Editor, Custom

Overview

The HCCP Custom Team is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and highly values diverse backgrounds and insights that fuel our innovation.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the world's leading Christian publisher, is seeking an Editor to join our award-winning team. The Custom Editor will participate as a member of the Custom Team staff, working closely with the HarperCollins Christian and HarperCollins Focus Non-Fiction, Fiction, and Curriculum Publishing teams located in both Nashville and Grand Rapids. The Custom Editor will also regularly support the Bible, Gift & Children's Editors on the team, as needed.

In this role the Custom Editor will liaison between publishing, design, production, and sales, creating products that are specifically engineered to fulfill a request placed by a particular account (e.g. Target, Walmart, Clubs, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, particular Ministries, etc.). The Custom Editor is responsible for editing and developing content for exclusive products that drive revenue for the Non-fiction, Fiction, and Curriculum publishing teams, including copyediting and project management of assigned titles up to printer-ready files. As previously mentioned, this Custom Editor will also regularly support the Bible, Gift & Children's Editors through these tasks as well.

The Custom Editor's priority is first and foremost with custom product file development for Non-fiction, Fiction, and Curriculum publishing groups. As time allows, the Custom Editor may also be available to back up and assist the Custom Editors for other product groups, develop designs as needed, and assist the Senior Director of Custom on sales-related tasks.

This is a hybrid position based out of our Nashville office.

Responsibilities

• Offer editorial insight in pre-gross margin stage to help inform decision making, planning, and execution on custom products

• Provide early assessment of editorial/freelance costs to inform gross margin run by Custom Team production staff

• Meet with publishers on a regular basis to review budget goals, product mix, and brainstorm potential products.

• Meet with sales reps on a regular basis to discuss retailer needs, bestselling products, and new ideas

• Identify market trends and felt needs of readers

• Work with the Publishers to review author contracts for special circumstances related to custom projects

• Work with Designers to review designs, and ensure timely delivery of interior and packaging files, based on file-to-vendor dates specified by Production Buyer

• Execute editorial schedules revising as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements, communicating with team members on a weekly basis regarding critical dates

• Write copy and ensure editorial excellence throughout development of product

• Build and maintain inter-department relationships and processes for best-practice planning, collaboration, and communication (with Publishing, Production, Contracts, Creative, etc.)

• Participate in weekly Custom Team production meetings

• Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely manner, providing first-response, fast-resolution, results-oriented problem solving with mid-course correction as necessary

• Monitor product development costs in accordance with approved gross margins, make timely and effective risk and feasibility assessments to stay within budget

• Perform substantive and developmental editorial work on select titles

• Proofread back ad copy, catalog copy, and other marketing or packaging copy as needed

• Maintain keen eye for market trends and voice for marketing/sales-style copy

Qualifications

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style is required and the Christian Writer's Manual of Style is preferred

• Working knowledge of Adobe Suite of products is required, especially InDesign

• Familiarity with Airtable is desirable, but not required

Work Experience:

• 4+ years of experience working as an editor for a book publisher

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in English or related degree

Industry Knowledge:

• General knowledge of the publishing industry and of how books are made in all publishing formats

• Experience with Custom Publishing is desirable, but not required

• Working knowledge of popular Christian authors, key Christian ministries, and general Christian culture is preferred

Skills:

• Outstanding written communication skills

• Proven Project Management and organizational skills

• Must be very organized and deadline driven

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Able to lead through tough conversations

• Proven copyediting and proofreading skills

• Excellent at spelling and grammar

• Finance or mathematical skills a plus

• Able to distill numerous pieces of information and communicate key points to others

• Possess an aptitude for ascertaining and developing creative product packaging options

• Intermediate skill set of Adobe Suite (especially InDesign) and Microsoft Office products (especially Excel)

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.