Commissioning Editor - 6850 in Cambridge

Salary: £35,200 - £45,700

Location: Cambridge, UK

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week

Overview

Join our team publishing Cambridge's highly regarded university-level books in Education. Our publications range from undergraduate textbooks to advanced research monographs to trade books, authored by leading experts from around the world. We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and a proud part of the University of Cambridge. Our programme is recognised globally for its high-quality textbooks, research overviews and practical guides. This is an exciting moment to join us as new technologies and business models transform how academic content is created and delivered.

About the role

In this role, you will lead the development of new book projects in the Education field, commissioning high-quality titles and managing a portfolio from proposal through to publication. You will play a key part in shaping and growing the Education books programme by building strong academic networks, developing a list that delivers both impact and commercial value, and contributing to the long-term direction of our publishing strategy.

• Negotiating and managing author contracts.
• Ensuring robust editorial governance, including peer-review standards and compliance.
• Coordinating cross-functional delivery with editorial, production, sales, and marketing teams to meet schedules, budgets, and quality requirements.
• Managing and developing the backlist, including planning new editions and revisions.
• Supporting financial management activities, including forecasting and performance tracking.
• Monitoring research, teaching, and market trends to inform future opportunities, including Open Access and digital formats.
• Contributing to internal governance, planning, and decision-making forums.
• Supporting continuous improvement of publishing systems, processes, and policies.

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About you

Please review the essential and desirable criteria to understand the skills and experience that will help you thrive in this role.

• Familiarity with the latest research and teaching developments in the Education field.
• Awareness of the challenges facing academic book publishing in the 21st Century.
• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinking, sound business acumen and a strong market focus.
• Confidence in making informed decisions under pressure in order to meet deadlines.
• Outstanding organisational and time-management skills.
• Energy, creativity, motivation and a high degree of self-reliance.

• BA/BSc or equivalent in Education.
• Prior experience in publishing, ideally within Education (commissioning experience not required).

Rewards and benefits

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance.
• Discretionary annual bonus.
• Group personal pension scheme.
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary.
• Green travel schemes.

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.

Recruitment process and equality

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 13th February 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place from week commencing 16th February 2026.

First stage virtual interview via MS Teams. Final stage interview: in-person at our offices in Cambridge. You may be provided with a brief for a role-related task, which will be shared during the interview, and you will be given time to complete it.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry. We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. Applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration. Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background. We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.