Job description
At Aurora Press, we publish bold, character-driven books across fiction, non-fiction, and literary-inspired genre titles. We’re seeking a Senior Publishing Editor to lead editorial strategy, shepherd manuscripts through development, and partner with authors and production teams to deliver market-leading titles.
The Senior Publishing Editor will own the editorial direction, maintain a robust acquisition pipeline, and drive creative collaboration with editorial, design, rights, and marketing groups.
This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on development work, requiring a proactive communicator who can balance creative vision with production realities to bring exceptional books to market.
Responsibility
- Lead editorial vision and strategy for major publishing programs, ensuring alignment with brand and market opportunities.
- Manage and mentor a team of editors and contractors; oversee the manuscript development process from concept to manuscript to production.
- Evaluate submissions and acquisitions; collaborate with agents and authors to shape manuscripts for publication.
- Oversee editorial calendar and production timeline; coordinate with design, production, and rights teams.
- Develop and manage budgets and schedules; ensure titles meet quality and profitability targets.
- Collaborate with marketing and sales to craft positioning, cover concepts, and launch plans.
- Negotiate and manage rights, licenses, and permissions; track contracts and royalties.
- Represent the house at author events, conferences, and industry events.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in English, Publishing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of editorial experience in a publishing house or agency; experience in acquisitions and project management.
- Proven track record editing and developing manuscripts across genres.
- Strong knowledge of manuscript development, copy-editing, and proofreading.
- Experience with rights and licensing, contracts, and royalties.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to manage multiple titles and deadlines; strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency with MS Office, Google Workspace, and industry-standard publishing tools (InDesign a plus).