Editorial director / publishing director FTC

Closing date for applications: midnight Sunday 27th April 2025

Salary: Starting from £56,500 per annum, full time equivalent (depending on experience)

Terms: c10-month fixed term contract with a view to extending; part time hours will be considered.

Bloomsbury General is looking for a passionate and dynamic commercial fiction Editorial Director / Publishing Director for a fixed term parental cover, 4 or 5 days per week, to start in approximately August.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of commissioning and publishing bestselling commercial fiction – from romance to bookclub fiction, debut authors to brand names. They will be as excited by growing major established names as they are by launching new voices. Authors on the list include Alex Aster, Ali McNamara, Bal Khabra, Bianca Gillam, Kate Dramis, Kate Fagan, Katie Fforde, Moira Macdonald, Rebecca Reid and more.

In collaboration with the Head of Bloomsbury General, the successful candidate will help to deliver our general fiction strategy, inspiring sales, marketing and publicity teams as well as authors and agents along the way. Sincere passion for and a deep understanding of the commercial fiction market is a must for this role.

About the team

Bloomsbury General is the commercial heart of Bloomsbury. 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 and Gladiators, Penny Lancaster, Samantha Shannon, Alan Moore, Brittney Arena, Ali McNamara, Katie Fforde, Alex Aster, Bal Khabra and many more.

Bloomsbury General was launched just two years ago. Since then we have published six Sunday Times bestsellers, the bestselling paperback original of 2024 and we have launched our new SFF imprint, Archer, to sit alongside our already well-established crime/thriller imprint, Raven. We publish very selectively, investing time, energy and budget in our authors and their books for the long-term.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Oversee and deliver the Publishing Director’s general fiction list, consisting of 8-10 new titles per year across household names, debuts and ongoing authors
• Creative and financial responsibility for the Publishing Director’s general fiction list
• Deliver outstanding author and agent care
• Work closely with all departments across the business to deliver best-in-class publishing
• Editing
• Potential to acquire a select number of titles in accordance with established strategy
• Research and market awareness for the list
• Work closely with the senior team at Bloomsbury General to keep driving the new division forwards
• Line management responsibility for an editorial assistant

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A can-do team player approach with entrepreneurial know-how
• Outstanding interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Drive, determination and commercial creativity
• The ability to think big without losing sight of the details
• A clear track-record of successful commercial publishing
• A demonstrable ability to work well with others to advance common goals
• Excellent editorial and creative skills
• Knowledge of and passion for the gamut of commercial fiction
• Fluency in the finances of publishing
• Ideally, you will have experience publishing big brand names
• Ideally, you will have line-management experience

Additional information

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 the URL LINK ‘APPLY NOW’ button detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by midnight Sunday 27th April 2025.

For best results, please use a desktop to apply as some mobile browsers may not fully support the application portal.

Bloomsbury Benefits

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

Working Pattern

• Hybrid working pattern of: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)

Holidays

• 25 days holiday
• 3.5 days Christmas company holiday

Other Benefits

• 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
• Share Save Scheme
• AXA Healthcare Plan (Private Medical Insurance)
• Peppy Health App
• In-house Doctor
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme

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

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

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