Senior Project Editor/ Commissioning Editor (Parental Leave Cover), Quercus

Who we are and what we do

Greenfinch is part of Quercus Books, a dynamic award-winning publisher at Hachette UK. We are an exciting new imprint producing visually stunning books on nature, wellbeing, travel and science, that sell all over the world. We pride ourselves on seeking expert authors with a unique perspective, creating beautiful books that will inspire and inform: from Dr Emma Hepburn’s mental health guide Toolkit for Happiness to sustainable travel inspiration in The Flightless Traveller by Emma Gregg to the informative and entertaining The Secret Lives of the Elements from Dr Kathryn Harkup.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the publisher you would be a key part of the team, managing approximately 10 titles per year. You will be guiding books through early concept stages to completion: hiring and briefing freelance project managers, editors, illustrators and designers, monitoring budgets. You would also be the in-house champion for your titles, liaising regularly with the sales, marketing and publicity departments. You will be involved in the generation and development of new book ideas as part of a small and creative team – and for Commissioning candidates you will be pitching and actively commissioning your own books.

Who we are looking for

The successful applicant will possess keen editorial skills and a strong visual sense, and will always get the best from others – whether they are designers, illustrators or authors. They will also be unfazed by juggling deadlines and have exceptional communication skills. Commissioning candidates will need to demonstrate commercial nous and experience of commissioning successful illustrated books.

Skills and experience required:

• Commissioning candidates must be able to think creatively and spot opportunities across a range of areas including lifestyle, reference and visual coffee-table
• At least 5 years’ experience of illustrated book publishing
• Strong sense of design and awareness of visual trends
• Excellent editorial skills, including structural editing and briefing skills, as well as proficiency in InDesign
• Highly self-motivated and an excellent communicator
• Superb author management
• Able to juggle a wide range of tasks and deadlines

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. In addition to 25 days annual leave days per year + bank holidays, we have an extensive list of benefits that include: a wide-ranging training library, development programmes including mentoring, Cycle to Work vouchers, Private Medical Insurance, eye care vouchers, up to 70% off book purchases, a charity book shelf, 2 volunteer days per year to use at your charity of choice, many employee networks to join, delicious subsidized canteen food, summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months!), season ticket loans, rent deposit loans, generous pension schemes and much more!

This role can be based at our London office, or at any of our new regional offices in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield or Bristol.

The role will begin working from home due to ongoing Covid19 restrictions, but once normality resumes this role will be based at one of our UK offices, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Our Commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org