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COMMISSIONING EDITOR

Watkins Media Ltd

Do you love books about personal development, spirituality, alternative health and wellbeing, and other mind-body-spirit topics? Do you have sound commercial sense and experience of commissioning illustrated and mono books in this field? Watkins, one of the world’s leading independent mind-body-spirit publishers, is looking for a creative and dynamic commissioning editor with an ambition to publish innovative, high-quality and commercially successful books in this fast-growing sector.

Key Responsibilities

  • Commissioning new books for Watkins, including coming up with new project ideas and searching out new talent 
  • Identifying and developing reuse projects from the backlist
  • Negotiating contracts with agents and authors
  • Liaising closely with authors at all stages from the first spark of an idea to promoting the published book and beyond
  • Concept development, including creating and pitching new project proposals, briefing authors, structural editing, flatplanning, and briefing covers and internal design
  • Creating and managing P&Ls
  • Briefing and working closely with in-house project managers
  • Writing sales copy 
  • Taking responsibility for the success of your books by liaising closely with the Marketing & Publicity and Sales departments, identifying promotional opportunities and generally being the champion of your books

Key Skills & Expertise

  • Knowledge of the mind-body-spirit market (e.g. who publishes what, what is selling well, what future trends might be)
  • Contacts in the field (e.g. agents, potential authors)
  • A track record of commissioning commercially successful books 
  • A sense for what makes a great book
  • The vision and patience to turn an idea into a book
  • Great editorial skills
  • Fantastic communication and a love of collaborative teamwork
  • Self-motivation and ability to work independently

To apply for this full-time role, please email a CV and covering letter to Fiona.Robertson@WatkinsPublishing.com

Closing date: 8 July 2019

COMMISSIONING EDITOR

Watkins Publishing, London
Full-time, Permanent
Publisher
Account Manager, Commissioning Editor, Editor, PR, Publicity, Marketing, Sales, Contracts, Digital Editorial, Editorial

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