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HEAD OF CONTRACTS UK, AUSTRALIA AND INDIA

Closing date: Tuesday 10th May 2022

Location:  London (Central)

Type:  Contracts

Salary Description:  Competitive & Benefits

Reference:  S&S HOC

Description:

Simon & Schuster is one of the most successful global publishers in the world. Our Adult fiction list in the UK includes bestselling authors such as Philippa Gregory, Santa Montefiore, Kathy Reichs, Colleen Hoover, Graham Swift and John Irving.  Our Adult non-fiction list ranges from Number One bestsellers Bob Mortimer, Dave Grohl and Rupi Kaur to John Nichol, Laura Bates, Anita Anand and Walter Isaacson.

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books is one of the UK’s most vibrant and fast-growing publishers for young people.  Our children’s fiction and YA list features an array of bestsellers and rising stars, from Ben Miller and Adam Silvera to Nadia Shireen, Benjamin Dean, A.F. Steadman and many more, with successful series including Dragon Realm and Dork Diaries.  Our picture book list is world-renowned and we are the proud home of the smash-hit Supertato series by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet as well as stand-out author-illustrators such as Benji Davies, Tom Percival, Beach and Steve Small.

In addition to publishing a wide mix of literary and commercial fiction and non-fiction, and an award-winning children’s list, we also provide sales and distribution services to several award-winning independent Client Publishers from the UK, USA and Australia. These include VIZ Media, Andrews McMeel, National Geographic Adult and Elliott & Thompson.

Job Profile:

We are looking to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic, pro-active and highly motivated Head of Contracts to join our UK Operations team. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer you will have responsibility for negotiating and drafting contracts for the acquisition and licensing of rights across our UK, Australia and India businesses. You will provide contractual advice and support to the business, delivering a focused and quality service to all Simon & Schuster UK’s publishing divisions, Australia and India.

Your Role:

This role is responsible for drafting, negotiating and closing contracts with authors, agents, publishers and other third parties for the acquisition of all types of rights; Analysing US and foreign rights contracts and negotiating contracts in close consultation with Editorial teams in UK, Australia and India; Advising and assisting Editorial and Rights teams on appropriate terms and conditions as well as best practice throughout the acquisition process; Overseeing administration of digitalisation and backlist contracts. This role has line management of the Contracts Executive.

The Candidate’s Profile:

We are looking for an organised and efficient Head of Contracts with excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. Candidates should be experts in publishing and/or media related contracts and should be able to provide sound, commercially savvy contractual advice at all times

Candidates should be able to demonstrate an up-to-date working knowledge of relevant contract law. Thorough knowledge and application of copyright law and rights ownership issues is a must as are strong verbal and written communication skills.

Line management experience is desirable but not essential as support, training and development of the Contracts Executive is an important part of the role.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a successful and growing publishing house with an impressive list of authors and illustrators across its Adult and Children’s imprints, in a key role within the publishing process.

Simon & Schuster UK is an equal opportunities employer committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse workforce. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

HEAD OF CONTRACTS UK, AUSTRALIA AND INDIA

Full-time, Permanent
Publisher
Administration, Publishing, Communications, Contracts, Business Development, Acquisitions
Reference: 
HEAD OF CONTRACTS UK, AUSTRALIA AND INDIA
Salary description: 
Competitive & Benefits

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Candidates should be able to demonstrate an up-to-date working knowledge of relevant contract law. Thorough knowledge and application of copyright law and rights ownership issues is a must as are strong verbal and written communication skills.