Senior desk editor, Osprey Military History - 12 month FTC

Closing date for applications: 1st August 2025

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 depending on skills and experience

Contract: The role is a full-time 12-month fixed term contract (maternity cover) position starting October 2025.

Bring your editorial experience and passion for history to the Special Interest Team at Bloomsbury.

We are looking for a Desk Editor to join Osprey Publishing within the Special Interest Team at Bloomsbury. Osprey Publishing is the UK’s leading illustrated military history publisher and we have been producing books for both enthusiasts and the wider market since 1968. We are part of Bloomsbury’s Special Interest division, which creates original and high quality content to support hobbies, enthusiasms and interests in a number of subject areas including military history, sports, religion, wildlife, creative writing and sailing.

We are looking for someone with previous professional experience of book project management in a dynamic editorial role, who has excellent communication skills and a good eye for detail and who is used to juggling a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment. An enthusiasm for history would be an advantage. The role reports to the Publisher.


Responsibilities

• To project manage a broad range of titles on the general trade list as the main project editor for the list.
• To ensure all books are published on time, to a high standard of quality and within budget while maintaining good working relationships with freelancers, authors, illustrators and internal departments (primarily Sales, Marketing and Production).
• To maintain accurate schedules, metadata and copy for all books in Biblio (our Publishing database) based on regular reports.

Knowledge, skills and experience 

• Excellent eye for detail, knowledge of English language, and editorial skills
• Strong project management and problem-solving experience
• Great organisational and time management skills and ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to establish and nurture good working relationships with key colleagues, authors and freelancers
• IT competency, particularly with Word, Outlook, Excel and databases such as Biblio 3, and aptitude for learning new software
• Proactive attitude and professional manner

Additional information

The role is based at our Oxford office, Kemp House, Chawley Park, Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9PH on a hybrid-working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred). Allocated office days for this role are: Mondays and Tuesdays.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter addressed to Human Resources (Word or PDF format only) via the ‘APPLY NOW’ button detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by Friday 1st August 2025.

For best results, please use a desktop to apply as some mobile browsers may not fully support the application portal. Bloomsbury reserves the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications

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


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

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

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