Managing Editorial Director, Vintage

Managing Editorial Director, Vintage

Are you highly organised, proactive and experienced in editorial project-management? Do you have impeccable attention to detail, an appetite to innovate and ability to remain focussed under pressure? We’ve got an exciting opportunity to join the Vintage publishing team as our new Managing Editorial Director.

About the division

Vintage publishes a broad portfolio of award-winning and bestselling titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels. Some of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious imprints make up Vintage publishing, including Chatto & Windus and Jonathan Cape. These imprints are joined by newer or relaunched imprints: The Bodley Head, Harvill, Fern Press, and Vintage Classics with its distinctive red spine design. 

The role

We’re recruiting a Managing Editorial Director to play a key part in bringing our books to life. You’ll be responsible for guiding Vintage’s publishing from edited manuscript to final file, overseeing the smooth running of the managing editorial team to ensure that our schedule stays on track. You’ll ensure that our high standards are maintained throughout and provide a crucial point of contact between in-house teams, as well as managing the work of an extensive pool of freelancers.

Key responsibilities:

• Overall responsibility for managing the editorial schedule across the division, including communicating deadlines, recording progress, and attending key meetings in the editorial process.
• Provide leadership and supervise the work of the Managing Editorial team, allocating titles between the team, as well as liaising with a pool of freelancers.
• Work closely, and act as the key liaison, with the Editorial, Production, Rights and Design teams to see titles through from manuscript to press.
• Liaise with all relevant internal and external partners to ensure the entire process is working smoothly and that deadlines are being met.
• Own the standardisation and optimisation of editorial processes and systems within the division.
• Own the relationship and co-ordinate the work of all freelancers, ensuring the copy-editing and proofreading processes are carried out to the highest standard.
• Develop and implement the Vintage house style across the list.
• Collate manuscripts, proofs, check advance information and complete proofreading of titles, marketing and publicity materials and book proof covers.

What you’ll bring

Essential criteria:

• Experience of overseeing a list of titles and effectively managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Copy-editing and proofreading expertise.
• Experience of managing and motivating a high-performing team.
• Impeccable grammar and spelling, and close attention to detail.
• Delivery focused with experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience of enhancing processes, spotting opportunities to streamline and improve ways of working.
• A natural curiosity and appetite for continuous growth and learning.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• First-class organisation and time-management skills.
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 21st May.

• Please ensure you include a cover letter, as it is a crucial part of our assessment process. The cover letter offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements. Typically, we expect the cover letter to be no more than one or two pages in length.
• Please note we are looking for someone to join the team in this role end of September/early October.

Salary

£50,000-£60,000 annual salary dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

 Hybrid working

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. For this role we expect that you will be in the office a minimum of two days per week, typically Tuesday and Thursday.

About Penguin

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

The recruitment process

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. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Company: Penguin Books Limited 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: London 

City: London 

Postal Code: SW11 7BW 

Job ID: 279629