Press Officer

Job description

An opportunity has arisen to join the publicity team within HQ, Mills & Boon and Pavilion, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. We are looking for a self-starting Press Officer who will bring to the role, energy and drive; the capability to manage the publicity demands of our exciting list; and to work on innovative campaigns for some of the leading names in commercial fiction and non-fiction.

Core responsibilities
• Devise and implement fully integrated PR campaigns for books across our list (HQ, Akan Books, Mills & Boon and Pavilion) by liaising with the media, festivals, bookshops, and by using our digital platforms.
• Develop innovative and creative publicity campaigns in line with key objectives across individual titles or brand authors
• As part of the publicity team, deliver creative and stand-out publicity campaigns across both traditional and new media channels, on brief and within budget. Generate and foster review and feature coverage across relevant media, including newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, online and social media
• Plan and execute author book tours and visits to raise author profile and generate sales
• Work closely with the Editorial, Marketing and Sales teams to ensure publicity opportunities are fully maximised and communicated across the Division
• Generate trade press releases and announce new title acquisitions
• Maintain, develop and grow relationships with key journalists, producers and new media contacts across all channels
• Stay in tune with trends and news within fiction and non-fiction publishing, to maintain an awareness of the market

We’d love it if you had…

Experience required
• Experience of working on fully integrated and dynamic PR campaigns
• Demonstrable experience or knowledge of working within a publishing house is preferable
• Proven track record of providing high levels of author care
• Proven experience of organising/working on author tours and events
• Excellent knowledge of different media opportunities across print, broadcast and online and an established relationship with key media contacts
• A genuine passion for commercial fiction and non-fiction books

Skills required
• A team player with excellent communication, organisation and people skills at all levels, and the ability to build and maintain first-rate relationships with internal and external contacts
• Innovative and creative with a strong eye for detail
• A motivated self-starter with a ‘can-do’ attitude
• Energy, passion, and enthusiasm to juggle workload under pressure, prioritise work effectively and be part of a dynamic publicity team
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required

Employer details

Specialising in commercial fiction, non-fiction and innovative digital publishing, HQ is an ambitious, and award-winning imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. It launches debuts, builds brands and publishes Sunday Times bestselling authors such as Adele Parks, Linwood Barclay, Sarah Morgan, Louise Candlish, Erica James, Georgina Moore, Tj Power and Caroline Hirons’ record-breaking Skincare. Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter’s Menopausing was crowned Book of the Year at The British Book Awards in 2023. It also publishes June Sarpong’s award-winning work on DE&I including the recently launched new imprint, Akan Books. HQ prides itself on publishing books that are bold, brave, inclusive, and always with a compelling story to tell.

Founded in 1908, Mills & Boon has been sweeping readers off their feet for over 100 years and is the UK’s dedicated romance publisher. Renowned for its extensive and diverse catalogue of romance novels, it offers a wide array of genres, including contemporary, historical, suspense, and spicy romances.

Pavilion Books is expert in publishing illustrated lifestyle non-fiction. Our list is defined by the long-term success of our award-winning authors, brands and collaborations, including Sunday Times bestsellers Hasan Semay, Paul Ainsworth and notable award winners Alex Jackson and Ravneet Gill. The imprints main subject areas are food and drink, crafts, interiors, gardening, health, gift and nostalgia – all with distinctive design, well-researched content and uncompromising production values.

HarperCollins is based in the News Building, which is shared with our News UK and Dow Jones colleagues in the London Bridge Quarter.