Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Picture Book team, acquiring and commissioning engaging stories for young readers.
- Company: Join Hachette Children's Group, a top UK children's publisher dedicated to inspiring a love of reading.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28+ annual leave days, private medical insurance, summer hours, and generous discounts on books.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that values diverse voices and impactful storytelling for children.
- Qualifications: Experience in picture book acquisition, team leadership, and strong negotiation skills are essential.
- Other info: Work in a hybrid model at our London office with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Who we are and what we do
Hachette Children’s Group is one of the UK’s largest children’s publishers, and our mission is to make it easy for children and young people everywhere to access books and see themselves reflected. We aim to maximise our readers’ life chances by inspiring a lifelong love of reading, publishing books for every stage of their journey to adulthood from Enid Blyton to Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.
Hachette Children’s Group is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 11 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds.
What you’ll be doing
Are you a highly motivated and experienced commissioner of picture books, committed to finding the very best stories and concepts to delight young minds? Do you have a proven track record of managing a team and developing strategy?
Hachette Children’s Books is seeking a self-starting Editorial Director to join their Picture Book team. Working with the Preschool and Picture Book Publisher, you will be responsible for delivering the creative and commercial success of an award-winning, bestselling list. Acquiring and commissioning high-quality, engaging picture books, you’ll ensure the list reflects a wide range of talent and diverse voices. You will manage and support a team of editors, keeping the list on schedule and on budget while meeting market needs. You will be someone with a passion for storytelling for the youngest of children and an eye for a standout text or exciting illustration style.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with energy and enthusiasm, creative vision, and a strategic mindset.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for a proactive and experienced acquirer, commissioner, and editor of picture books, with experience in leading and supporting a team. Knowledge of the Children’s market will be necessary to develop and implement strategy, and an understanding of contracts with proven negotiation skills is a must. The ability to work closely and collaboratively with authors, illustrators, agents, and in-house colleagues will be key, as will excellent communication and organisational skills. We’re looking for someone with passion and flair who can generate ideas, spot talent, and drive the growth of our picture book list.
What we offer
Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:
- 28 annual leave days per year, increasing to 29 days after 2 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ (+ bank holidays)
- Private medical insurance
- Generous pension schemes
- Rent deposit loans
- 2 community days per year
- Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
- Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Eye care vouchers
- Wide-ranging training library
- Development programmes (including mentoring)
- Up to 70% off book purchases
- A charity bookshelf
- 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
- Season ticket loans
- And much more!
The role will be based at our London office, Carmelite House, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.
Our commitment
Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic, regional, and cultural backgrounds.
If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for an interview, please let us know.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Editorial Director employer: Alexgrayauthor
Contact Detail:
Alexgrayauthor Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Editorial Director
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the current trends in children's literature, especially in picture books. Understanding what resonates with young readers and parents will help you demonstrate your insight during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with authors, illustrators, and other professionals in the children's publishing industry. Building relationships can provide you with valuable insights and potential collaboration opportunities that could set you apart.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your vision for the picture book list at Hachette Children's Group. Think about how you would approach acquiring diverse voices and innovative stories that align with their mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully managed teams and projects in the past. Highlighting your ability to inspire and guide others will be crucial for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Editorial Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Editorial Director position. Familiarize yourself with Hachette Children's Group's mission and values to align your application with their goals.
Tailor Your CV: Highlight your experience in commissioning and editing picture books, as well as any leadership roles you've held. Be specific about your achievements in managing teams and developing successful strategies in the children's publishing market.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to showcase your passion for children's literature and storytelling. Discuss your vision for the picture book list and how you plan to reflect diverse voices and talents in your acquisitions.
Showcase Your Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of the children's market and your negotiation skills in your application. Mention any relevant contracts you've worked on and how you've successfully collaborated with authors, illustrators, and agents.
How to prepare for a job interview at Alexgrayauthor
✨Show Your Passion for Children's Literature
Make sure to express your genuine enthusiasm for children's books during the interview. Share specific examples of picture books that have inspired you and discuss how they reflect diverse voices and stories.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills
Highlight your experience in managing and supporting a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully guided a team to achieve creative and commercial goals.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Since the role requires developing and implementing strategy, come ready with ideas on how to grow the picture book list. Discuss your understanding of the children's market and how you would approach acquiring new titles.
✨Exhibit Strong Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Be ready to showcase your ability to collaborate with authors, illustrators, and agents. Consider sharing past experiences where your communication skills led to successful partnerships.
