Management Opportunities
Finance Director (part-time)
Marketing Director (part-time)
or both roles combined into
Commercial Director (full-time)
About Vertebrate Publishing
Vertebrate Publishing is an award-winning independent publisher based in Sheffield. The company currently employs sixteen staff, with many opportunities for growth in the outdoor adventure market. Current sales are at £1m p.a. and we have taken on significant investment with the objective of developing a sustainable business many times the current level. In order to achieve our ambitious plans, we are building a management team with the experience and capability to make that happen. Vertebrate aspire to be the leading outdoor adventure publisher in the UK within the next five years and will provide rewarding careers for all who are part of this journey.
Background to the Role(s)
Vertebrate has ambitious expansion plans and has doubled staff numbers over the last two years. The title list reaches 300 titles and we aim to produce 50 new titles each year as we expand the range of climbing, mountaineering, off-road running, cycling and wild swimming books. The distribution process is very complicated, involving online retailers, direct sales through the website and sales by authors, as well as the traditional routes of books shops and outdoor stores.
The current team is very hard-working, passionate and committed to the business and would benefit from the assistance of senior managers with the experience of managing a business of the size we wish to become. With such a complicated and fast-paced business, we are used to operating very effectively in dealing with day-to-day issues but would benefit from the time and resource to take a more strategic view in some areas.
The two main areas where Vertebrate requires additional senior skills are in finance and marketing; we are seeking to fill these with either two part-time appointments, being a Finance Director and a Marketing Director or, if we can find a rare and exceptional candidate, by combining these roles into one full-time position of Commercial Director.
These roles are new appointments for Vertebrate and will take over some of the responsibilities from the company’s two directors and owners. The successful candidate must have the maturity and experience to manage a small team, comprising the Marketing Manager, Marketing Executives, a Financial Analyst and the Office Manager/Bookkeeper.
In addition, the ideal candidates will have a strong interest in the outdoors and knowledge of current issues and opportunities. We have good representation in climbing and running and are looking to build our representation in cycling and long-distance walking.
Candidate Requirements
Vertebrate’s values are to be reliable, bold, agile, energetic and sustainable, and we are looking for these in a candidate.
As a relatively small, privately owned business we have limited resources, and career progression will only come through the growth of the business. We can’t compete with large companies in this area but are certain that we can offer the right chance of making a real impact on our business and will have huge day-to-day variety in the job.
The positions are permanent, based in our offices in Sheffield combined with home working, and, as a member of the company’s board, will report directly to the two owners.
A CV and expression of interest should be emailed to company director Stephen Ross before 22 January: stephen@v-publishing.co.uk
Finance Director (part-time)
Location: Sheffield
Requirement: Immediate – permanent position (2–3 days per week)
Background
Vertebrate has ambitious expansion plans and has doubled staff numbers over the last two years. The title list reaches 300 titles and we aim to produce 50 new titles each year as we expand the range of climbing, mountaineering, off-road running, cycling and wild swimming books. The distribution process is very complicated, involving online retailers, direct sales through the website and sales by authors, as well as the traditional routes of books shops and outdoor stores.
The current team is very hard-working, passionate and ambitious and would benefit from the experience of a part-time Finance Director who has managed a business of the size we wish to become. With such a complicated and fast-paced business, we are used to operating very effectively in dealing with day-to-day issues but would benefit from the time and resource to take a more strategic view in some areas and the creation and management of appropriate systems and processes.
This is a new appointment for Vertebrate and will take over some of the responsibilities from the company’s two directors and owners. The successful candidate must have the maturity and experience to manage a small team including a Financial Analyst and the Office Manager/Bookkeeper.
In addition, the ideal candidate will have a strong interest in the outdoors and knowledge of current issues and opportunities. We have good representation in climbing and running and are looking to build our representation in cycling and long-distance walking.
Skills and Experience Required
- Qualified accountant (ACCA or CIMA)
- Experience at a senior level within a small business (20–50 people) that required both managing direct reports and hands-on activities
- Accurate, timely and efficient production and interpretation of management information
- Recognition of the importance of data at all levels in the business and relentless questioning and analysis of all numbers
- Ability to identify and contribute to the key financial and commercial issues, proactively in addition to requests from stakeholders
- Ability to communicate with all levels of a business and work well under pressure
- Ideally publishing experience or other business with similar characteristics
Areas of responsibility
The Finance Director will be responsible personally, or through direct reports, for the following activities and must be capable of completing or supervising these.
Financial Reporting
- Overseeing the preparation of monthly management accounts on accrual basis
- Preparation and regular updates of annual budgets for P&L, cash flow and balance sheet
- Reconciliation of actuals and forecasts on a monthly basis and reporting of key KPIs and variances to the board
- Sales forecasting by individual title, determining timing and number of print required and stock management
Financial Strategy
- Developing a profitable, sustainable and consistent portfolio of titles
- Balancing long-term investment with immediate cash requirements
- Maximising value of current portfolio of titles by developing clear digital and international strategy
- Ensuring most efficient channel distribution
Book Investment
- Using market research data to generate reliable sales forecasts for new titles
- Ensuring accurate financial models that demonstrate financial returns for investment in each new title and highlighting risks and sensitivities
- Administration, recording of all investment decisions and incorporation into the company’s cash flow and P&L forecasts
- Regular review of book launches and sales to verify accuracy of forecasts and feedback variations on to future investments
Financial Analysis
- Growth sectors and subject areas
- Book pricing/contribution/margin
- Timesheets and production efficiency
- Channel margins and contribution
- Digital margins and pricing (ebooks, POD and audio)
Marketing Director (part-time)
Location: Sheffield
Requirement: Immediate – permanent position (2–3 days per week)
Background
Vertebrate has ambitious expansion plans and has doubled staff numbers over the last two years. The title list reaches 300 titles and we aim to produce 50 new titles each year as we expand the range of climbing, mountaineering, off-road running, cycling and wild swimming books. The distribution process is very complicated, involving online retailers, direct sales through the website and sales by authors, as well as the traditional routes of books shops and outdoor stores.
The current team is very hard-working, passionate and ambitious and would benefit from the experience of a part-time Marketing Director who has managed a business of the size we wish to become. With such a complicated and fast-paced business, we are used to operating very effectively in dealing with day-to-day issues but would benefit from the time and resource to take a more strategic view in some areas and the creation and management of appropriate systems and processes.
This is a new appointment for Vertebrate and will take over some of the responsibilities from the company’s two directors and owners. The successful candidate must have the maturity and experience to manage a small full-time marketing team as well as occasional interns.
In addition, the ideal candidate will have a strong interest in the outdoors and knowledge of current issues and opportunities. We have good representation in climbing and running and are looking to build our representation in cycling and long-distance walking.
Skills and Experience Required
- Experience at a senior level within a small business (20–50 people) that required both managing direct reports and hands-on activities
- Development and execution of long-term marketing plans using comprehensive data analysis
- Ideally publishing experience or other business with similar characteristics, selling to retail customers via multiple channels, including Amazon
- Success in developing long-term social media plan and combining different channels effectively in a strategic plan
- Use of metrics to determine Return on Investment from all aspects of marketing plan
- Clear track record of generating and quantifying incremental value over the long term
- Ability to communicate with all levels of a business and work well under pressure
Areas of responsibility
The Marketing Director will be responsible personally, or through direct reports, for the following activities and must be capable of completing or supervising these.
- Develop a strategic marketing plan integrated with financial plans and budget
- Liaison with sales agencies, distributors and wholesalers
- Collaborate with the editorial department on the quality and distribution of book trade data
- With the Commissioning Editor, create five-year plan for title development
- Develop and implement systems and processes for each category of book that allow efficient launches and create powerful momentum
- Develop and implement a foreign rights strategy and build long-term bilateral relationships with overseas publishers to allow two-way flow of titles
- Develop an international distribution strategy and establish relationships and agreements with chosen distributors
- Build on current social media presence by developing and implementing clear and consistent strategy
- Develop and implement title/imprint/publisher acquisition plan
- Manage Amazon Advantage account
- Review current web sales and consider moving to more flexible, scalable generic platform
- Build on current brand relationships to bring in book sponsors and benefit from partners’ customers
- Consider new models for converting loyal readers to regular subscription/book clubs