Publishing Strategy Director, Simon & Schuster Children's Books

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books is a high performing, dynamic division of a fast-growing and ambitious publisher, and the current British Book Awards Children’s Publisher of the Year. As we seek further sustainable and profitable growth, and build on our culture of excitement and ambition, we are growing our team across several departments.

The Job Profile 

The Publishing Strategy Director is a critical new role which will accelerate profitable growth through a focus on creative and strategic Brand and Backlist publishing development. Reporting to the Managing Director and on the Children’s Leadership Team, this role will interface with many areas of a fast-growing business including international operations. 

The Job Role

The Publishing Strategy Director will lead highly creative and commercially ambitious publishing strategies for designated Brands (Author/Series/Character) and Backlist across all publishing categories, markets and formats, working collaboratively with Authors, Illustrators and Agents, Editorial, Sales, Marketing (particularly the Brand team), PR, Design, Sales, Audio, Rights, ensuring all financial targets for allocated Brands and Backlist are met .

Alongside the core Brands and Backlist remit, this role will input to divisional growth and optimisation plans, working with the Managing Director, and the wider business, on strategic and operational projects that build on Simon & Schuster Children’s Books’ success, culture, and reputation as a market-leading publisher.

This role will oversee the Children’s Publishing Management function to improve efficiency and workflows. As a senior member of the team the role will represent and champion Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and be an ambassador for the company externa

The Candidate Profile

You are most likely to have built a successful career in Editorial reflecting Author and Series Brand Management, creating and delivering cross-format/cross-channel growth strategies (this is not a Marketing role although we are open to meeting experienced candidates who believe they can fulfil the criteria). You are passionate about the life-changing potential of reading for pleasure and can demonstrate this through publishing and initiatives that you have led and influenced throughout your career. You have a strong desire to deliver the best for authors, brand owners and readers.

You are excited about growth and combine a creative and inspirational approach with rigorous commerciality and market awareness. You think broadly and ambitiously about publishing strategies for Author and Series brands and you understand the value and importance of backlist vitality.  Outstanding multiple and complex project-leadership, people management and communication skills are key, as is the ability to gain buy-in for and build on your strategic plans within a matrix structure. The role will suit someone who is flexible, agile, proactive, and collaborative, and we seek a positive and confident leader to take up the position.

Simon & Schuster UK is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity and gender expression.
 

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