Publisher

Do you want to oversee two award-winning children’s imprints, publishing books that are enjoyed by children around the world?

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and Ivy Kids Eco have an exciting opportunity for a creative, commercially minded and strategic Publisher to direct its teams and drive the vision, commercial success and creative excellence of these two outstanding children’s imprints.

Quarto creates inspiring books for adults and children published across the globe. As the Publisher, you will play a key role in ensuring Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and Ivy Kids Eco continue to publish innovative and best-in-class children’s books and remain key drivers of Quarto’s success.

Contract  

Permanent

Salary

From £62,000 per annum

Closing date 

21 January 2025

Working hours 

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. We currently operate a discretionary hybrid model, with three days in our London office and two working from home.

About the role 

Reporting to the Associate Group Publishing Director, you will be responsible for shaping the publishing programmes, overseeing key brands, including Little People, BIG DREAMS and The Story Orchestra, and leading the team to deliver innovative and market-leading picture books, gift books and non-fiction for UK, US and international markets. You will be responsible for overseeing the commissioning and development of effective and profitable children’s publishing in print and digital, and co-ordinating all elements of the publishing process.

What you will be involved in:

• Working with the Associate Group Publishing Director to set and execute the publishing strategy for both imprints, ensuring growth and profitability.
• Playing a key role in driving innovation, including developing an innovative culture, identifying future growth opportunities and driving new product development.
• Managing the P&L and budgets, working with the commercial and sales functions as necessary.
• Monitoring market performance and retail penetration to inform strategic decisions.
• Line managing the Editorial Director, Managing Editor, Little People, BIG DREAMS Editor and Art Director, empowering them to deliver results.
• Approving titles at key stages in their development, ensuring they align with the strategic goals of the imprints, and maintaining high standards of design, editorial and production.
• Overseeing publishing agreements and contract negotiations with support from the Associate Group Publishing Director and Contracts Director, as required.
• Supporting brand development and brand extensions, including the growth of the key series Little People, BIG DREAMS.
• Managing key stakeholder relationships with significant authors and business partners.
• Acting as a key ambassador for the imprints internally and externally, building strong relationships with authors, illustrators, agents and key partners.

About you 

You should be able to publish exceptional picture books, gift books and non-fiction. You will have experience of managing people or teams, be strategic and innovative, highly organised and have excellent attention to detail. Your agent contacts will be established and proven in the UK and ideally at a global level.

You will be able to show you can: 

• Build exciting and profitable publishing programmes that maintain and enhance Quarto’s reputation for very high quality, innovative and internationally successful publishing.
• Innovate and drive new product development.
• Solicit, evaluate and acquire book proposals.
• Understand complex acquisitions contracts and rights management.
• Manage financial matters and negotiate effectively.
• Meet schedules and budgets.
• Effectively manage staff and lead teams, and foster a collaborative, innovative and supportive team culture.
• Work across the division.
• Multitask and handle competing priorities.
• Oversee key processes.

What we can offer

A supportive, open environment with development opportunities, as well as the following benefits: 

• 25 days paid holiday per year (increasing up to 30 days per year), plus bank holidays
• Cultural appreciation day (to honour a cultural holiday which is significant to you, separate to your holiday entitlement)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts on selected shops, retailers, and restaurants
• Health Cash Plan
• Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Summer hours
• Free books scheme
• Active social and diversity committees
• Open plan, hot desking office environment

How to apply 

Please send a CV and cover letter to talent@quarto.com by the closing date and state the vacancy name in the email subject title.

Ensure you cover the following:

• Your motivation and what appeals to you about this particular role
• What key skills, experience and achievements you have that you think are relevant to this role, and why. Please provide examples of how you have used or demonstrated those.
• Where you saw the vacancy advertised

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for the vacancy.

We employ individuals based on their abilities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds regardless of disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, belief, age, or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we aim to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for disabled people. Therefore, we encourage you to inform us of any reasonable adjustments you may require during your interview process. Please note, you only need to disclose information that you are comfortable sharing in order for us to accommodate your request.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we only be able to respond to candidates selected for interview.