Maria B Campbell Associates: Senior Scout - May 2022

Maria B Campbell Associates UK is a full-service scouting agency, reporting on books for the general adult trade and children’s markets for clients in 13 countries, and for a select group of film & TV clients. We have a vacancy for an experienced senior scout to join the dynamic team in our London office.

Senior scout role: You will be responsible for servicing and managing our international publishing clients, working alongside the UK office director. You will need to have a strong network of connections within UK adult trade publishing, and a demonstrable interest in and knowledge of international publishing. We are looking for someone with a reliable editorial sense and an ability to read broadly and engage with all genres of literature. You should be enthusiastic and curious, with excellent communication skills, a strict eye for detail and a love of talking about books.

Tasks:

• Maintaining a communicative network with UK agents and publishers, tracking debut and established authors and reporting to clients in a timely and discerning way.
• Working with the director to manage the team of staff, collaborating on matters of strategy.
• Liaising with our international clients daily, investigating queries, brainstorming ideas, pitching books and strategizing for and with the clients.
• Maintaining market awareness and reporting on UK market developments.
• Attending events and representing MBCA at book fairs (particularly London and Frankfurt).

We work as a team, communicating constantly so that we are managing tasks and approaches together. There is cooperation across our London and New York offices, and between those focusing on literary and on film/TV clients.

The ideal candidate:

• We are looking for someone who has been working in the industry for at least five years, with experience of managing others. Scouting or rights experience highly valued.
• A quick and keen reader, and a clear and elegant writer.
• Excellent communication skills and a network of relevant contacts.
• Highly organised with a sharp eye for detail.
• A problem-solver with a cool head.
• Excellent team-working skills.
• Foreign languages would be an advantage but are not essential.

Please send your CV and covering letter to ecochrane@mbcbook.com stating your earliest availability. Salary on application and dependent on experience. We reserve the right to close the recruitment process early if we have found the right candidate.