Job Description

Commissioning Editor, Ladybird Books
Are you a creative, collaborative Preschool and Novelty editor, ready for an exciting role as part of a small, friendly team? Are you full of energy and ideas for Preschool and Novelty titles, innovative formats and fresh writing and illustration talent? Do you want to help build and shape a list in an exciting period of development and growth? We're looking for a creative and ambitious Commissioning Editor to develop and acquire Preschool and Novelty titles for the Ladybird Books list.
About Ladybird Books
At Ladybird, we publish a curated list of beautiful, playful and imaginative picture books, novelty and illustrated non-fiction for children aged 0-7. Our titles include the multimillion-selling Baby Touch novelty range; internationally bestselling series Ten Minutes to Bed; Kim Hillyard's Waterstones Prize-winning Gretel the Wonder Mammoth, and Molly Oldfield's acclaimed, bestselling Everything Under the Sun. We are a small, friendly creative team, backed by the reach of the world's biggest publisher, working collaboratively with authors and illustrators to create books that inspire imaginations, open up new ideas and help children explore and understand the world around them.
The Opportunity
Your role is to seek out, develop and acquire innovative and exciting projects to develop and grow our successful Preschool and Novelty list. We are looking for an exceptionally talented, creative editor, with a proven track record of commissioning successful titles with international reach. You should be inventive, curious, full of ideas and aware of market and consumer trends.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be an experienced Preschool and Novelty editor, with strong market knowledge and a proven track record of both spotting talent and proactively developing new ideas and inventive formats. You must have significant experience of developing and working novelty titles. Additional experience of picture book publishing would be an advantage. You will have an established network of existing agent and author relationships, excellent negotiating skills and a strong understanding of novelty production processes and schedules. We want someone who can make an impact quickly, working across a wide range of formats as well as pitching new ideas for the list.
You will work externally with authors, writers and agents, and internally with colleagues in editorial, design, production, sales, rights and marketing, in a fast-paced and vibrant environment. As such, you must be communicative, flexible, proactive and motivated, and able to use your initiative in handling competing priorities. Being highly organised with a keen eye for detail is a must.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 28th November 2025.
Salary
37,000-40,000 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, you will work from our Embassy Gardens office a minimum of three days per week.
Company: The Random House Group Limited | Job ID: 283934

Skills Required