Publishing Director - Pan Fiction

Are you a talented commercial fiction editor with a keen eye for commercial crime and thriller fiction brands?

Pan Macmillan have an exciting opportunity for a Publishing Director to join the Pan Fiction team, the destination imprint for commercial fiction brands.
Your team:
Pan Fiction is home to the biggest and best commercial brands, including Peter James, Ann Cleeves, David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride, Jane Harper, Danielle Steel and Lucinda Riley. We publish critically acclaimed and award-winning commercial fiction from Araminta Hall, Ellery Lloyd, D. V. Bishop and Hayley Scrivenor, as well as exciting thriller debuts including Jo Murray and Steph McGovern. We relentlessly drive creativity and innovation whilst supporting each other to deliver the very best work for our authors and to define the future of commercial fiction.
Your role:
In this busy and wide-ranging role, you will be responsible for commissioning and publishing a list of titles across the fiction genres with a focus on crime and thriller fiction. You will be the publisher for selected existing key Pan brands and authors. You will also work with the Pan Fiction Publisher on the growth strategy of the Pan Fiction list and have management responsibilities.
Your key responsibilities:

• Creatively seek out and commission promising authors to expand and diversify the list, ensuring alignment with the overarching growth strategy for Pan Fiction with a focus on crime and thrillers

• Take editorial responsibility for the Pan Fiction crime and thriller list, enhancing its appeal and profitability

• Work closely with the Pan Fiction publisher to develop and implement a publishing strategy that aligns with Pan’s growth objectives

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with authors, illustrators, agents and industry contacts

• Champion a culture of consumer awareness and understanding within the team, using your up-to-date knowledge to inform publishing decisions and ensure a competitive edge

• Manage two direct reports, ensuring regular catch-ups to monitor and support performance

• Embed DEI principles in publishing practices and champion a culture of inclusivity within all aspects of book acquisition and development.

Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:

• A successful track record in acquiring and publishing successful and profitable titles across commercial crime and thriller fiction

• A creative mindset in how to pursue hot acquisitions and bring new authors to the list

• A strong reputation with authors and agents, and impeccable author and agent care across every stage of the publishing process

• Experience of working with multiple departments in a publishing house

• Some management experience

• A can-do attitude in supporting the Publisher’s ambitious growth for the list.

What you’ll get in return:
In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.

Closing Date: 12 February 2025

Some of the benefits we offer:

• 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays

• Generous pension scheme

• Discounted private medical insurance

• Group income protection scheme

• Enhanced family pay and leave

• Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)

• 2 Volunteer Days per year

• 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)

• Season ticket loan/advance

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounts on shopping and gym memberships; Christmas club savings

• Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch

This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here:

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process, if you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application

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