At a Glance
- Tasks: Create innovative designs for bestselling books across various genres.
- Company: Join Orion, a dynamic division of Hachette, passionate about storytelling.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and discounts on books.
- Why this job: Elevate your design career while working with renowned authors and creative teams.
- Qualifications: Proven experience as a middleweight designer with a strong portfolio.
- Other info: Flexible working with a blend of office and homeworking, plus excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
At Orion, we believe every story matters. Open, agile, passionate and innovative, our mission is to bring the best publishing to the greatest variety of people. Ambitious to continually raise the bar, we believe good stories can come from anywhere and so encourage and value contributions from everybody here. Orion 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
We have an exciting opportunity for a talented, creative, and efficient Senior Designer to work within our collaborative design team. Orion publishes across a range of imprints including conversation starting fiction and non-fiction. We pride ourselves on representing distinctive voices in music and literature, smart thinking, literary fiction and gifts. Our no.1 bestselling authors include Ian Rankin, Candice Carty-Williams, Joanne Harris, Michael Connelly, Emily English, and the Rev Richard Coles.
To create designs across all imprints to the highest creative standards, within the constraints of the brief, schedule, and budget, in keeping with department’s design standards, and ensuring commercial relevance within a particular market. Can work effectively within constraints, scoping projects and planning accordingly. Is responsible for seeking approval on the projects at agreed stage with relevant stakeholders, checking proofs, managing costs, maintaining design and production schedules, supplying files for final output. Can collaborate and communicate well with cross functional teams and external parties, using inputs from across the business to inform their design direction. Works largely independently and can solve problems with minimal input and elevate appropriately. Can manage their own work queue and communicate any risk in it. Negotiating with and commissioning illustrators, either directly or via agents. Successfully presents designs. Can distil and manage feedback to create successful outcomes.
If you’re someone with proven years as a middleweight designer looking for a step up and have been responsible for delivering innovative cover designs across a range of genres from concept to production, we’d love to hear from you. In your application, please submit your CV, Cover Letter and Portfolio of recent work (which is in the cover letter section).
What we offer
- 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 occasional travel to London, 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 your 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
Senior Designer (12 month FTC) employer: Orion Publishing Group
Contact Detail:
Orion Publishing Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Designer (12 month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the publishing industry, especially those at Orion or similar companies. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially designs that align with Orion's style. When you get the chance to chat with someone from the team, be ready to discuss your projects and the thought process behind them.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by researching Orion’s imprints and recent publications. Bring ideas to the table that show you understand their brand and can contribute creatively. This will demonstrate your passion and commitment to their mission of storytelling.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team. Don’t forget to tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight how your skills match the Senior Designer role!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Designer (12 month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio: Your portfolio is your chance to shine! Make sure it showcases your best work and reflects the range of genres you've tackled. We want to see your creativity and how you’ve brought stories to life through design.
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Take the time to tailor it to us at Orion. Mention specific projects or authors that inspire you and how your design philosophy aligns with our mission. It’ll show us you’re genuinely interested!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your CV and cover letter, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so highlight your key achievements and skills without fluff. Remember, we’re looking for efficiency as well as creativity!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at Orion!
How to prepare for a job interview at Orion Publishing Group
✨Know Your Portfolio Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you can talk confidently about every piece in your portfolio. Be ready to explain your design choices, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This shows your depth of understanding and passion for your work.
✨Research Orion's Imprints
Familiarise yourself with the different imprints under Orion and their unique styles. Understanding their target audience and recent publications will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your genuine interest in the company’s mission.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Since the role involves working with cross-functional teams, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated on projects. Be ready to discuss how you handle feedback and negotiate with illustrators, as this will highlight your teamwork skills.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific challenges you've faced in past projects and how you resolved them. Orion values innovative thinking, so sharing your thought process will illustrate your ability to work independently and elevate projects effectively.