of the existing list (developing upcoming talent alongside leading brands). With a keen understanding of reader/fan behaviour in the genre, they will be part of developing the imprint in its second year. They will commission and publish selectively as well as profitably for a small list across a range of commercial genre fiction. This person will have a range of skills from developmental editorial and commissioning to intrapersonal, strategic and organisational. They will bring and continue to develop outstanding author/agent relationships. They will demonstrate an expert and insightful knowledge of the market and where it is heading. They will inspire confidence and bring other staff and departments with them on delivering the list strategy. They will help lead and foster a culture of professionalism, excellence and success, and help junior colleagues develop their skillset. They will help the head of Bloomsbury General manage the team and develop/implement key strategies for growth and success.

Bloomsbury General is the commercial heart of Bloomsbury. Launched two and a half years ago, we publish fiction and non-fiction for readers seeking entertainment and escape, as much as challenge and inspiration. We are home to Stuart Turton, Laura Purcell, Sally Smith, the cast and creators of Ghosts, Penny Lancaster, Samantha Shannon, Alan Moore, Brittney Arena, Ali McNamara, Katie Fforde, Alex Aster, Bal Khabra and many more.


Responsibilities

• Deliver strategy for the division, as a member of the Bloomsbury General management team, ensuring growth targets are met
• Deliver viable, creative, innovative publishing that is profitable, bestselling, prize-winning etc.
• They will continue to progress the new list per strategic directives
• Acquire selectively to strategy
• Identify market trends and publishing opportunities, feeding these into any acquiring they do following the set strategy
• Take the list’s books from pitch to publication and drive strategy for their publishing
• Oversee publishing on the Bloomsbury Archer list, ensuring that critical path is kept to for their books
• Review, develop, maintain and deliver profitable publishing of their books in line with divisional targets
• Manage an assistant editor
• Maintain team spirit and positivity and set expectations for the highest standards from team members across the division
• Communicate confidently with a network of authors, agents and media and keep colleagues on side and work effectively under pressure
• Be scrupulous and dynamic, develop ideas into commercially successful projects and enjoy working as part of an ambitious, forward-thinking, mutually-respectful team. Deliver brilliant author care and support
• Represent Bloomsbury internally and externally in a respectful and professional manner

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Deep knowledge of the market and its fluctuations, ideally an SFF (and specifically fantasy) expert, with experience of the subscription/specials market and genre-specific retailers
• Has strong relationships with agents
• Extensive editorial experience in commercial SFF publishing, ideally across major brands and new launches
• Managerial experience

Additional information

The role is a c10-month fixed term contract with a view to extending. Part time hours will be considered. The role is based at our London office (50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP) on a hybrid-working pattern. You will be required to be in the office on Mondays and Tuesdays. For the rest of the week you can work from home or you can come into the office as you prefer.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter addressed to Human Resources (Word or PDF format only) via our website detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by 23:59 on Tuesday 2nd of December 2025. For best results, please use a desktop to apply as some mobile browsers may not fully support the application portal. Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.


Bloomsbury benefits

As well as a fantastic opportunity to join a global award-winning organisation, Bloomsbury offers the following competitive benefits package:

• Hybrid working pattern of: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)
• 25 days holiday and 3.5 days Christmas company holiday
• Two paid Personal Wellness Days
• Flexible Fridays – take Friday afternoon off by working an additional 3 hours and 30 minutes earlier in the week
• Work Anywhere Fortnight - For two weeks of any calendar year. The minimum period for Working Anywhere is one week, the maximum period is two weeks.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Learning & Development - Free access to LinkedIn Learning, BookMachine Campus, InRehearsal & IPG Skills Hub
• Share Save Scheme
• AXA Healthcare Plan (Private Medical Insurance)
• Ride to Work Scheme
• Peppy Health App
• In-house Doctor
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• EAP Advice and Counselling

Company culture – Employee Voice Meetings, Staff Networks (Bloom, Accessibility, Mental Health, Pride, and Parents, Guardians and Carers, Multi-Faith) and Mental Health First Aiders trained across the UK offices, Publishing Events and access to free Publishing Resources.


Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, or socio-economic status can thrive, feel comfortable, and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please flag to the recruitment team if required.

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