Junior german language production editor

Closing date for applications: Sunday 1st March 2026 11:55pm

Salary: £31,041 (Pro rata salary for part time £24,832)

Location: Farringdon, London – Hybrid after probationary period

Contract: Permanent – Full Time 5 days a week or Part Time 4 days a week

Role: Help create and maintain German-language editions of Usborne books, working closely with translators, designers, and international colleagues.

Usborne is an independent, family business, creating books which spark curiosity in children of all ages. These range from books for babies such as the bestselling THAT’S NOT MY®… series of touchy-feely books, to YA fiction from acclaimed authors such as Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Ravena Guron – with everything from Sticker Dolly Dressing to Philosophy for Beginners in between. While the company is now a market-leader in children’s publishing and one of the best-known brands in children’s books globally, the company retains a friendly and familial feel.

Our Foreign Language Publishing team creates hundreds of new Usborne titles every year in all the major European languages, and many smaller ones, translating Usborne books for distribution right around the world. As part of the busy German Language Publishing team, the Junior German language Production Editor will work on the creation and maintenance of our German (own imprint) editions. While the role is based within our Foreign Language team in London, it requires regular communication and close collaboration with colleagues working remotely and based in our office in Germany.

We are looking for a proactive, highly organised and detail-orientated individual with native level German language skills, excellent administrative, communication and digital skills to join the team on a permanent basis. You will be involved in the creation of German editions, from receiving translations to the handing over of print ready files to the Production department.

Key responsibilities:

• Preparing and sending files and instructions to native speaker translators, setters, editors, and checkers.
• Proofreading material before submission to the Production team.
• Occasional writing and proofreading of blurbs and catalogues.
• Supporting German Production Editors in developing German book title suggestions, ensuring compliance with Titelschutz regulations.
• Working closely with designers creating covers for German editions.
• Translating smaller book titles as and when necessary.
• Handling and maintaining information on our database (Biblio).
• Preparing German reprints in close collaboration with German Editorial Team.

Knowledge, skills and experience:

• You will need to have native-level written and spoken German and excellent English language skills.
• Previous experience of editing or translating.
• A good working knowledge of Adobe InDesign (although training can be provided).
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Clear, confident communication skills when liaising with internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to work independently and proactively while supporting and collaborating with a team based with you and remotely, building effective working relationships across locations.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office; experience with databases such as Biblio is an advantage.

Location and Benefits:

This permanent role is based in our London, Farringdon office. This role can be offered on a 4 days or 5 day per week schedule (salary to be pro rata for 4 days schedule). Please specify your preferred option in the application.

After a successful initial induction period (where we require new staff to work in the office for 4 or 5 days per week) we then operate a hybrid working model of 3 days in the office and 1 or 2 days working from home subject to business need, which optimises our opportunities for creative collaboration and contact with our colleagues.

In addition to our transparent salary grading structure, for this role we also offer a range of benefits including on a full time basis (pro-rata for part time):

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement plus bank holidays increasing with service to 30 days.
• Industry-leading Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders.
• Healthcare Cashback scheme.
• Virtual GP service.
• Enhanced Family Friendly benefits.
• Paid Volunteer Day.
• Rewards and Discount services and shopping.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• 75% discount on Usborne books.

Recruitment Process:

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and therefore applicants must have the right to permanently live and work in the UK at the point of application. We expect to undertake first round interviews online with a further interview in person to be held shortly after. We are looking for someone to be available to take up the post in late March or early April if possible.

Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the application and/or recruitment process. Usborne is dedicated to building a diverse taskforce that reflects the wide range of communities that read our books globally. Decisions are made based on the individual’s skills and experiences and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics in Publishing.