Editor, Children’s (Puffin)

Job description

This exciting role encompasses both editorial and administrative tasks. You’ll primarily be supporting the growth of our Non-Fiction team, working with a broad range of brand authors, as well as contemporary classics of the future. You will be responsible for the editorial workflow and project-management of a wide range of titles through to publication. This is a great opportunity to join a creative and commercial team and there will be collaborative support to develop your editorial skills on the job in a non-commissioning role.

Key responsibilities:
• Proactively providing editorial support to senior members of the team throughout all stages of the book-making process, while taking responsibility for your own designated projects
• Collaboratively working on the in-house process for specific books, including scheduling, running costings, taking responsibility for managing the editorial workflow and project-managing a wide range of titles through to publication. There will also be the chance to develop and hone your editorial skills working across the breadth of the list
• Providing Biblio support across Puffin Non-Fiction titles. Compiling metadata, jacket and cover copy
• Proactively providing editorial support to senior members of the team throughout all stages of the book-making process, while taking responsibility for your own designated projects
• Working closely with authors and brand owners on existing projects at different stages of publication
• Providing excellent author care and acting as a point of contact for authors and agents, answering questions where possible and passing other queries on to managers
• Attending new project meetings, working with editors in reading proposals and actively engaging in conversations about new book ideas
• Editing manuscripts for a select number of titles
• Liaising with in-house teams, authors and agents
• Presenting titles at internal meetings
• Contributing to the publishing vision by inputting ideas for your books, including format, binding, design, price, and promotional campaigns

We’d love it if you had…

We’re looking for someone with demonstrable editorial experience and solid market knowledge in publishing. You might currently be an Assistant Editor or Project Editor looking for your next challenge, or an Editor wanting hands-on experience on a different type of list and exposure to household brands and names. You’ll be creative, reliable and unflappable with excellent desk-editing, copy-editing and project management experience, combined with outstanding organisation and time management skills. Personal initiative and the ability to work autonomously are also important in this role.

Essential criteria:
• Proven skills in editing and working with authors and agents
• Excellent demonstrable communication skills and understanding of managing multiple stakeholders of varying seniorities
• Initiative, creative motivation, and a proactive nature
• Proven skills in managing the Biblio data system
• Strong attention to detail
• To be able to prioritise, multitask and work under pressure
• Demonstrable understanding of project management and critical path requirements
• Proven editing and proofreading skills

Preferred criteria:
• To be engaged with popular culture, be well-informed of current trends, and have design awareness
• To be a team player with interpersonal sensitivity

Employer details

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.
 
The Puffin Non-Fiction team have an exciting opportunity for someone to join the team as an Editor on a permanent basis. T his role might suit someone from a Managing Editorial or a Project Management background, or someone who is currently in editorial and keen to work with some of the biggest authors and most exciting new books in the market. We are in an exciting period of growth at Puffin Non-Fiction. We have had more bestsellers this year than ever before, and have exciting plans to build on this success. We publish some of country’s most-loved non-fiction voices for children including Adam Kay, Sathnam Sanghera, Bill Bryson, Katy Hessel, Danny Robins, Dr Alex George and Simon Squibb. We are also the home of some of the most exciting brands in children’s Non-Fiction, including Coco Wyo colouring books and BBC Earth. We are passionate about imaginative, voice-led Non-Fiction storytelling and showing children that sometimes facts can be even more exciting and life-changing than fiction.