Editorial Director – Pan Non-Fiction & Macmillan Business

Are you passionate about commercial non-fiction and business books? Do you want to build your own market-leading list and help shape strategy? Maybe you are a well-connected journalist who wants a career change. Or an ambitious editor within the book industry looking for the next step. We are looking for a creative and entrepreneurial Editorial Director to join a thriving and fast-growing part of our business.

Your Team

Macmillan Business, established in 2023, is home to some of the biggest international authors in business, self-development and smart-thinking publishing, including Kim Scott, David Epstein, Bent Flyvbjerg, Matt Abrahams and Chris Bailey. In both 2023 and 2024, our books were shortlisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year, winning the overall prize in 2024 with Parmy Olson’s Supremacy.

Pan Non-Fiction, across our hardback imprint Macmillan and paperback imprint Pan, is one of the largest general non-fiction publishers in the UK, publishing across a wide range of genres. Our books include some of the most influential and biggest bestsellers in the market with authors including Elton John, Angela Merkel, Chris Kamara, Jacinda Ardern, Adrian Edmondson, Lisa Marie Presley, Ben Elton, Nicola Sturgeon, Tim Berners-Lee, Robin Ince, Mensun Bound and Alice Loxton.

Your Role

Along with the Publisher, you will shape the Macmillan Business list, across narrative business, personal development titles, economics and big ideas. You will drive growth and represent the imprint within Pan Macmillan.

You will also commission books from top authors on the wider Pan Non-Fiction list, in genres dependent on interests and experience. These might include sport, smart-thinking, personal development, popular science, current affairs, gift and history.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Creatively seek out and commission leading authors to expand and diversify the lists, ensuring alignment with the overarching growth strategy for Macmillan Business and Pan Non-Fiction.
• Take editorial responsibility for Macmillan Business, enhancing its appeal and profitability.
• Proactively develop IP projects with World Rights.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with authors, illustrators, agents and industry contacts.
• Champion a culture of consumer awareness and understanding within the team, using your up-to-date knowledge to inform publishing decisions and ensure a competitive edge.
• Manage one direct report, ensuring regular catch-ups to monitor and support performance.
• Embed DEI principles in publishing practices and champion a culture of inclusivity within all aspects of book acquisition and development.

Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:

• A track record in the development of successful non-fiction books for the UK and international markets; or equivalent experience in a relevant field, e.g. journalism.
• A creative mindset in how to pursue hot acquisitions and bring new authors to the list.
• A strong reputation with authors and agents, and impeccable author and agent care across every stage of the publishing process.
• Experience of working with multiple departments in a publishing house.
• A broad interest in the world around us, particularly trends in the commercial sphere and in personal development.
• A can-do attitude in supporting the Publisher’s ambitious growth for the lists.

What You’ll Get In Return

In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.

Closing date: 9 March 2025

Some Of The Benefits We Offer

• 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Discounted private medical insurance.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Enhanced family pay and leave.
• Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months).
• 2 Volunteer Days per year.
• 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates).
• Season ticket loan/advance.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounts on shopping and gym memberships; Christmas club savings.
• Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch.

This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

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

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process, if you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com.

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application.