HQ Digital is the digital-first list of HQ, specialising in innovative digital publishing across the commercial fiction market, from contemporary fiction, romance, historical fiction to crime and thrillers. Combining rapid growth with commercial success, we’re proud to have launched stellar careers for a host of digital bestselling authors both in the UK and internationally, including Rebecca Raisin, Portia Macintosh, Faith Martin and Neil Lancaster.
As Editor, you will provide some editorial and desk editing support to the Publishing Director as well as establishing and acquiring your own list. You will have ownership of your own stable of authors, seeing them through from acquisition to publication for both physical and digital editions. This is a role with a great amount of potential for growth, and the new Editor will be an important member of our small and dynamic team. It will suit digitally-savvy candidates who have both initiative and energy, and who are excited to think creatively about how we publish our books.
It is essential that you have a strong awareness of market dynamics, with a broad and keen interest in commercial fiction across a range of genres. You will have been working as an Assistant Editor or Editor already, and will be able to demonstrate experience of creative and editorial input, plus an eye for detail and quality. You will have experience of desk editing and the overall publishing process, and a desire for continuous learning as your role expands. This editorial role requires a clear understanding of the digital fiction market, the ability to spot trends and publishing opportunities, and the chance to work with a growing, ambitious team.
HarperCollins is based in the News Building which is shared with our News UK and Dow Jones colleagues in London Bridge Quarter, opposite Borough Market. Our open-plan office has amazing views across London, and includes a variety of break-out areas to aid inspiration and a collaborative approach.
Editorial:
- Ownership of and main point of contact for own stable of authors as agreed with the Publishing Director, seeing them through from acquisition to publication for both physical and digital editions.
- Work on structural and line edits of own authors.
- Desk editing, working closely with the production team to keep in line with critical path.
- Understanding and wider reading of UK and US commercial fiction market, ensuring strong market knowledge and market-focused publishing strategies.
- Briefing jackets and liaising with designers, seeing covers through from start to finish.
- Copywriting and checking sales/marketing material, e.g. catalogues, sales presenters etc.
- Build and foster relationships with agents, with a view to bringing in the best new talent and commissioning new titles for HQ Digital.
- Ownership of metadata/AIs for individual authors, ensuring this fits with emerging trends in the market, and is completed in line with critical path.
- Writing cover/catalogue/Bookseller copy as required.
- Proofreading jacket copy, catalogue copy and other literature as required.
- Reading, reporting, circulating and rejection of submissions as required.
- To produce timely launch documents in consultation with the Publishing Director, Key Account Manager and Marketing Manager.
- Supporting the Publisher on a small number of titles, taking responsibility for their desk editing.
Digital:
- Working to ensure best in class metadata at all times.
- Working in conjunction with Marketing to create innovative digital campaigns which aim to get titles to the top of the charts.
- Liaising with in-house digital teams to ensure understanding of digital promotions, and securing selections for books on the list.
- Overseeing metadata/AIs for HQ Digital authors/titles, working to ensure these are best in class and ready in line with critical path. Liaising with the pricing/analytics team to get the best out of the titles that are working across the division – whether adjusting BISAC codes, subtitles, keywords, or even looking at new covers or copy. Regularly checking Amazon feeds to see if there are any glitches/problems and flagging them as necessary.
- Working on backlist reissues as required and agreeing on strategy in conjunction with the digital team and Publishing Director.
- Attending weekly pricing and metadata sessions, cultivating close links with the pricing/analytics team, and working closely with them on new projects as they come up.
- Highlighting key titles to the team that need a focus in digital
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Solid experience of working within the publishing industry, with experience working at Assistant Editor or Editor level (or equivalent)
- Be able to demonstrate sound market knowledge of commercial fiction
- Experience of desk editing processes
- Full knowledge of publishing processes
- Experience of working directly with authors
- Strong knowledge of the digital fiction market and emerging trends
- A creative, energetic team player who enjoys collaborating with wider teams to deliver bestseller success
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to express technical and creative vision clearly
- Excellent organisational skills and experience of working to deadlines
- The role may contain other duties not specified here.
If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to
[email protected] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.
With a history stretching back over 200 years, HarperCollins is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world. Here at HarperCollins UK, we publish around 1,500 books a year for readers of all ages and interests.
Our bestsellers include Bernard Cornwell, Adele Parks, Jonathan Franzen, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Memoirs of British prime ministers. Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy. George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. And legendary titles by legacy authors J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie and C.S. Lewis.
We’re home to the most iconic bears, Paddington, Rupert and Winnie-the-Pooh, and Judith Kerr, Rob Biddulph and Michael Morpurgo, Mr Men & Little Miss, Thomas & Friends and Minecraft for our younger readers.
We have offices in London, Honley, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin. In London, we’re in The News Building with News UK. Keeping our historic connection to Glasgow, we’re also based in the Robroyson district where each week, our distribution centre sends up to 3 million books around the world.
