Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and create exciting products in the non-trade market for books, games, and gifts.
- Company: Join Hachette UK, a leading creative powerhouse in book publishing.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28+ days of leave, private medical insurance, and discounts on books.
- Why this job: Be part of a thriving industry and shape the future of lifestyle and children's products.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience, ideally in illustrated or children's publishing.
- Other info: Flexible working with a blend of office and home-based days.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants
This range is provided by Hachette UK. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Who we are and what we do
Hachette UK is a creative powerhouse and the UK\’s second largest book publishing group. Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity.
We\’re made up of 10 autonomous publishing divisions and over 60 imprints with a rich and diverse history and an incredible range of authors. We\’re also the market leader in e-books and publish a range of bestsellers in audio format, the fastest growing part of our business.
Our award-winning adult publishing divisions are Orion, which won Publisher of the Year at the 2021 British Book Awards; Little, Brown; John Murray Press; Hodder & Stoughton; Headline; Octopus, and Bookouture. They publish fiction and non-fiction in digital, audio and print format, from the world\’s best and most diverse authors, including Brit Bennett, Candice Carty‑Williams, Martina Cole, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Stephen King, Stieg Larsson, Nelson Mandela, Stephenie Meyer, Maggie O\’Farrell, Delia Owens, Ian Rankin, J.K. Rowling, Colson Whitehead, and Malala Yousafzai. Hachette Children\’s Group publishes a wide and vibrant range of books for children across all age ranges, while Hachette Learning is a market leader in resources for both primary and secondary schools.
Hachette UK is part of Hachette Livre, the world\’s third largest trade and educational publisher. As well as our headquarters in Carmelite House, London, and our state-of-the-art book distribution centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, we have recently opened five new offices in Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. The UK region also includes offices in Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, the Caribbean, and Ireland.
It\’s an exciting time to join our business because the publishing market continues to grow and thrive. The UK remains the largest exporter of physical books in the world and book adaptations for film and TV are the foundation of the UK\’s creative industries.
What you\’ll be doing
We are looking for a commercially focused sales professional to join an enthusiastic and driven Non-Trade team. Working across the whole of the HUK Group on a wide portfolio of books, games, gifts and stationery but with a specific focus on lifestyle and children\’s products you will have the opportunity to create and shape product for the non-trade market. There will be direct account management but you will also be actively seeking out new business within the UK discount market and developing brand partnerships and B2B opportunities.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- Seeking new accounts within the UK discount retail market
- Researching and developing new business opportunities for brand partnerships and B2B
- Managing the sales and profit margin for IP and Custom projects to discounter and promo sales channels
- Building relationships with key editorial contacts to drive profitable custom projects across Group for UK NT customers and channels to ensure we deliver and exceed budget
- Attending key divisional meetings, as appropriate, to optimise Non-Trade opportunities including acquisitions and print sign-offs
- Working alongside relevant team leads for brands, backlist and series to find new opportunities for existing authors and titles through Non-Trade channels including backlist reissues, custom publishing and IP projects
Who we are looking for
We are looking for someone who is excited about selling with a proven track record of commercial success. Ideally with a strong background in illustrated or children\’s book publishing you will have a solid understanding of the publishing process, preferably within a non-trade or special sales team. You will need to actively engage with a wide range of internal stakeholders, to be proactive and forward thinking making the most of every situation and able to implement change if required. With a good understanding of consumer trends and relevant market knowledge you will be able to develop product for key brands across multiple formats.
What we offer
Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:
- 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years\’ service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years\’ (+ bank holidays)
- Private medical insurance
- 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
- 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 AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
- Season ticket loans
- And much more!
The role will be based at our London or Sheffield office, 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 interview, please let us know.
The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org
Seniority level
- Director
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Book and Periodical Publishing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Hachette UK by 2x
Get notified about new Account Director jobs in England, United Kingdom.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Key Account Director - Non-Trade employer: Hachette UK
Contact Detail:
Hachette UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Key Account Director - Non-Trade
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the publishing industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Hachette UK and its imprints thoroughly. Know their bestselling authors and recent releases. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for books! Whether it’s through a personal blog, social media, or even just chatting about your favourite reads, let your enthusiasm shine. It’s all about demonstrating that you’re not just looking for any job, but that you genuinely want to be part of the publishing world.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the latest roles listed there. Don’t miss out on the chance to land your dream job at Hachette UK!
We think you need these skills to ace Key Account Director - Non-Trade
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Key Account Director role. Highlight your experience in sales, especially in illustrated or children's book publishing, and showcase any relevant achievements that align with our mission at Hachette UK.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're excited about this role and how your background fits with our Non-Trade team. Be genuine and let your passion for publishing shine through!
Showcase Your Market Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of consumer trends and the non-trade market in your application. We want to see how you can develop products for key brands and drive profitable custom projects.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Hachette UK.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hachette UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Hachette UK's portfolio. Familiarise yourself with their key authors, recent bestsellers, and the specific products you'll be focusing on as a Key Account Director. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can contribute to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Sales Savvy
Prepare to discuss your previous sales successes in detail. Bring examples of how you've developed new business opportunities or managed accounts effectively. Highlight any experience you have in the non-trade market or with children's publishing, as this will resonate well with the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves managing relationships with key editorial contacts, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Share stories of how you've successfully collaborated with internal stakeholders in the past, and be ready to discuss how you would approach building these connections at Hachette UK.
✨Be Proactive and Forward-Thinking
Hachette UK is looking for someone who can implement change and seize opportunities. Prepare to discuss how you've identified trends in the market and adapted your strategies accordingly. Show them that you're not just reactive but can also anticipate needs and drive innovation in the non-trade sector.
