Publishing Director - HQ Non-Fiction

Develop long-term profitable publishing plans for producing unparalleled list of non-fiction titles, encompassing backlist management and new-title development in line with the Division's overall Publishing Strategy. In particular, the role holder should have experience in commercial publishing as well as management for four colour and narrative titles.

The role is one of the key roles in the Division and through exceptionally close contact with the market, and key influencers, the role-holder will be responsible for managing our current list and brands and developing and nurturing new talent and brands profitably.                                                         

Detailed understanding of how to develop successful titles will be allied with a clear and informed view of how these products and this content is best brought to market, promoted and sold. The role-holder will also be responsible for managing and developing the in-house team and performing a leadership role.

Key Accountabilities

• Plan, champion and execute a profitable and market-orientated publishing strategy for the HQ Non-Fiction team

  • Develop titles appropriate for the market in both UK trade and non-trade, international as well as co-editions and rights. Focus on all formats and titles with backlist potential

  • Ensure that titles are delivered in an appropriate and timely way with all costs controlled and to budget

  • Identify market trends and publishing opportunities through close contact with the market, agents, content creators and key influencers

  • Deliver viable, creative, innovative publishing that is commercially successful and contributes strongly to the Division's growth targets.

  • Review, develop, maintain and deliver profitable publishing plans in line with Divisional targets. To include creating and maintaining publishing schedules, responding to changing market needs as appropriate.

  • Drive creative process and the commissioning with potential list development.

• Liaison between sister companies within HarperCollins and News UK

• Facilitate communication within the division and championing HQ Non-Fiction title activity throughout the company and with affiliated companies

• Develop long-term relations with authors and agents to secure future deals for HarperCollins in preference to competitors

• Promote excellent author care

• Manage and develop relationships with agents, talent managers and partners

• Contribute fully to sales-and-marketing plans

  • Ensuring strong and effective involvement of the Sales and Marketing teams in product development

  • Effective influence of sales-and-marketing plans through informed market knowledge.

  • Working with the Sales and Marketing teams to ensure the plans are acted on

• Contribute to overall strategy and management of the HQ Non-Fiction business

• Contribute to forecasting and budgeting process

• Join the Divisional Leadership team

• Work with Production and Pub Ops to ensure titles run to Critical Path, and to maintain the schedule of publishing for all titles

• Analyse, evaluate, and implement systems and processes to help improve the business

• Work closely with the senior team to maximise all opportunities afforded by world rights including Rights, Audio and Harper 360.

• Ensuring titles have co-ordinated digital strategies and priority titles are pitched for promotions and metadata is optimised. Innovating where possible

Scope

Responsible for: at least three members of staff

Experience

• Robust experience of trade publishing experience at Editorial Director Level

Skills and Competencies

• Creative thinker willing to ‘think outside of the box’

• Commercial risk taker but will change view if presented with relevant evidence

• A team player with strong team management skills

• Excellent communicator

• Proven leadership skills

• Strategic vision

• Strong business acumen

• Strong organisation skills

• Strong analytical skills

• Proven track of entrepreneurial commissioning

• Experience of establishing and developing effective business partnerships

• Formulating visionary ideas that turn into commercial success desirable

• Ability to think ahead of the competition desirable

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.