Editor

Who we are and what we do

PCR Fiction, part of Little, Brown Book Group, publish a huge and very successful range of commercial fiction, specialising in romance and crime. We are composed of two imprints: Piatkus and Constable Fiction. Piatkus specialises in romance - and won Best Imprint at the British Book Awards this year - and Constable specialises in crime. Authors at PCR include Rebecca Yarros, author of Fourth Wing, Julia Quinn, author of Bridgerton, and MW Craven, author of the Washington Poe series.

Little, Brown's identity is personified by our innovative, dynamic and free-thinking people. Across our thirteen imprints, you won't find a wider range of titles anywhere in UK publishing. We pride ourselves on quality and diversity. A repeat recipient of the Publisher of the Year award, we're one of the most successful and dynamic publishers in the UK.

Little, Brown is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 12 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds.

What you'll be doing

We're looking for an Assistant Editor or an Editor with experience in author management looking to take their next steps in commercial fiction. The successful candidate will work across the PCR Fiction team, managing and re-contracting a list of existing authors and assisting senior colleagues with larger projects. 

Responsibilities include:

• Re-contracting and project managing existing authors across PCR Fiction.
• Desk editing selective authors
• Working with the Assistant Editor and Editorial Assistant to project manage the Constable and Piatkus lists, mentoring and guiding the junior members of the team as they build up their desk-editing  and author management skills.
• Working with other editors and publishers on a project-by-project basis. 
• Ensuring that the databases and relevant systems for your authors are updated and accurate, driving excellence in SEO and metadata
• Alongside the Constable and Piatkus fiction teams, working with marketing and publicity to help build author brands and the Constable and Piatkus reader channels
• Developing and maintaining market awareness in order to identify publishing opportunities. This would include:
  • monitoring market trends and competitor activity
  • developing and maintaining a network of external contacts
  • attending book fairs; trade/consumer events; academic conferences and exhibitions and visits with representatives
  • undertaking market research

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is passionate about commercial fiction, with experience in managing and contracting authors. 

Key skills include:

• Experience in author management and care
• Relevant market knowledge in UK and overseas
• Negotiating and influencing skills
• Able to understand and commission new technology for information delivery
• Entrepreneurial/ Able to take calculated risks
• Commercial awareness/ Strategically focused
• Creative
• Project management/organizational skills
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of relevant applications/systems

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:

• 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 2 community days per year
• Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
• Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development programmes (including mentoring)
• Up to 70% off book purchases
• A charity bookshelf
• 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

This role can be based at our London or Sheffield office, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org