Editor, Publishing & Editorial, Creative Arts​/Media

Job Title:

Editor

Department:
Macmillan Children’s Books, Colour 0–6

Contract:

Permanent, full-time

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Editor to join the Preschool, Brands & Classics team at Macmillan Children’s Books, working on books for children including licensed and classic board books, picture books, activity books and gift books.

The Preschool, Brands & Classics list is home to leading authors including Rod Campbell and Camilla Reid, heritage brands such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and high‑quality licensed publishing including Moomin, Sylvanian Families, Palm Pals and LEGO. We are a small and friendly team within the wider Colour 0–6 division, working closely with the design, production, sales, marketing and rights teams to create market‑leading titles for every child.

As the Editor, you will play a critical role in the editing and production of titles across the Preschool, Brands & Classics list. Working as part of a busy and dynamic team, you will help develop full‑colour books of various formats for children aged 0 to 6, managing titles from the initial idea or submission through to delivering final files to the printer.

• Strategy & editorial planning:
  Contributing to the goals and strategy identified by the Publishing Director through the creation and development of new, backlist, re‑use and re‑jacketed titles.
• Commissioning & oversight:
  Commissioning, costing and contracting approximately five or six titles a year for publication and being editorially responsible for a further number of titles.
• In‑house writing:
  Writing text for in‑house projects including narrative, rhyme and activity text.
• Design briefing:
  Writing design briefs for covers and internal layouts.
• Brand & audience alignment:
  Ensuring titles are suitable for their intended audience and align with the values of the brand they relate to.
• Editing & proofreading:
  Content editing, copyediting and proofreading.
• Project & cost management:
  Project management of specified new, reissue and re‑use titles from creation through to publication, alongside the maintenance of costings through to publication.
• Freelance management:
  Managing freelance editors and writers.
• Systems & data administration:
  Using Publishing Management systems (Biblio), Vista, File Director and Bookscan and other internal data sources.
• Marketing & sales copy:
  Drafting of cover copy, Title Information sheets, catalogue, book fair and presentation copy as required.
• Stakeholder relations:
  Liaising with licensors and agents/authors/illustrators to relay information and to seek approvals.

Your usual day might include writing design briefs and internal text for activity books, managing and editing upcoming frontlist titles, second‑editing titles for a senior colleague, helping to generate ideas for new titles in a publishing programme, and sending layouts to licence holders for approval.

• Publishing experience:
  Experience of working in full‑colour illustrated or licensed publishing for children. Significant experience as an Assistant Editor or equivalent within a commercial publishing environment.
• Project management:
  Experience of project‑managing titles from acquisition through to final files.
• In‑house writing & creative development:
  Experience writing text for in‑house projects and creative development of new titles.
• Market knowledge:
  Knowledge of the contemporary children’s book market and an active interest in children’s publishing, with a clear understanding of the Macmillan Children’s Books Preschool, Brands & Classics list.
• Licensed publishing:
  Familiarity with specific requirements of licensed publishing and experience working with…