Executive Editor

Job Description

Job Requisition ID: 15877

Additional Locations:

We are seeking a dynamic, professional, market-savvy executive editor to acquire and develop a select list of leading fiction and memoir titles. The ideal candidate will have proven market knowledge, experience acquiring and developing a successful title list, excellent author and agent connections, strong editorial skills, and an understanding of product financials. Responsibilities include the following:

•Acquire and develop six to ten high-quality and commercially successful fiction and memoir titles per year

•Foster and expand agent and author relationships to build a profitable and distinctive list

•Present title ideas to editorial, sales, publicity, and marketing teams to gain approval for acquisition

•Prepare financial (P&L) statements to ensure profitability of list

•Directly create or coordinate sales and marketing materials, including but not limited to pub cards, catalog copy, launch presentations, and cover copy

•Work cooperatively and productively with production, design, publicity, marketing, and sales departments to ensure great publication outcomes and results

Requirements:

•College graduate

•Minimum of ten years working for a trade book publisher

•Strong professional contacts to foster list growth

•Excellent editorial skills and proven ability to shape manuscript while retaining author voice and vision

•Proven acquisitions and development track record; ability to spot promising submissions and authors

•Ability to generate and read profit and loss statements, and understand impact of product decisions on profitability

•Excellent written and oral communication skills

•Exceptional organizational skills

•Solid presentation and negotiation skills

•Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively with co-workers in same and other departments

•Mastery of Word, Excel, PowerPoint

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Might be in a stationary position for a considerable time (sitting and/or standing).
• The person in this position needs to move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Must be able to collaborate with colleagues via face to face, conference calls, and online meetings

ABOUT HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT TRADE PUBLISHING:
For nearly two centuries, HMH Trade Publishing has published some of the world’s most renowned novels, nonfiction, children’s books, and reference works. As part of a leading global learning company, it is uniquely positioned to offer educational and entertaining content for all audiences. Its distinguished author list includes ten Nobel Prize winners, forty-eight Pulitzer Prize winners, fifteen National Book Award winners, and more than one hundred Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Sibert Medal and Honor recipients. HMH publishes such distinguished authors as Tim O'Brien, Natasha Trethewey, Paul Theroux and Amos Oz, and a celebrated roster of children’s authors and illustrators including Kwame Alexander, Lois Lowry, and Chris Van Allsburg. HMH is also home to The Best American series®; The Whole30®, Weber Grill, Betty Crocker®, Better Homes and Gardens®, How to Cook Everything®, and other leading lifestyle properties; the Peterson Field Guides®; CliffsNotesTM; books by J.R.R. Tolkien; and many iconic children’s books and characters, including Curious George®, The Little Prince, and The Polar Express. HMH Productions, its newly launched division, develops and produces media and licensed products related to brands such as Carmen Sandiego and Oregon Trail.

ABOUT HMH:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (NASDAQ:HMHC) is a global learning company dedicated to changing people’s lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. As a leading provider of pre-K–12 education content, services, and cutting-edge technology solutions across a variety of media, HMH enables learning in a changing landscape. HMH is uniquely positioned to create engaging and effective educational content and experiences from early childhood to beyond the classroom. HMH serves more than 50 million students in over 150 countries worldwide, while its award-winning children's books, novels, non-fiction, and reference titles are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit http://careers.hmhco.com

PLEASE NOTE:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an equal employment opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.