At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in publishing bestsellers across fiction and non-fiction.
- Company: Join the prestigious Chatto & Windus, part of Penguin Books.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for creativity and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the literary landscape and work with renowned authors.
- Qualifications: Proven editing and commissioning experience in literary publishing.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 52000 £ per year.
Are you already an Editorial Director, or an ambitious Senior Commissioning Editor ready to take the next step? This is a rare chance to take up a key role at Chatto & Windus, one of Vintage's prestigious literary imprints.
About Chatto & Windus
Chatto & Windus publishes fiction, non‐fiction and poetry across a wide range of subjects and styles, from memoir, campaigning books and science to Booker Prize‐winning literary fiction, crossover bestsellers and genre‐defying poetry. We seek to balance the highest quality writing with commercial potential in everything we do. Recent titles include Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Tom Crewe's The New Life, Laura Cumming's Thunderclap, Diana Evans's A House for Alice, Margaret Atwood's Old Babes in the Wood, Lauren Elkin's Art Monsters and Hannah Ritchie's Not the End of the World. We are also the proud publishers of Toni Morrison, Nigella Lawson, Anne Tyler, Richard Flanagan, Amanda Gorman, Damon Galgut, Emma Cline, Warsan Shire, Caroline Criado Perez, Edmund de Waal, NoViolet Bulawayo, Kerry Hudson, Kayo Chingonyi and Rose Tremain.
The Opportunity
The successful candidate will support the Publishing Director and Deputy Publishing Director in managing and developing our publishing, strategy and workflow to launch bestsellers and ensure the quality of publishing. You will commission and publish a portion of the list directly, while having insight into the entire publishing programme, acting as an ambassador for the list and contributing to strategy for titles outside your own commissioning. You will help identify and build a case for new projects, negotiate contracts, position and launch books, galvanise colleagues across departments, solicit quotes, write great copy, brief and oversee jacket design, while being a primary point of contact for authors and agents.
Candidate Profile
- A proven track record in editing, acquiring, proactively commissioning new ideas and profitably publishing literary non‐fiction and fiction. If your experience is in non‐fiction only, we would also welcome hearing from you.
- Creativity, energy, sound commercial judgement and editorial flair combined with the ability to follow through and keep on schedule and budget.
- Ability to build strong relationships with authors, agents and across the wider industry.
- A keen sense of Chatto & Windus's and Vintage's priorities and values, and what makes for an outstanding work of non‐fiction, narrative non‐fiction and fiction.
- Comfortable acting as an internal and external ambassador for Chatto & Windus, and as a leader within the imprint and as part of the wider Vintage editorial team.
- A strong team player with interpersonal sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
- Professional curiosity, and an appetite for innovation and problem‐solving.
- A good understanding of the marketplace: retailers, media, audiences and competitors.
- Confident partner for Marketing, Publicity, and other internal teams to develop each book's strategy, positioning, copy and design.
- Proven author care and negotiation experience.
What you can expect from us
Salary: £47,000 – £52,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
Competitive benefits package:
- Financial – income protection, life assurance, childcare allowance
- Wellbeing – healthcare cash plan, critical illness cover, health checks
- Lifestyle – enhanced parental leave, tech scheme
Hybrid working
We're experimenting with a hybrid way of working that suits the needs of each team. While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. At Vintage, we consider what environment enables the best work for individuals, teams and the company. Vintage colleagues work from our Embassy Gardens office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and, once team and divisional considerations have been taken into account, have the flexibility to choose where to work on other days of the week.
As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt‐in on their application form. If reasonable adjustments are needed, please contact us for support.
Editorial Director, Chatto & Windus in London employer: Penguin Books
At Penguin Books, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. As the Editorial Director at Chatto & Windus, you will not only have the opportunity to shape the literary landscape but also benefit from a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and a flexible hybrid working model that prioritises your well-being and professional growth. Join us in our mission to publish outstanding works that resonate with readers and make a meaningful impact in the literary world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Editorial Director, Chatto & Windus in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the publishing industry, especially those connected to Chatto & Windus. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for literature! When you get the chance to chat with someone from the company, share your favourite titles from Chatto & Windus and discuss what makes them special. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but you genuinely care about their work.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by knowing the latest trends in publishing. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their strategy and workflow. Bring fresh ideas to the table that align with their mission of balancing quality writing with commercial potential.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 at Chatto & Windus. Let’s make it happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Editorial Director, Chatto & Windus in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Publishing:When writing your application, let your love for literature and publishing shine through. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role and how it aligns with our values at Chatto & Windus.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in editing and commissioning. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate a proven track record, so be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role.
Be Creative with Your Copy:Since you’ll be writing great copy as part of the job, show us what you can do in your application. Use engaging language and a clear structure to make your application stand out from the crowd.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows that you’re serious about joining our team at Vintage.
How to prepare for a job interview at Penguin Books
✨Know Your Authors
Familiarise yourself with the authors and titles published by Chatto & Windus. Being able to discuss their works and how they align with your vision for future projects will show your genuine interest and understanding of the imprint.
✨Showcase Your Editorial Flair
Prepare examples of your previous work that highlight your editorial skills, particularly in commissioning and publishing. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully launched books and what strategies you used to ensure their quality and commercial potential.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Acumen
Understand the current market trends and be prepared to discuss how you would position new titles within the competitive landscape. Show that you can balance creativity with sound commercial judgement, which is crucial for this role.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with authors, agents, and internal teams. Share specific examples of how you've collaborated across departments to achieve successful outcomes, as teamwork is key in this role.
