Editorial Director/Publisher, Pre-School & Novelty Children's Books
Simon & Schuster UK is one of the leading general book publishing companies in the UK and was named Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2022 and 2023. They also won Children’s Publisher of the Year in 2023. Based in London with sister companies in the United States, Canada, Australia and India, the UK division has four imprints: Gallery, Scribner, Simon & Schuster; and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, which publish a wide and eclectic mix of authors ranging across commercial fiction, literary fiction, general non-fiction, and children’s publications. Home to bestselling authors and award winners, Simon & Schuster UK is a publishing house of quality writing and a proud home to its authors and their exceptional work. It also runs a sales and distribution service for a number of independent and international publishers including Andrews McMeel, Black Library, Boom! Studios, Elliott & Thompson, Inner Traditions, Rebellion and VIZ Media.
Simon & Schuster International is dedicated to publishing a broad and diverse range of books for everyone, representative of the world around us. They are committed to working with and supporting writers, illustrators, and other creative partners from all walks of life, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, nationality, religion or belief, age, social or economic circumstance.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Books is one of the leading children’s publishers in the UK, dedicated to immersing children of all ages in diverse and creative reading experiences, encouraging a lifelong love of reading. Founded in 1998, it has a record of continuously strong sales, prestigious awards, and numerous high quality and bestselling titles and series. The colour list is industry-leading and internationally renowned. Much-loved authors and illustrators include Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (Barry the Fish with Fingers, Supertato), Benji Davies (The Storm Whale series), Beach (The Blazing Bottom series), Smriti Halls and Steve Small (I’m Sticking with You) and Claire Freedman and Ben Cort (the Aliens Love Underpants series). Simon & Schuster Children’s Books won Children’s Publisher of the Year at the 2023 British Book Awards.
The Job Profile
A Pre-School & Novelty creative team is being established at Simon & Schuster Children’s Books as part of our next phase of expansion. The newly created role of Editorial Director or Publisher, Pre-School & Novelty, dependent on level of skills and experience, will play a key role in establishing and leading the list within our colour publishing team.
In this role you’ll create, shape, champion and publish books that delight and captivate young readers. It is a hands-on role, taking the lead within a small ‘start-up’ Pre-School & Novelty team. This is a terrific opportunity to build a list within an award-winning and ambitious team.
The Job Role
You will lead and champion the Pre-School & Novelty publishing strategy at Simon & Schuster, working with the senior team to set strategic, creative and commercial objectives for Pre-School & Novelty publishing. You will develop, acquire and manage titles and series for the list, working in close collaboration with internal, external and international stakeholders.
As this is a new area of the list it will be the responsibility of this role to establish workflows for the Pre-School & Novelty list, to ensure the start-to-end publishing cycle is fulfilled. You will work closely with marketing, publicity, and sales as a key voice in conversations around commercial and promotional strategy for the Pre-School & Novelty list.
You will represent and champion Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and be an ambassador for the company externally.
The Candidate Profile
You believe in the life-changing potential of reading for pleasure and have a special passion for the pre-school and novelty publications that will encourage a life-long love of books. You will have thorough knowledge of the child developmental stages that underpin a creative, innovative and stand-out range of publishing for early years.
You must have people management skills and enjoy mentoring and empowering team members. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you’ll have the interpersonal skills to nurture strong in-house relationships, and excel in author, illustrator and agent care.
Impeccable market awareness across the UK and internationally is essential. You are most likely to have built a successful career in Editorial and will be hugely passionate about early years publishing as well as commercially minded, familiar with creating and analysing P&Ls. You must be able to demonstrate list building and management of pre-school titles.
We are a small team, so you will be happy to pitch in across all areas and you will have strong communication, project, and time-management skills.
Simon & Schuster UK is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity and gender expression.
Candidates hired for this or any other posted Simon & Schuster UK role will be employees of Simon & Schuster UK Ltd subject to all policies and eligible solely for the benefits plans thereof. We have updated our Workplace Privacy Notice. If you have questions about data privacy, please contact us here: privacyadministrator@simonandschuster.com