Current vacancies

We are currently recruiting for the following role:

Commissioning Editor, Trotman Indigo Publishing

Trotman Indigo Publishing is looking for an experienced commissioning editor to work part-time, either remotely or in its Bath office. The role will have commercial responsibility for the Trotman list, and involve commissioning new books, organising further editions of successful existing titles, and developing content for the Indigo website. It oversees one full-time member of staff, plus interns/temporary staff, and will be responsible for their output and personal development

This is a part-time role, initially 2-3 days per week, offering a salary of £30-40k pro rata DOE, and could grow into a full-time position.

For a full job description, see below. Apply with CV and covering letter to petra@trotman.co.uk by Friday 14 January 2022.

The opportunity

The Commissioning Editor will generate and oversee the production of new titles content for Trotman. Little commissioning has been done in recent years, so the Commissioning Editor would have the opportunity to shape the list and commission up to 12 new titles per year under the Trotman imprint. They would also need to oversee existing work in progress and new editions.

As much of the print content from Trotman’s market-leading titles appears on the Indigo platform, the Commissioning Editor will need to manage and oversee content for the website, suggesting ways in which this could be improved or expanded.

Alongside commissioning and managing the editorial output in print and online, the Commissioning Editor has the opportunity to be the public face of the new company. They will raise the company’s profile by attending events, speaking at conferences and industry events, and working closely with sales & marketing colleagues to promote both the print list and the website platform. They will need to be in touch with the market, creating new contacts within the secondary education and further education fields.

Duties and responsibilities

• Research and identify new titles for publication, along with the authors to write them
• Manage author relationships, both with existing and new authors
• Oversee the production process for reprints, new editions and new titles
• Liaise with sales & marketing staff on promotional plans and activities
• Promote Indigo via events, conferences, webinars, etc.
• With colleagues and developers, improve Indigo so that it is an attractive platform for advertisers and sponsors
• Attend regular meetings with other Trotman Indigo staff as required
• Liaise with sales & marketing on promotions and improvements to the platform and Trotman titles
• Manage P&Ls for titles and list as a whole
• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting and reporting
• Undertake own administration, preparing reports and updates as necessary
• Line-manage the Content Editor
• Recruit and manage staff as required

 Priorities

• Assess the market and identify new titles to publish
• Work with sales & marketing to optimise Indigo and improve content on the platform
• Oversee work in progress

 The candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced commissioning editor with a proven track record of growing a list and maintaining profitability. They will be creative and innovative in their approach, a self-starter who is happy to work autonomously and manage their own time and administration. They will be used to working in a small team, hitting targets and liaising with colleagues. They will need to be comfortable with public speaking and public relations.

Skills and experience required

Essential

• 5 years’ commissioning experience
• Managing and developing a publishing list
• Familiarity with the UK print and online publishing market
• Managing staff
• Budgetary and financial understanding
• Commercial acumen
• Good communication skills – written, verbal, in person and online
• Good project-management and time-management skills
• Excellent organisation and administration skills, including Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Ability to work in a start-up setting with minimal supervision

Desirable

• Creative and entrepreneurial, with demonstrable success in delivering new approaches
• Familiarity with the UK/overseas education sectors
• Familiarity with the UK careers sector
• Appearing at industry events or public speaking