Job Description

Does the idea of creating books that change lives light you up? Do you thrive on spotting trends, mining niches and hunting down talent? Ebury Self are looking for an entrepreneurial Commissioning Editor to join their highly successful team.
Ebury is an award-winning non-fiction publishing division of Penguin Random House. Ebury Self, through our Vermilion, Rider, Happy Place Books and Ebury Vine imprints, is home to world-leading authors across personal development, health and diet, parenting, faith and spirituality. Our unrivalled roster of experts, professional teachers and thought leaders include Brene Brown, Fearne Cotton, Kirsty Gallagher, Tara Swart, David Larbi, Deepak Chopra and Gabor Mate.
The role
We are looking for an ambitious self-starter excited about the idea of building their own list of titles that inform, empower and spark new directions within the Self hub. You might be an Editor with experience in taking an idea and turning it into book with flair or a Commissioner looking for a new challenge. You will join a collaborative and supportive team and be tasked with identifying, acquiring and showcasing a clear publishing vision for around 8-10 books a year. With confident commercial instincts and a clear understanding of audiences you will be proud advocate for your authors and a regular contributor to team meetings shaping the future of our publishing programme.
Key responsibilities:

• Acquiring 8-10 titles per year with clear commercial proposition and compelling vision
• Staying abreast of trends in health, personal development and wellbeing around the world, able to identify and act on new ideas and opportunities
• Using your market knowledge and research to contribute to meetings, guide commissioning decisions and ensure our list stays ahead of the curve
• Developing strong internal relationships across departments to champion the Self Hub and its authors
• Maintaining and developing relationships with authors and agents with a view to future acquisitions
• Writing first class copy
• Dealing with negotiations around the book within agreed tactics and values before and after acquisitions meetings

What you'll bring
Essential criteria:

• A commercial mindset: engaged with market trends within our core areas of publishing
• Good at spotting opportunities for improvement and growth
• Strong internal and external relationship management skills
• A confident negotiator who is not afraid to constructively challenge when required
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people
• The ability to multitask and handle competing prioritiesPreferred criteria:

• Publishing experience

Application instructions
Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role along with a short paragraph about a book you wish you had commissioned and why by 11:59pm on 8th October 2025.
Salary
Circa, 40,000 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 spend a minimum of two days in the office and flexibility to be in the office as needed on a third day for occasional focus work as a team. During your probation period you will be expected to be in the office for 3 days a week.
Company: The Random House Group Limited | Job ID: 282659

Skills Required