Jobs

Black & White Publishing: Commissioning Editor (non-fiction)

Apply as soon as possible for this full-time, permanent position based in Edinburgh.

Location: Nautical House, Commercial Street, Edinburgh. With flexible home working up to three days per week.

Salary range: £28,000 – £33,000 per annum

 

General Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a non-fiction commissioning editor to join our team in Edinburgh, bringing new non-fiction titles and proposals to our growing list.

 

Key responsibilities

Creative:

• Be aware of current successes in the UK book market and use that knowledge to commission new non-fiction titles and edit work as required
• Consider a wide range of submissions as required
• Proactively reach out to and create relationships with authors and agents
• Be aware of emerging authors and artists with a view to approaching them
• Review submissions brought by other members of the editorial team to editorial meetings
• Play an active part within the team in new idea discussions
• Take part in pitches – if required – for hotly contested titles, working with the design, sales, and marketing teams
• Be aware of the different needs and schedules for books where and when world rights are acquired
• Structurally edit acquired texts by working closely, creatively and sympathetically with the authors of the texts
• Work closely with the design team and/or freelance designers to brief artwork as required
• Work closely and supportively within our editorial team
• Speak passionately about your books to the wider sales, marketing, publicity and rights teams, from acquisition stage and throughout the book’s publishing life
• Editorially guide the books through the publishing process to ensure that all sales material and final files are timely and accurate
• Writing AI copy, cover copy and sales copy as required

 

List and Project Management :

• Project-manage your books in partnership with the relevant design and production teams, making sure key milestones are kept to and final files are supplied on time
• Project-manage a range of books, of appropriate number and complexity
• Problem-solve and/or escalate problems in the correct manner and in good time
• Additional ad hoc duties related to commissioned titles, including maintaining Biblio information and writing new title information sheets as required
• Attend and present at new acquisitions meetings and sales meetings
• Work with the wider teams to produce appropriate sales material including cover copy, marketing material and material for bookfairs

 

Qualifications and Experience

• A track record of commissioning profitable, successful non-fiction titles is essential
• An understanding of the editorial process is essential, with a minimum of two years of editorial experience
• Copyediting skills essential
• Copywriting skills essential
• Attention to detail
• A good understanding of the marketplace and our target audiences
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent problem-solving and trouble-shooting skills
• A good communicator
• A commercial thinker
• An insightful organiser with the ability to manage and prioritise a varied workload to meet multiple deadlines
• A flexible and cooperative team player

For more details and to apply, see the Jobylon website.