Travel Editor

We are Insight Guides & Rough Guides, a company with an international set-up and teams working across 5 countries.

For over 50 years, Insight Guides and Rough Guides have inspired travellers with a unique combination of stunning photographs, inspiring essays that delve deep into the culture of a destination, and detailed travel planning information.

We also work with commercial partners to produce co-branded travel content for platforms ranging from print and eBooks to all online and app formats. In recent years, these special projects have become an increasingly important part of our business and we expect to develop this further. In addition, we offer a one-stop solution for travel needs with our travel guides, language guides and tailor-made trips platform, an easy-to-use solution for the planning and booking of desirable and memorable travel experiences.

We’re looking for a Travel Editor with book publishing and commissioning experience and writing skills to work on our commercial projects and books, across both brands, supporting the Senior Editor and Head of Publishing. This is a role for an editor who is passionate about travel and who has excellent project and time management skills to join our small, busy, friendly team, who work remotely, with potential for some part-time office-based days in London. If you think that you have the relevant skills and have the desire to further develop them while working in a professional environment, we would love to talk to you.

Job Title: Travel Editor

Responsible to: Head of Publishing   

Remote work, full time

Position Overview: To work on travel and occasionally language books, commission content and coordinate work of external contributors, and write and edit content for our commercial deals as briefed, utilising knowledge of travel and language learning and our house content. In addition, to commission and manage full book projects from conception through pre-press to delivery to printer or digital publication, liaising with authors, cartography, design and picture departments and freelance contributors. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Authors & Commissioning

• Maintain and build working relationships with all authors and updaters or with Project Manager.
• Carry out comprehensive assessments of current content to identify where work is required to improve and maintain quality.
• Negotiate with writers and updaters regarding fees within agreed budget framework (set by Head of Publishing).
• Liaise with cartographers in relation to map requirements.

Project Management & Editing

• Precisely and quickly assess text completeness and quality.
• Ensure full accuracy of the text including spot checking.
• Copyedit in compliance with house style and liaise with authors on queries.
• Work to the microschedule dates for each project, communicating with other members of the team
• Efficiently manage time between conflicting priorities and overlapping projects.
• Generate, edit and creatively use content across print and digital products.
• Proofread and/or organise proofreaders and indexers, and schedule their time accordingly.
• Ensure accurate checking of proofs and plotters as required.
• Implement changes set by Management
• Liaise with sales/marketing to encourage commercial opportunities that tie in with your project, including but not limited to fostering contacts at tourist boards, PR companies etc.

Commercial projects

• Produce travel and/or language content – both researched from scratch and utilising house materials – in line with the briefs supplied by Project Manager
• Liaise effectively with the Project Manager, working to the individual schedules assigned by them for such projects
• Respond promptly to feedback as needed
• Work to all specific partner style guides
• Work using different styling provided by the Project Manager including but not limited to XML or HTML styling

Social media & Podcasts

• Contribute content to our different brand platforms, from our websites and podcasts to social media
• Contribute to various media platforms as a showcase for our brand expertise, eg travel magazines, other podcasts
• Represent brand by taking part in travel industry events as needed and curate the knowledge to propose which ones the company should participate in

Financial

• Manage title budgets within parameters set by Head of Publishing.

 List Development

• Assist Head of Publishing with new title and content ideas to help develop the profile and success of different series.
• Contribute to company-wide development meetings to generate new ideas for travel product.
• Answer queries from foreign rights and distributors globally as required.

Teamwork & Communication

• Work as part of the company community to create a positive, tolerant and harmonious work environment.
• Deal with all staff in a helpful, courteous and respectful manner.
• Communicate ideas which may improve the efficiency, performance or standards of your department and be open to the consideration of new ideas.
• Actively participate in the giving and receiving of constructive feedback to ensure understanding and open team relationships.

Policies & Procedures

• Actively ensure that the workplace is kept free from harassment, bullying behaviour and discrimination through thoughtful behaviour.
• Work in accordance with Apa policy and procedural guidelines.
• Comply with all Occupational Health and Safety guidelines, reporting any potential risks or hazards.
• Follow safe work practices for self and others.

Key Skills/Experience/Knowledge/Qualifications/Attributes:

Essential

2 years+ successful experience in a similar publishing role

Proven editorial and project management skills

Good copyediting and writing skills

Ability to work independently and be highly self-motivated and results-driven

Attention to detail

Computer literate – Word, Excel, InDesign, CMSs

Strong interpersonal skills

Creative with ability to generate strong publishing ideas

Proactive in building travel, language and commercial contacts

Financial acumen

Adaptability

Team Player

Travel and language knowledge and experience

Desirable

Storytelling skills

Typefi knowledge

XML & HTML skills

Understanding of online content requirements, eg keywords and SEO

Experience in public and/or podcast speaking

Experience contributing to brand promotion as guest on other media

Tertiary or relevant professional qualification

Commercial awareness and engagement with travel guide market

How to apply

To apply for this opportunity, please send your CV, a cover letter and salary expectations to sarah@insightguides.com, quoting Travel Editor. Closing date for applications is Friday 12th November, but earlier applications will be prioritised.

Salary bracket

Competitive