Key Account Manager - Children's (Maternity cover)

• Location: London, UK - Hybrid
• Closing: 11:59pm, 14th Feb 2023 GMT

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our HarperCollins Children’s Books division, working with retailers, the publishing division, as well as the wider UK sales team.

The role requires the ability to form strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, excellent organisation skills and a desire to be involved in the whole publishing process. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering sales targets through a high standard of account management, and effective implementation of company sales strategies. We are looking for someone who can take the initiative and is truly eager to work on our amazing and award-winning list of authors, illustrators and licences.

The account portfolio will have a dedicated list of customers across high street and supermarkets, and involves working in conjunction with account managers from across the group HarperCollins sales team. The person will need to be able to collaborate with colleagues across the business to ensure overall business goals are met, as well as demonstrate knowledge of the children’s book market, licensing and trends to ensure a market leading position.

Responsibilities:

• Account management on Waterstones and selected other accounts

• Working with the Sales Director to help pull together sales strategy and analysis on divisional titles

• Liaising with divisional contacts across Marketing, PR, Editorial, Publishing Operations, Design and Commercial Finance

• Working with the wider Home Trade sales team to ensure our priority titles are represented in relevant meetings

Be a passionate advocate of our books internally and externally

Experience required:

• Account management experience in the publishing industry or demonstrable strong industry knowledge essential

• Commercial knowledge or experience of the children’s market

• Experience of maintaining and developing working relationships, to maximise the opportunities offered to the business

• Knowledge of Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Experience of working in a busy environment, managing priorities effectively and delivering projects to a high standard and to deadline

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

• 26 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 

• 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 

• 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 volunteering day 

• 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 our Talent Acquisition Manager at stephanie.jemmett@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.