Communications Director

Your team:
Bluebird is a dedicated non-fiction division at Pan Macmillan. We connect readers with ideas, stories and solutions to help them live happier, fuller lives and our distinct list includes personal development, cookery, health, mind-body-spirit, environment and nature, and memoir. Bluebird and One Boat is a small, close-knit team defined by quality, purpose and empathy.

Your role:
Bluebird, including One Boat, is at an incredibly exciting moment of evolution and growth. As the Communications Director, you will play a pivotal role in this transformative journey, driving impactful communication strategies to deliver successful book campaigns, seek out new opportunities, and engage with diverse audiences to deliver sales across multiple UK and international channels. Your expertise will be crucial in fostering strong media relationships, crafting innovative campaigns, and steering our list towards new heights of success, visibility and influence.

Your key responsibilities:

• Develop and direct a strategic communications vision across marketing and PR, aligning with Bluebird’s business strategy and enhancing brand reputation

• Manage the communications budget efficiently, ensuring strategic alignment across departments to achieve strong ROI

• Alongside the Publisher and the Sales Director, be accountable for Bluebird’s commercial success while being a pivotal partner on the publishing and business strategy

• Execute high-impact book campaigns, focusing on innovation, measurable KPIs and integrating marketing with publicity to bolster author and brand profiles

• Represent the division at high-profile author/agent pitches and meetings, inspiring excitement and confidence in what the team can offer

• Foster a high-performing communications team, prioritising talent development and performance management, and driving a culture of peak performance

• Working in close collaboration with the Digital Communications Leadership team to leverage digital and AI advancements to transform communications functions, ensuring Bluebird is at the forefront of industry standards and practices

• Contribute towards the Pan Macmillan Making a Difference mission (DEI, literacy, sustainability) and set an example to your team.

Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:

• A strong background in developing and executing comprehensive marketing and PR strategies within the publishing industry, or media industry, with proven successes in brand building and delivering successful audience-focused campaigns

• Demonstrated experience in a leadership role, preferably within the self-development and lifestyle publishing sector, showing capability in steering teams towards achieving shared business objectives and fostering a dynamic and innovative work environment

• Ability to conceive and implement strategic plans that align with the company’s overarching goals and objectives, with a track record of driving growth and enhancing brand visibility

• Expertise in enhancing audience engagement and driving book sales, along with experience in measuring campaign impact

• Skilled in working collaboratively with various stakeholders, including publishers, authors, illustrators and sales teams, to create cohesive and impactful communications strategies that enhance the publishing programme and business results

• A genuine passion for non-fiction, especially personal development, food, mind-body-spirit, memoir and health, with a deep understanding of the market, current trends, and the ability to engage with authors and create compelling stories around book launches.

What you’ll get in return:
In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.

Closing Date: 22 September 2024

Some of the benefits we offer:

• 28 days annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays

• Generous pension scheme

• Discounted private medical insurance

• Group income protection scheme

• Enhanced family pay and leave

• Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)

• 2 Volunteer Days per year

• 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)

• Season ticket loan/advance

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounts on shopping, Tastecard+ and gym memberships; Christmas club savings

• Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch

This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application