Commissioning Editor

What's in it for you?

• Developing publishing lists across a range of legal topics
• Managing relationships with authors who are leading experts
• Working in a friendly and supportive team

The Role:

• Develop a coherent list of new titles and new editions in specific practice areas that provide practical guidance to help solicitors and other legal professionals in their work, building on our existing portfolio
• Commission an agreed number of books that are forecast to achieve revenue and profitability targets
• Ensure that commissioned books are delivered to the editorial and production team on time
• Conduct market research into the commercial viability of new books, research and identify appropriate authors and work with them to produce fully developed proposals
• Present proposals for approval at monthly meetings, liaising with other team members and departments to incorporate their input
• Agree contractual terms with authors and other contributors, including achievable delivery dates and royalty/remuneration rates
• Liaise with authors on a regular basis to ensure that content is written to an agreed length, meets quality expectations, is presented in line with editorial guidelines, and is delivered on schedule and with all material correct and complete
• Manage backlist titles to ensure that new editions are commissioned as necessary, titles remain in stock in appropriate quantities and books are put out of print at the optimum time
• Develop a network of contacts amongst practising solicitors and barristers, legal consultants and academic lawyers to form a pool of potential authors and to act as a sounding board for ideas and to provide feedback on new proposals
• Manage relationships with existing authors to ensure that they are kept up to date about marketing and sales activity and to develop proposals for new titles and new editions
• Maintain accurate information about, and awareness of, competitor activity
• Develop and maintain a high level of knowledge of current and general issues within the legal profession and a good understanding of current and new publishing media and apply this knowledge to the development of new products

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience of working in a professional or academic publishing environment, ideally focusing on law content, and preferably in a commissioning role.
• Commercially minded, with experience in revenue generation and/or product development. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, internal and external to the organisation.
• Excellent time management skills: ability to plan, multi-task and prioritise work to ensure that all activities are completed within deadlines.