At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commissioning for a prestigious history list, acquiring around 15 new titles annually.
- Company: Renowned university press with a global reputation for excellence.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent networking opportunities and a chance to influence the publishing landscape.
- Why this job: Shape impactful history books that blend scholarly authority with broad appeal.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in commissioning, deep knowledge of modern history, and strong editorial judgement.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
A prestigious university press with a global reputation for excellence is seeking a Senior Commissioning Editor in Modern History to shape and grow one of the most respected history lists in publishing. This is a rare opportunity to lead commissioning for a list known for combining scholarly authority with wide general reader appeal. The role will be based on a hybrid basis from their Central London office.
About the Role
You will be responsible for building a dynamic, commercially successful list in modern history (from the 18th century to the present), acquiring around 15 new titles per year. Your focus will be on books that marry academic rigor with exceptional readability, global history for intelligent general readers. You will commission across biography, political and social history, cultural history, and a key part of the role is identifying books with long-term commercial potential, and field-defining works that become essential reading. Working closely with colleagues across editorial, sales, marketing, production, and contracts, you will guide projects from proposal to publication. You’ll shape manuscripts, manage P&Ls, negotiate deals, brief designers, support sales teams, and represent the list at conferences and internal meetings.
Key Responsibilities
- Commission ca. 15 high-quality titles per year
- Develop strong author, agent, and academic networks
- Provide structural and developmental editorial guidance
- Manage acquisitions, contracts, and profitability
- Oversee design briefs, metadata, sales materials, and catalogue copy
- Present titles at sales conferences and contribute to list strategy
- Maintain and refresh the backlist, including new editions and paperbacks
About You
You are an experienced commissioning editor with a proven track record in history or related humanities fields. You bring:
- Deep knowledge of modern history and the scholarly/trade market
- Strong academic and agent networks
- Sharp editorial judgement and an entrepreneurial eye for opportunity
- The ability to spot books that combine authority with accessibility
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and project management skills
- Confidence managing P&Ls and navigating contracts
- A proactive, organised, ideas-driven approach
- The ability to thrive under pressure and meet deadlines
Experience across both academic and trade publishing is an advantage.
Senior Commissioning Editor employer: Inspired Selection
As a prestigious university press located in Central London, we offer an exceptional work environment that fosters creativity and collaboration among passionate professionals. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our supportive culture, where you will have the opportunity to shape influential publications while working alongside leading experts in the field. With a focus on scholarly excellence and a diverse range of titles, we provide a unique platform for meaningful contributions to modern history publishing.
