Responsibilities

  • Building up a publisher's list of titles for a specific genre.
  • Managing the list in the current market as well as identifying future markets and new products and titles with commercial potential.
  • Researching emerging market trends on a national and international level.
  • Identifying, developing and supporting projects and authors.
  • Meeting with other commissioning editors and senior editors to discuss new proposals.
  • Reading and evaluating book proposals and manuscripts offered by authors and agents, as well as assessing their suitability for the list.
  • Negotiating contract terms with authors and agents.
  • Liaising with authors and reviewers throughout the production.
  • Maintaining a book publishing programme and monitoring progress throughout the publication process.
  • Organising book launches and signings.
  • Working with administration, finance, budgets and strategy.
  • Providing data and contributing to marketing and sales activities.
  • Managing the back list (titles already published) and making decisions on whether to reprint, revise or make new editions of titles, or put them out of print.
Requirement
  • Interpersonal and communication skills
  • Planning and organisational skills
  • Negotiating skills
  • Research skills
  • Tact and diplomacy
  • The ability to think creatively and commercially
  • The capability to work to tight deadlines
  • A proactive approach to work
  • Tenacity and self-motivation
  • Financial management skills
  • The ability to work well in a team
  • An aptitude for project management
  • Competence in IT