Senior Commissioning Editor - Co-Edition, the Bright Press

Senior Commissioning Editor - Co-Edition, The Bright Press

The Bright Press creates illustrated non-fiction books in collaboration with leading publishers worldwide. We are seeking a creative, dynamic, and experienced Senior Commissioning Editor to join our Brighton-based team and drive the growth of our co-edition publishing program. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of illustrated books, particularly in the fields of natural history, science, and related subjects, working closely with prestigious publishing partners.

Contract

Full-time, permanent

Up to £45,000 per year

17 April 2025

Working hours

Full-time, Monday to Friday. We currently operate a discretionary hybrid model, with three days in our Brighton office and two working from home.

About the role

You will take the lead in generating and commissioning new book concepts, particularly in natural history, science, and related subjects. You will drive the creative direction of your own list, identify market opportunities, and build long-term relationships with our publishing clients worldwide. You will oversee each project from concept to completion, ensuring high-quality outcomes and meeting commercial goals.

The main tasks will be:

1. Lead and develop a list of natural history and science titles, creating innovative concepts that resonate in both English- and foreign-language markets.
2. Build and nurture relationships with international publishers, authors, and illustrators.
3. Pitch book ideas to clients and maintain strong partnerships, tailoring projects to client needs and commercial objectives.
4. Take full ownership of projects from inception through to production, ensuring the highest editorial standards are maintained throughout.
5. Oversee commissioning processes, including contract negotiations and contributor management.
6. Collaborate with internal teams to bring projects to life and ensure they are delivered on time and within budget.
7. Monitor and evaluate the performance of titles, adjusting strategies to improve results and market appeal.

About you

You will be a proactive and strategic thinker with extensive experience in book commissioning, particularly within natural history and science. You will be familiar with the standards and expectations of academic publishers, including the peer review process, and will demonstrate the ability to develop concepts that meet these rigorous requirements.

You will be able to show you can:

1. Take significant autonomy in managing your own list and making independent decisions.
2. Build and manage strong, long-term relationships with international publishing clients and contributors.
3. Commission and develop high-quality titles in natural history, science, and related fields.
4. Develop titles that meet the standards expected by academic publishers, with experience navigating the peer review process.
5. Lead projects from concept development through to final production, ensuring quality and commercial success.
6. Negotiate contracts and manage budgets to ensure profitability.
7. Collaborate effectively with internal teams to ensure smooth project delivery.

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to by the closing date and state the vacancy name in the email subject title.

Ensure you cover the following:

1. Your motivation and what appeals to you about this particular role.
2. What key skills, experience and achievements do you have that you think are relevant to this role, and why. Please provide examples of how you have used or demonstrated those.
3. Where you saw the vacancy advertised.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for the vacancy.

We employ individuals based on their abilities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds regardless of disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, belief, age, or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we aim to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for disabled people. Therefore, we encourage you to inform us of any reasonable adjustments you may require during your interview process. Please note, you only need to disclose information that you are comfortable sharing in order for us to accommodate your request.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will only be able to respond to candidates selected for interview.