Publisher, Fiction

Who we are and what we do

With over 150 years of ground-breaking publishing from book lovers, original thinkers and market leaders, our unwavering mission has been to publish the most compelling voices in every genre. We continue to find new ground, new audiences and new voices with every title we publish. We are passionate readers and believe in the power of words to change lives.

Hodder & Stoughton is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 10 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds.

What you\’ll be doing

This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader in commercial fiction publishing to join our stellar and expanding editorial team. Working across the list, which encompasses Hodder Fiction, Hodder Digital and Hodderscape, this is an excellent opportunity to be a senior leader in a team that publishes globally recognised names, as well as helping us create the brands of the future. Working closely with the Executive Publisher, you\’ll be responsible for leading the fiction team and strategy, line management, commissioning and brand building, seeking new business opportunities and driving the publishing programme.

The role will cover a range of editorial and management responsibilities, including:

responsibility for embedding a clear publishing strategy to build strong business growth including both revenue and profit growth and ensure quality and delivery of publishing programme

ensuring good relationships with authors, agents, third party partners

directing and overseeing all aspects of the publishing programme, including managing budgets and P&Ls

Responsibility for the overall management of the team to ensure high levels of productivity, inclusivity, entrepreneurial thinking, commitment and morale

Participation in wider Hodder & Stoughton initiatives as part of the Heads of Department group

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the job holder may be required to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required. Not all tasks will be required within every division, as operating processes may vary.

Who we are looking for

Your experience to date should include significant publishing experience in relevant areas (including creating programmes of commercially successful publishing); excellent relationships with a wide range of agents and contacts; expert market knowledge and the ability to conceive strategy in this area; P&L management experience; people management experience; superb communication skills and an entrepreneurial and business development aptitude.

We are looking for a proactive, experienced, highly organised and confident candidate who is ready to hit the ground running. You should be a real team player with meticulous attention to detail, a can‑do and enthusiastic attitude, and a genuine interest in your own learning and development in this role. As this is a busy and dynamic list, you will need to be a self‑starter with excellent communication skills, be able to manage your time effectively, prioritise and work well under pressure and across teams, and to work well as part of the Heads of Dept team. A demonstrable, clear and tangible passion and enthusiasm for commercial fiction in all its forms is crucial.

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
• Dental insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 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
• Eye care vouchers
• 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