Publishing Director

Job Title: Publishing Director
Department: Macmillan Collector’s Library and Picador Collection
Contract: Full-time, permanent

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to join Macmillan Collector’s Library (MCL) and the Picador Collection as Publishing Director. You will lead a highly successful classics imprint with a mix of creativity, commercial acumen, and publishing experience together with a strong knowledge of and enthusiasm for classic literature. You will also run Picador Collection, Picador's modern classics list.

Your team:
A small, dynamic editorial team working creatively and collaboratively on a full and varied publishing programme. You will also work with a designated MCL publishing team drawn from across the Pan Macmillan business. Everyone has a shared mission to publish classic literature that is accessible to all, beautifully packaged, and relevant to our lives today. You will be responsible for collaborating with the communications, sales and Picador editorial teams on the Picador Collection and thinking of new ways to bring our modern classics to new readers as well as adding to the Picador Collection with careful new commissions.

Your role:
Reporting into the Picador Publisher, as Publishing Director of MCL and the Picador Collection you will be instrumental in driving UK and international growth. Together with the MCL editorial team, you will create an innovative frontlist publishing programme by drawing on classic works published to appeal to contemporary audiences and capitalizing on trends and opportunities. You will maintain MCL’s extensive backlist, ensuring commercial and market share growth and success. You will champion and represent the imprint both internally and externally. In addition you will work with Picador communications, sales, and editorial colleagues to drive greater market share for the Picador Collection paperback imprint and bring new modern authors to the list.

Your key responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership: Develop and implement a publishing strategy for the imprint to achieve long-term growth and commercial success.

• Financial management: Oversee budget management and profitability through strategic planning and execution, ensuring the imprint meets its P&L targets.

• List and backlist management: Commission and publish across a wide range of genres and formats, while managing MCL’s extensive backlist to increase sales and maintain a competitive edge.

• Relationship building: Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with anthologists, agents, translators, academics, and industry contacts.

• Team management: Directly manage the MCL editorial team, fostering an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment that encourages creative and commercial thinking.

• Internal collaboration: Work closely with colleagues across Pan Macmillan, including a designated MCL cross-functional team, to ensure books are published, promoted, and sold effectively.

• Global market development: Form strong relationships with international sister companies to maximize sales and publishing opportunities in their territories.

• Market awareness: Champion a culture of consumer awareness and understanding of the classics market within the wider MCL team, using up-to-date knowledge to inform publishing decisions.

• Picador Collection oversight: Maintain and grow the Picador Collection paperback list, working closely with communications and sales teams to promote the list and bring a select number of new writers to the imprint.

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

• Publishing expertise: Extensive experience in book publishing, with a deep understanding of consumer audiences and current trends, both in the UK and internationally.

• Commissioning and growth track record: Proven experience in commissioning, editing, and publishing, with a demonstrated ability to create and implement strategic plans that drive growth and align with business goals.

• Literary knowledge: A wide knowledge of and enthusiasm for classic authors, classic books, and content from around the world.

• Negotiation skills: Confidence and skill in negotiating commercial deals and contracts with agents, authors, and external partners.

• People management: Proven experience managing teams, preferably within an editorial function, with the ability to guide teams toward shared objectives while fostering a dynamic and innovative work environment.

• Communication and collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across multiple departments and global offices, sharing information clearly and accessibly.

• Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.

• Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment.

• Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives.

• Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.

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: 4 August 2026

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.

Some of the benefits we offer:

• 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays

• Generous pension scheme

• Discounted private medical insurance or health cash plan

• 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

How to apply & eligibility:

• Our process: All applications must be submitted via our careers site to be considered. We are unable to accept CVs or applications sent via email.

• Our timelines: Because we review every application thoroughly and with care, our shortlisting process can take some time. We appreciate your patience and will be in touch as soon as we have an update on your application.

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

Our commitment to diversity & inclusion:
At Pan Macmillan, we are committed to publishing a wide range of voices that reflect the full breadth of the communities we serve. Joining us means playing an active role in bringing our titles to life as part of a team that champions inclusion at every level. We are dedicated to building a workplace that is as diverse and welcoming as the stories we tell, ensuring all perspectives are celebrated across everything we do.

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 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve. You can read our full Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge here.

Disability confident scheme:
As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled candidates and people with long-term health conditions, aiming to offer an interview to everyone who meets the essential criteria for the role and chooses to apply under the scheme. The essential criteria can be found under our ‘Essential experience, abilities, knowledge and values you’ll need to succeed’ section.

Please note, some of our vacancies attract an exceptionally high volume of applications. In these circumstances, to ensure a fair and focused process for everyone, we may need to limit the overall number of interviews. Where this happens, we will look closely at who most closely aligns with the requirements to select the candidates applying under this scheme who best meet the essential criteria, in line with official government guidance.

Please remember that you are never required to disclose a disability to us, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with.

Adjustment & support:
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.

Privacy notice:
All personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice here. Please read this notice before submitting your application.