Backlist editor, Adult Editorial

This is a great opportunity to join a fast-paced, collaborative division and make a meaningful contribution at Bloomsbury Publishing. This role within the adult editorial team offers an experienced and pro-active individual the opportunity to work with Bloomsbury’s editors, sales, metadata and marketing teams to creatively and effectively curate the existing rich backlist across fiction and non-fiction and drive readers to our books.

Responsibilities

• Drive consumer engagement, working closely with colleagues in marketing, editorial, sales and metadata to make sure readers find our books across all formats.
• Managing and optimising metadata across Bloomsbury backlist with the metadata team.
• Taking on responsibility for all film tie-ins, and proposing or advising on anniversary editions, cultural moments, reissues and repackaging of author backlists.
• Identifying commercial opportunities from the backlist and finding appropriate routes to market.
• Creating impactful and market-appropriate copy for AIs, retailers and covers for new paperbacks and backlist titles.
• Running the quarterly backlist working group with stakeholders from sales, marketing and publicity.
• Being a passionate advocate for the Bloomsbury brand, and working with editorial and marketing on messaging.
• Maintaining good relationships with authors, agents and other publishing stakeholders, providing the highest standards of author care.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A demonstrable passion for publishing, particularly Bloomsbury titles, is essential.
• The successful candidate will have strong market awareness and ability to identify trends.
• Ability to write engaging and commercial copy.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Creative thinker.
• Ability to understand contracts and licences and work with agents.
• Able to brief market-appropriate covers.

Additional information

The role is a full-time permanent position. However, we would consider applications (a minimum of three days a week) from outstanding candidates who can demonstrate prioritisation skills and a level of experience and efficiency that would allow them to work part-time. The role is based at our London office 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP on a hybrid-working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred). Allocated office days for this role are: Monday and Tuesday.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter addressed to Human Resources (Word or PDF format only) via the ‘APPLY’ button detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by 23rd April 2025. Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications.

Bloomsbury Benefits

• Hybrid working pattern of: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred).
• 25 days holiday.
• 3.5 days Christmas company holiday.
• Two paid Personal Wellness Days.
• Flexible Fridays – take Friday afternoon off by working an additional 3 hours and 30 minutes earlier in the week.
• Work Anywhere Fortnight - For two weeks of any calendar year. The minimum period for Working Anywhere is one week, the maximum period is two weeks.
• Season Ticket Loan.
• Share Save Scheme.
• AXA Healthcare Plan (Private Medical Insurance).
• Peppy Health App.
• In-house Doctor.
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme.
• Company culture – Employee Voice Meetings, Staff Networks (Bloom, Accessibility, Mental Health, Pride, and Parents, Guardians and Carers, Multi-Faith) and 13 Mental Health First Aiders trained across the UK offices, Publishing Events and access to free Publishing Resources.

Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, or socio-economic status can thrive, feel comfortable, and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please include in your application that you found this role through Creative Access. We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please flag to the recruitment team if required. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.