Commissioning editor jobs

Commissioning editors are required to have knowledge of the market and the most recent trends, in addition to having a critical eye for determining what seems to be appealing and what does not.

Commissioning editors are responsible for purchasing writers, book titles, or publishing concepts. Their goal is to construct a publisher's list and acquire stuff that may be sold for a profit. They place orders for labor by either searching for writers or reacting to book ideas sent in by writers and agencies. Their job is comparable to that of a buyer in certain ways.

They also make certain that writers provide typescripts in accordance with the requirements and on schedule.

The publishing industry is the one most often identified with the job. In the publishing industry, commissioning editors find authors to generate articles and features and then commission those writers.

This is a middle-to-upper-level position that requires a certain amount of experience in addition to the necessary skills. An initial applicant has a good chance of being hired for a more junior job, such as editing assistant, which may eventually lead to a career as a commissioning editor.

Responsibilities

Commissioning editors are engaged in all aspects of a project throughout its development. They serve as the most important connection between the original proposal for a book or product and the final version of the work that is released.

Commissioning editors do research in their respective fields to get insight into current developments and voids in the market before developing their publisher's list. In order to do this, they:

Participate at book fairs.

Carry do some research on the internet.

Conduct polls to gauge the level of interest.

Attend conferences that are relevant.

The following are examples of typical actions at work:

increasing the number of titles that a publisher has available for a certain category

monitoring the list in the existing market in addition to locating new markets and determining which items and titles have the potential to generate revenue

doing research on newly developing trends in both domestic and foreign markets

locating, cultivating, and providing support for both writers and projects

gathering with senior editors and other commissioning editors to talk about fresh projects

analyzing and grading the book ideas and manuscripts that are given by writers and agencies, in addition to determining whether or not they are appropriate for the list

bargaining over the specifics of contracts with writers and agencies

maintaining communication with contributors and critics throughout the manufacturing process

Setting a release schedule for books and keeping track of their progression during the publication process

coordinating the publication of new books and hosting signings

dealing with matters pertaining to administration, finances, and budgets, as well as strategy

supplying information and making a contribution to the operations of marketing and sales

maintaining the back list (which consists of titles that have previously been published) and making judgments on whether or not titles should be reprinted, revised, or given new editions, or if they should be discontinued altogether.

Salary

The compensation range for an editing assistant is often between 20,000 and 24,000 pounds. This is often the first job that prospective commissioning editors will have the opportunity to hold.

Depending on their level of expertise and seniority, commissioning editors may anticipate earning anywhere from 28,000 to 40,000 pounds per year.

At senior levels, salaries are not only competitive but also open to negotiation.

It is not uncommon for commissions jobs to come with a bonus that is tied to either performance or profits.

The monetary amounts listed are just meant to serve as a reference point.

Time spent working

The standard workweek includes overtime, however working on weekends is unusual, with the exception of times when employees must travel for business or participate in related events.

What may be anticipated

The majority of the work is performed in an office setting, but there are also occasional trips to meet with writers, attend conferences, or attend book fairs.

The internet and technologies based on the web are becoming an increasingly essential component of working habits.

People who have previous expertise in the publishing industry and relationships there may have the opportunity to work independently or freelance.

The majority of available jobs may be found in London and the surrounding area. Additionally notable are the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Edinburgh.

When dealing with financial budgets and working to tight deadlines, the task may at times be stressful because of the pressure that is put on the worker.

The position requires maintaining strong communication with editing, marketing, and design colleagues, as well as with literary agents.

You should prepare yourself for the possibility of traveling inside a working day on occasion and staying away from home overnight in order to attend conferences.

Work or travel in other countries could be needed by some publishing houses.

Qualifications

This particular field of employment is available to all graduates; however, academic, professional, and scientific publications may give preference to graduates who have experience in a certain field.

It is possible that having a degree in publishing would boost your prospects, but it is not required.

Entry with merely an HND is often insufficient, and a degree is typically required by commissioning editors in order to work in the field.

Although having a postgraduate certificate prior to enrollment is not required, having a master's degree in publishing might increase your chances of being hired.

Publishing, digital publishing, and international publishing are all topics that may be studied further at the master's and diploma levels respectively. Carry out in-depth research on the available courses, giving careful consideration to which ones best meet your needs.

Skills

You will need to demonstrate that:

abilities in both interpersonal interaction and communication

planning and organization skills

negotiation skills

expertise in research

diplomacy and delicacy of manner

the capacity for both creative and business-oriented thinking.

the capacity to perform under very restrictive time constraints

a proactive way of going about one's business

perseverance and a will to succeed on one's own

financial management skills

the capacity to contribute effectively to group efforts

a talent for overseeing construction projects

proficiency in information technology.

The ability to investigate new and emerging markets is often expected of commissioning editors who are active in academic and professional publishing. Additionally, a high degree of specialized expertise is typically necessary in this capacity.

It is necessary to have a network of connections in order to source new writers and reviewers.

Practice in the workplace

It takes a lot of drive and commitment to get your first position in the field. It would be beneficial to have experience writing for or editing a campus magazine. Learn as much as you can about the publishing business from those who work in it, and make sure you stay up to speed on the latest developments by reading trade periodicals and visiting information websites such as the following:

The Retailer of Books

BookBrunch

Work experience that is relevant to the field is highly encouraged prior to entrance. Knowledge and expertise in general office management could also be deemed beneficial. Make an effort to get in touch with more local publishing houses and attend events hosted by groups like the Society of Young Publishers in order to build professional connections (SYP). Additionally, this is a great opportunity to network with other people in the sector.

Work placements, internships, and volunteer opportunities in the publishing industry are promoted via a variety of channels, such as BookCareers and the Student and Young Professional. Those for work experience should be treated with the same level of seriousness as applications for full-time jobs.

There are editorial traineeships available at a number of different publishing organizations, and many publishing companies have only lately begun offering the LDN Publishing Apprenticeship, which provides individuals with the chance to get training as an editing assistant.

There are a lot of positions in publishing that are not publicly publicized. People are recruited for trainee positions through contacts (which you can develop by going to book fairs, work shadowing, and talking to people in the publishing industry), from specialized training courses, or because they have made direct contact at the right time. Additionally, people are recruited for trainee positions through direct contact when the opportunity presents itself. If you have previously established communication with a member of the firm, your speculative application will have a better probability of being accepted.

It is possible that you may need to look into finding employment on a temporary or part-time basis. This will serve as evidence of your dedication and illustrate that you take your professional life seriously. Instead of concentrating entirely on commissioning work at first, it's possible that you'll need to submit applications for a variety of assignments.

Commissioning editors are often college graduates who have worked in the publishing industry for a significant amount of time. Typically, a new entrant will begin their career as an editorial assistant, where they will work on:

copy-editing

proofreading

composing content for book jackets

list administration

handling correspondence

collaboration with several writers

administrative assistance on contracts.

After that, there is a possibility that they may advance to the position of assistant editor or associate editor, and finally, commissioning editor. Nevertheless, there are a few notable exceptions:

Some people come into the field with experience in publishing, sales and marketing, or contracts and rights.

When it comes to academic publishing, academics who have extensive subject-area expertise have the potential to be recruited immediately into a commissioning editorship.

When it comes to publishing magazines, a magazine journalist has the potential to advance to the position of commissioning editor.

Employers

The publishing business is comprised of several different parts, including the following:

databases

books

business publications

directories

journals

magazines

news organizations

newsletters

newspapers

reports.

There is a wide variety of sizes among publishers, from major corporations to tiny independent operations.

In general, the publishing sector may be broken down into the following subcategories:

consumer, general, or trade (includes fiction, non-fiction, and children's), with certain publishers specializing in other genres, such as crime, romance, science fiction, or horror. consumer, general, or commerce

academic

educational

periodicals categorized as STM (scientific, technological, and medical), as well as professional journals

publication online, in digital format, and through e-books.

Publishing of directories and databases is a dynamic industry that is seeing expansion. These publishers disseminate information that is commercial, scientific, and professional in both printed and digital formats. After gathering this information, companies may use it to sell their products and services to other businesses as well as to the general public.

Try looking for employment opportunities at:

Publishers of Learned and Professional Societies Association (ALPSP)

BookCareers

The Retailer of Books

Sign up with the Publishers Association's Inclusivity to look at available positions.

Association of Independent Publishers (IPG)

Society of Young Publishers (SYP) - job listings are restricted to members only.

jobs coverage in the national press, most notably The Guardian.

local press in cities and towns that are home to a high concentration of publishing companies, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Bristol.

It is common practice for larger publishing businesses to post job openings on their websites; thus, it is important to visit these sites on a frequent basis. Even though there are just a few professional recruiting companies, not all of them provide positions suitable for entry-level candidates. For instance:

Tate Atwood atwood

Choice That Is Inspiring

Utilize resources such as the following ones in order to explore different sorts of publications in order to get job experience and career opportunities:

The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Publication Directory

Putting out an annual Scotland Yearbook publication.

These publications are often accessible either via the careers service of your institution or through the library of your university.

Improvement of one's profession

Although publishing organizations are eager to recruit graduates, there are not many organized graduate training plans available in the book and magazine publishing industries. The majority of training takes place on the job, with supplementary education provided by organizations such as The Publishing Training Centre in the form of shorter courses.

Training is often handled in a more organized manner by larger organizations, who also typically have larger allotted funds for training.

Postgraduate and professional training courses may give a helpful grounding on the publishing industry and may also generate relationships that are relevant to the student. The majority of publishing courses offered by training providers, universities, and colleges often address topics like proofreading, editing, and production.

The Publishing Training Centre provides participants with a variety of quick courses that include editorial management and abilities in commissioning. The following topics will be discussed:

commissioning in addition to list administration

editorial project management

managing publishing strategy

The publishing industry in the modern digital era

collaboration with published writers

The ALPSP also offers training in the areas of editorial management for journals and content commissioning for publications.

Publishing Scotland offers courses that educate students in a variety of skill sets, including editing, marketing, and design.

In most cases, it is up to the people themselves to advance their own continued professional development (CPD) by accumulating as much relevant experience as they can and making an effort to expand their network of professional connections.

A less formal aspect of professional training is staying current with the latest developments in the field. As part of this process, participation in organizations such as The Publishers Association is required in order to fulfill certain requirements.