Skip to main content

Managing Editor

Managing Editor

Department: Editorial

Reports to: Abdul Thadha, Managing Director

Based: Head Office (Leicester)

The Role: In this role, you will manage Sweet Cherry’s editorial team and work with the management team to make strategic decisions. Sweet Cherry’s publishing strategy is sales-led, so you will take responsibility for our full list acquiring or commissioning new projects by working with the MD and the Sales Director in the development of the publishing programme. The successful candidate will have a proven ability to manage projects, with strong communication and negotiation skills. You will be a highly organised, creative person with the ability to develop manuscripts and work on all stages of the editorial process. You will ideally have a background in children’s publishing.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their list management skills and play a critical role in our growing company.

Our ideal candidate will have:

  • A deep understanding of the entire editorial process
  • A significant knowledge and experience in fiction and illustrated titles
  • A strong commercial awareness
  • A good imagination and a strong sense of fun
  • A positive work ethic & good vibes all around!

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Working alongside the editorial team (who would report directly to you) you will:

MANAGEMENT

  • Manage a team of editors and their workflow to ensure adherence to the publishing schedule
  • Work closely with management in the implementation of company strategy
  • Attend weekly management meetings
  • Recruit and train editorial team members
  • Attend book fairs and publishing events

COMMISSIONING AND ACQUISITION

  • Work closely with the MD and Sales Director in order to develop, commission, and acquire new projects that are in line with our sales channels and that respond to buyer demand
  • Work with the Head of Design on license acquisition
  • Make and maintain relationships with literary agents in order to acquire content
  • Manage the editorial budget and work on Profit and Loss reports with management team
  • Negotiate contracts, and keep other team members aware of the contract status
  • Run regular pitch meetings and title strategy meetings
  • Come up with new creative concepts for the company to explore

EDITING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

  • Work closely with Sweet Cherry authors by giving them feedback on their work, enforcing deadlines and answering queries
  • Edit, copy-edit and proofread projects to ensure they are ready to go to press
  • Maintain the company house style
  • Present information about projects and their progress to the rest of the company
  • Keep yourself up to date on new developments in the children’s book market

Essential Skills: 

  • Experiencing of managing a team and multiple projects
  • Superb organisation skills, with the ability to manage a workload with competing priorities and ensure tasks are completed to deadline
  • Outstanding copy-writing, proof-reading, design and project management skills
  • High competence using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Proactive approach and willingness to reach out externally to secure new content
  • Minimum of 5 years’ editorial experience, with experience of working on children’s middle grade

Desirable Skills: 

  • Good knowledge of the children’s book market
  • Strong InDesign skills
  • Knowledge of levelling programmes such as Lexile and Accelerated Reading
  • Experience of budget management

What we offer:

  • Free tea, coffee and a lot of snacks!!
  • Monthly team activity
  • Free onsite parking
  • Workplace pension

Working Hours: Our flexible working hours are 40 hours a week, Monday – Friday, 8 hours a day (30 minute or 1-hour lunch break unpaid)

Holiday: 20 days plus bank holidays

Location: Sweet Cherry Publishing, Unit 36, Vulcan House, Vulcan Road, Leicester, United Kingdom, LE5 3EF

Salary: TBC, Negotiable based on experience

Deadline for applications: Thursday 30th April 2020

To apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@sweetcherrypublishing.com

Managing Editor

Sweet Cherry Publishing, Leicester
Full-time, Permanent
Children's Publishing, Publisher
Commissioning Editor, Content, Editor, Publishing, Publishing Support, Other Publishing, Management, Content Manager, Contracts, Digital Editorial, Editorial

Share this job now