Head of Publicity, Head of Zeus UK

Join Head of Zeus at Bloomsbury, home to award winning, internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed authors such as Cixin Liu, Dan Jones, Min Jin Lee, Ben Okri, Elodie Harper and Sally Gardner.

Your role will be to lead the overall publicity strategy for Head of Zeus, and all its six imprints. Directly manage the publicity team (currently three direct reports) and take the lead on driving the key title publicity campaigns. You will work closely with other department heads across sales, marketing, editorial and art to deliver the annual results target for the company. You will also oversee, advise and collaborate on other publicist’s campaigns and be a role model for junior team members.

As well as creating multi-platform campaigns that break out debut talent, build bestselling names to new heights or shape the cultural agenda, you will contribute to the publishing lists’ strategic priorities and work closely across all departments and in particular with editorial, sales and marketing colleagues. You will be adept at forging and maintaining excellent relationships with high profile and influential stakeholders and have an in-depth understanding of, and active interest in the ever-evolving media landscape and the wider publishing industry and creative sectors, and an awareness of the campaigns that deliver profile and sales.

The role

Working across all Head of Zeus imprints, you will:

• Establish priorities for the publicity team, ensuring that highlights are properly resourced and that all new titles have a clear campaign plan which is communicated to author, agent and internal colleagues

• Develop, plan, and implement global marketing plans to drive and support the sales team’s revenue growth targets

• Identify book and brand opportunities and priorities in a rapidly changing market  

• Lead strategy and initiatives in the promotion of different publishing formats working with all Editorial Directors

• Set the annual publicity budgets in consultation with the Sales Director and Commercial Director

• Ensure compliance with GDPR and data protection policy, legislation, regulations and national codes of practice, advising on the implications of non-compliance, responding to and applying any necessary changes in conjunction with Finance Director. 

• Line manage the Publicity Executive including setting annual performance goals, agreeing and supervising development plans and organizing training

• Hire and manage publicity interns or work experience people as required

• Manage external publicity freelancers or freelance publicity agencies alongside the Sales Director

• Contribute publicity insight and expertise to the acquisitions process and take active role in the weekly publishing meeting, reading proposals and giving informed feedback

• Pitch for and negotiate extract and serial deals with media outlets to maximise publicity impact and generate income

• Pitch for and negotiate radio readings

• Handle all aspects of book publicity for allocated titles, including writing publicity plans and press releases; creating proof and review mailing lists; pitching for features and interviews; coordinating blog tours; organising book launches and author events; accompanying author to events within the UK and Ireland; logging and reporting progress and confirmed activity

• Liaise closely with editorial, sales and marketing colleagues in the UK and other territories to ensure comprehensive integrated campaigns across all platforms

• Build and maintain high quality relationships with authors, agents and ensure excellent communications on campaign plans and progress

• Demonstrate expertise in social media, working with the marketing and editorial teams to create content and build communities around imprints and brands

Knowledge, skills and experience 

The ideal candidate will:

• have a strong track record in delivering effective integrated publicity campaigns that drive sales, build author profile and reach new readers
• management, direct report, experience.
• possess exceptional communication skills
• be an avid reader and passionate about books
• have a thorough understanding of the current publishing industry
• have strong contacts in and knowledge of UK bookshops
• have excellent media contacts
• be proactive, bringing creativity and enthusiasm to the role
• have significant experience pitching to festivals and arranging author events with bookshops, festivals and other event organisers
• demonstrate leadership skills
• have the ability to coach and mentor
• have the ability to set performance targets and manage staff to achieve them
• have strong negotiation skills
• have strong presentation skills
• have excellent organisation skills and the ability to prioritise effectively
• be able to work simultaneously on a number of projects with different timelines
• be able to work independently to solve complex problems

Additional information

The role is a full-time/ permanent position

The role is based at our London Head of Zeus office 5-8 Hardwick Street, 1st Floor East, London EC1R 4RG on a hybrid working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred).  Allocated office days for this role are: Wednesday and Thursday.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter addressed to Human Resources (Word or PDF format only) via the ‘APPLY NOW’ button detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by Thursday 16th February 2023.

Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications

Bloomsbury Benefits

As well as a fantastic opportunity to join a global award-winning organisation, Bloomsbury offers the following competitive benefits package:

Working Pattern

• hybrid working pattern of: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)

Holidays

• 25 days holiday
• 3.5 days Christmas company holiday

Other Benefits:

Two paid Personal Wellness Days

Flexible Fridays – take Friday afternoon off by working an additional 3 hours and 45 minutes earlier in the week

Season Ticket Loan

Sharesave Scheme

In-house Doctor

Eyecare Voucher Scheme

Company culture! – Employee Voice Meetings, Staff Networks (Bloom, Disability, Mental Health, Pride and Parents, Guardians and Carers), 10 Mental Health First Aiders trained across the UK offices, Publishing Events and access to free Publishing Resources

For additional benefits see below

Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, or socio-economic status can thrive, feel comfortable, and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please flag to the recruitment team if required

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

The Company

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Bloomsbury Publishing is a leading independent publishing house, established in 1986, with authors who have won the Nobel, Pulitzer and Booker Prizes, and is the originating publisher and custodian of the Harry Potter series. Bloomsbury has offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Oxford and Sydney. Within Bloomsbury’s Academic division, it publishes under Bloomsbury, as well as under a number of prestigious and historic imprint names. Read Our Story for how it all began. 

 Bloomsbury is committed to creating a working environment that stimulates creativity and collaboration, is respectful of difference, is inclusive and ethical in its practice, and promotes well-being. We are determined to nurture and develop our employees to reach their highest potential, and we know that our success is down to the passion, commitment and hard work of our talented people. We recognise the urgent need to attract and support applicants from all backgrounds and identities to become part of the global publishing industry, allowing diverse voices to reflect and shape our culture and society.

Please read more on our Missions and Values here.

Please read our environmental policy here.