Commissioning Editor/Senior Commissioning Editor, HQ

At HQ, we are proud to publish an outstanding array of fiction brands such as Adele Parks, Erica James, Linwood Barclay and Sarah Morgan, and our ground-breaking non-fiction list includes titles such as the British Book Awards Book of the Year Menopausing by Davina McCall, Trinny Woodhall’s Fearless and Bosh!.  Combining rapid growth with huge commercial success, HQ Fiction has a stellar record in launching fiction debuts such as the Sunday Times bestseller The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore, the multi-million copy phenomenon Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris and Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah. 

You will be curating your own list of fiction authors – some inherited, some you will commission – and working with the Fiction Publishers and Editorial Directors to consolidate the growth of our thriving fiction list. You’ll be responsible for your own titles from acquisition to publication in every format, and work with key teams within HarperCollins to create effective publishing strategies, successful launches and build long-term sales.  You’ll develop strong agent relationships, represent HQ at trade events and help grow HQ’s presence in the fiction market.

This is a role with huge potential for growth, and the new Editor will be an important member of a dynamic, friendly fiction team. It will suit candidates who have both initiative and energy, and who are excited to think creatively about how we publish our books. HQ has been nominated three times for Imprint of the Year at the British Book Awards in the last six years and we are keen to meet candidates with initiative and energy, and who are as excited about working at HQ as we are.  

Key Responsibilities

• To commission, edit and publish titles successfully and profitably for the HQ list.

• To read and respond promptly to agent submissions.

• To foster strong relationships with authors and agents, providing regular updates on publishing strategy, sell-in and sell-out for ongoing authors

• To work closely with the production team and pub ops manager to keep titles on critical path; collating author and copyeditor queries on to manuscripts when necessary

• Briefing jackets and liaising with designers, seeing covers through from start to finish.

• Copywriting, creating and checking sales/marketing material

• Creating strategy documents for key titles, and presenting these to the wider team as required.

• Clear direction of metadata/AIs for individual authors, ensuring this fits with emerging trends in the market, and is completed in line with critical path.

• Writing cover/catalogue/copy as required.

• Presenting titles at monthly International, Right, Sales and Marketing meetings.

• To raise and check contracts as required

• Work closely with the in-house Publicity, Digital Marketing and Sales teams to ensure maximum exposure for authors and titles, according to agreed priority list.

• Attending launches and festivals as required

Skills Required

• Proven commissioning experience

• An understanding and wide knowledge of UK commercial fiction market

• A keen appetite for commercial fiction, from historical, contemporary, to romance

• A detailed eye for spotting emerging market trends

• List building and strategic skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills 

• Proficient at managing several competing projects simultaneously

• Ability to work individually and collaboratively as part of a cross-divisional team

• Excellent author/agent/talent manager relationships

• Computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Benefits 

Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

Summer Hours  

Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

Relocation Rent Support Loan  

Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work and Pride at HC 

Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

Gym membership discount 

Onsite physiotherapy (London only) 

Charitable donation matching and  2 volunteering days 

We're a certified Carbon Neutral company 

Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

Subsidised canteen and retail discounts 

Onsite prayer room 

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to recruitment@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.

Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.