Senior Editor, Doubleday Canada

Senior Editor, Doubleday Canada

The salary range for this position begins at $82,867 and will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

Changing the world, one book at a time.

As a team of dedicated book-loving professionals, we discover, shape, and share content that nurtures thoughts, dreams, and conversations around the globe, ensuring that both new and established voices are heard.

At Doubleday Canada, we derive the utmost satisfaction from being a dynamic and engaged team, with the same exceptional range to our publishing that has sustained our first-rate reputation for over 85 years. The authors we are privileged to work with comprise literary prize-winners and commercial trailblazers as well as new, emerging talent and non-fiction luminaries. We are a keen group of voracious readers devoted to nurturing some of the country’s most groundbreaking, innovative voices as well as championing the works of a multitude of celebrated international writers.

We are looking for a Senior Editor to join the publishing team at Doubleday Canada.

Are you a curious, culturally aware, and ambitious thinker, with an enthusiasm for the world of book publishing? Do you read widely across genres particularly in nonfiction? Do you value working with a close-knit team that considers your ideas and contributions vital to the group’s direction? Do you have the confidence and creativity to shape conversations and shift perspectives through the authors and books you publish? If this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Your contribution to the story: 

Reporting to the Publisher, you will join the collaborative, focused Doubleday Canada team committed to finding and publishing books that seek to inform, entertain, and illuminate. This role offers you the chance to work with some of Canada’s and the world’s leading thinkers and writers, strengthen your market and publishing knowledge, and build a community, both internally and externally, for your books and for your list at an award-winning, market-leading imprint.

What you’ll do:

• Acquire and publish 8-10 nonfiction titles per year, including history, psychology, pop culture, science, true crime, business, investigative and journalistic nonfiction.
• Generate new book ideas based on talent, market trends, and opportunity; identify and develop new authors.
• Assess potential value of non-fiction submissions and advise on non-fiction publication strategies, including titles/subtitles, jacket art, marketing and publicity campaigns.
• Work with authors on concepts, outlines, and revisions of manuscripts, including structural and line edits.
• Evaluate book proposals and research the opportunity, distinctiveness, and risk of potential acquisitions, including running P&Ls, pulling competitive titles, and creating pitches to build internal support.
• Develop and nurture relationships with agents, including contract negotiations.
• Engage and partner with authors to fully realize their vision, collaborating throughout the acquisition and production processes with them as well as with managing editor, designers, and production teams.
• Track manuscripts through all stages of editing, design, and production.
• Confidently partner with sales, marketing, publicity, and other internal teams to develop each book’s strategy, positioning, copy, and design.
• Represent the publisher, design, and production teams when working with the author, and represent the author when working with our publisher, design, and production teams.
• Position books in-house and externally for maximum success through compelling presentations and the preparation of strong market comparisons, and descriptive copy.
• Assume editorial responsibility for select authors already under contract.
• Identify legal issues and work on legal reviews with counsel as needed.
• Represent Doubleday Canada at book launches and other industry events

Experience and knowledge you’ll bring (qualifications):

• At least 5 years experience within book publishing with a solid track record of acquiring and shaping commercially successful non-fiction and fiction books, or equivalent experience at a senior level in media or cultural institutions.
• Experience in non-fiction; a deep knowledge of and interest in the big ideas/practical non-fiction market, and in history, culture, business, psychology, and narrative non-fiction.
• An enthusiastic outlook is essential as well as an ability to work well under pressure, multi-task, and organize yourself effectively.
• A thorough understanding of the overall publishing process and a firm understanding of the financial aspects of trade book publishing, including book-specific financials.
• Strong editing expertise, both substantive and line editing.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to negotiate with authors and agents.
• Stellar organizational capabilities paired with strong attention to detail.
• Creativity, energy, sound commercial judgment, and editorial flair.
• An entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to proactively find the best new projects for the imprint.
• Direct experience taking multiple concurrent projects from conception to completion.
• Diplomacy and sensitivity in handling delicate conversations within a collaborative environment.
• Professional curiosity, and an appetite for innovation and problem-solving.
• A good understanding of the book marketplace, including retailers, media, audiences, and competitors.
• Proven experience superior author care and conducting successful negotiations.
• Poised to act as an internal and external ambassador for the imprint.
• A passion for big ideas and engagement in current affairs and culture.
• An inclusive approach, supported by cultural competency and a proven ability to collaborate with people from across a wide range of diverse backgrounds.
• Enhanced knowledge, awareness, and experience with the culture and history of any community that has faced marginalization is considered a plus.
• And of course, a deep passion for books!

We believe in amplifying diverse voices and are actively seeking team members from marginalized and underrepresented communities. If you self-identify as Black, as Indigenous, as a person of colour, as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, or another marginalized group, we strongly encourage you to apply. Your experiences and perspectives are valued and essential to our culture of belonging.

This role requires a minimum of three days per week at our office located at 320 Front Street West in Toronto. As such, we require candidates to reside within commuting distance of our office. 

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume here by Sunday, February 9th, 2025. Within the cover letter, we would love to see a list of books you have recently read. We appreciate the interest of all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please contact Human Resources at hrcanada@penguinrandomhouse.com or 416-364-4449 if you need accommodation at any stage of the application process or want more information on our accommodation policies.