Job Description

Introduction to the role
Pavilion is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, specialising in illustrated non-fiction full-colour publishing across food and drink, craft and lifestyle, gift, and popular culture. We create confidently unique titles and take pride in establishing a strong identity for each book through our integrated editorial and design team.
Our ambition is to publish evergreen titles with strong backlist potential, discover authors, and assist them in building their brands, all while being trend-aware and publishing in a timely manner. This commissioning role requires a clear understanding of the full-colour non-fiction market, the ability to spot trends and identify publishing opportunities for the list, and the chance to work with an ambitious, collaborative team.
Desirable candidates will possess excellent contacts with a wide range of agents, authors, ghostwriters, talent managers, etc., with whom we can develop publishing partnerships, as well as a proven track record of publishing successful, bestselling titles in the aforementioned categories. The role will suit digitally savvy and commercially astute candidates who demonstrate initiative and energy, are excited to think creatively about how we commission and publish our books, and have the ability to develop and implement a profitable publishing strategy across a diverse range of titles. Line management experience and skills are highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities
Editorial:
To commission, edit and publish titles successfully and profitably for the Pavilion list
To read and respond promptly to agent submissions
Build relationships with agents, with a view to bringing in the best talent to Pavilion
Ownership of and main point of contact for your own stable of authors
To maintain strong relationships with authors and agents, providing regular updates on publishing strategy, campaign, sell-in and sell-out for ongoing authors
To work closely with the production team, desk editor and pub ops manager to keep titles on critical path
Understanding and wider reading of international commercial non-fiction market, ensuring strong knowledge and market-focused publishing strategies
Briefing jackets and liaising with designers, seeing covers through from start to finish
Copywriting, creating and checking sales/marketing material, e.g. catalogues, sales presenters, etc.
Clear direction of metadata/AIs for individual authors, ensuring this fits with emerging trends in the market, and is completed in line with critical path
Writing cover/catalogue copy as required
Presenting titles at monthly International, Rights, Sales and Marketing meetings
To create deal memos and ensure contracts completed for each acquisition
To delegate effectively when required, supporting the growth and development of junior staff
Publicity & Marketing:
Work closely with the in-house Publicity & Marketing teams to ensure maximum exposure for authors and titles, according to agreed priority list
Work in conjunction with the Publicity & Marketing teams on author events/launches where necessary
Attend launches and festivals as required
Skills Required
Demonstrate entrepreneurial publishing talent and commercial awareness
Excellent author/agent/talent manager relationships
List building and strategic skills
Excellent people management skills
Good team player, willing to carry through projects
Global thinker--someone able to think 'beyond the book' and help us develop digital, international and audio sales
Excellent communicator (presentations) and writer (catalogue, cover copy)
Proven editorial skills including four-colour illustrated publishing
Detail-orientated and cost-aware
Computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Indesign
Benefits
Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)
28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days)
Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
Private healthcare cover and life assurance
Summer Hours
Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal
Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme
Relocation Rent Support Loan
Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work
Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes
Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers
Gym membership discount
Onsite physiotherapy (London only)
Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days
We're a certified Carbon Neutral company
Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)
With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire
Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books
Subsidised canteen and retail discounts
Onsite prayer room
At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity in our recruitment process. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of all applications, we ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities. This allows us to fairly assess your knowledge, skills, and experience to determine how they align with the role. We value diverse perspectives and genuine contributions, even if answers are not perfect. The use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted for specific tasks.
If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to with subject heading 'Vacancy Query' plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.
Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.

Skills Required