Commissioning editor

Commissioning editors need to have market knowledge of the latest trends, as well as a critical eye for spotting what works visually and editorially

Commissioning editors buy authors, book titles or ideas for publication and ensure authors deliver typescripts to specification and on time.

Their aim is to build up a publisher's list and secure profitable material. They commission work by finding authors or responding to book proposals from authors and agents. Their role is similar to that of a buyer.

The role is most associated with book publishing. In magazine publishing, commissioning editors commission writers to produce articles and features.

This occupation is a mid/senior-level post requiring suitable experience and ability, so it’s usual to start out in a more junior position and work toward a career as a commissioning editor.

Responsibilities

Commissioning editors are involved with a project at every stage and are the key link between the initial proposal for a book or product and the published work. In this role, you’ll typically need to:

• build a publisher's list by researching the relevant field for that genre to learn about trends and gaps in the market - by attending book fairs, conducting online research, drawing up surveys to identify demand and attending relevant conferences
• manage the list in the current market and identify future markets and new products and titles with commercial potential
• research emerging market trends on a national and international level
• identify, develop and support projects and authors
• meet with other commissioning editors and senior editors to discuss new proposals
• read and evaluate book proposals and manuscripts offered by authors and agents, as well as assessing their suitability for the list
• negotiate contract terms with authors and agents
• liaise with authors and reviewers throughout the production
• maintain a book publishing programme and monitor progress throughout the publication process
• organise book launches and signings
• work with administration, finance, budgets and strategy
• provide data and contribute to marketing and sales activities
• manage the back list (titles already published) and make decisions on whether to reprint, revise or make new editions of titles, or put them out of print.

Salary

• The average salary for an editorial assistant is £20,000 to £24,000. This is often the entry-level position for aspiring commissioning editors.
• Commissioning editors can expect to earn between £28,000 and £45,000, depending on experience and seniority.

Salaries at senior level are competitive and may be negotiable.

It's common for commissioning roles to attract a performance or profit-related bonus.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll typically work 35 to 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday, but it's common to work extra hours on top of this.

Some roles may require working evenings or weekends, especially when attending events or conferences. 

What to expect

• Work is mainly office based with some outside visits to authors, conferences and/or book fairs, which may involve UK and/or international travel.
• Working practices are increasingly impacted by technological advances.
• Self-employment or freelance work is sometimes possible for those with experience and contacts in publishing.
• Most opportunities are in London and the South East. Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh are also important centres.
• The job involves close liaison with literary agents and editorial, marketing and design colleagues, and can be pressurised at times when dealing with financial budgets and working to tight deadlines.

Qualifications

This area of work is open to all graduates, although academic, professional and scientific publishers may prefer graduates with subject-specific expertise.

A degree in publishing may increase your chances but is not essential.

Entry with an HND only is not normally sufficient and a degree is usually a prerequisite for commissioning editors.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not a requirement, although a Masters degree in publishing may improve your chances.

Masters and diploma courses are available in areas such as publishing, digital publishing and international publishing. Research courses carefully to work out what best aligns with your interests and career goals.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• interpersonal and communication skills
• planning and organisational skills
• negotiating skills
• research skills
• tact and diplomacy
• the ability to think creatively and commercially
• the capability to work to tight deadlines
• a proactive approach to work
• tenacity and self-motivation
• financial management skills
• the ability to work well in a team
• an aptitude for project management
• competence in IT.

A high level of specialist knowledge is often required for commissioning editors involved with academic and professional publishing, as well as the ability to research new and developing markets.

Having a network of contacts for sourcing potential authors and reviewers, is essential.

Work experience

Getting a first job in the industry requires real determination. Experience of writing or editing a university magazine is useful. Learn as much as possible about publishing from people in the industry, and keep up to date with current news through trade magazines and information sites such as:

• The Bookseller
• BookBrunch

Relevant pre-entry work experience is strongly recommended. General office administration experience may also be considered valuable. Try approaching smaller publishing companies and networking at events put on by organisations such as the Society of Young Publishers (SYP). This is also a good way to make contacts within the industry.

General publishing work placements, internships and voluntary opportunities are advertised through sources such as BookCareers and the SYP. Treat work experience applications as seriously as job applications.

Editorial traineeships exist at various publishing houses, and many now offer the LDN Publishing Apprenticeship, which enables candidates to train as editorial assistants.

Employers

Commissioning editors find work across the publishing industry, working on:

• databases
• books
• business media
• directories
• journals
• magazines
• news agencies
• newsletters
• newspapers
• reports.

Publishers range in size from large companies to small independents, with the book publishing industry generally split into the following categories:

• consumer, general or trade (includes fiction, non-fiction and children's) with some publishers specialising in different genres, such as crime, romance, science fiction or horror
• academic
• educational
• STM (scientific, technical, medical), professional, journals
• online, digital publishing and e-books.

Directory and database publishing is another area of employment, with commercial, scientific and professional information in print and electronic form being used by firms to market their goods and services to businesses and the public.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP)
• BookCareers
• The Bookseller
• The Publishers Association - Inclusivity - sign up to view jobs
• Independent Publishers Guild (IPG)
• Society of Young Publishers (SYP) - only members can view jobs
• company websites.

Many publishing jobs are not formally advertised, and people are frequently recruited to trainee positions through contacts they have made. Visiting book fairs, attending specialist training courses, work shadowing and talking to people in the publishing sector are all effective ways to make contacts. Speculative applications have a greater chance of success if you've already had contact with someone in the company.

There are a small number of specialist recruitment agencies though not all offer entry-level vacancies, for example:

• Inspired Selection
• Redwood publishing recruitment

To research types of publishers for work experience and employment opportunities, you can access digital resources, such as the:

• Directory of Publishing: United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
• Publishing Scotland Yearbook.

These publications are usually available either within your university careers service or in your university library.

Commissioning editors are usually graduates with several years’ publishing experience. New entrants generally begin as an editorial assistant, progressing with experience to assistant editor or associate editor and eventually to commissioning editor.

Alternatively, some enter from a publishing, sales and marketing, or contracts and rights background. In academic publishing, academics with specialist subject knowledge may be recruited directly into a commissioning editorship, and in magazine publishing, a magazine journalist can progress to commissioning editor.

Professional development

Few structured graduate training schemes exist in book and magazine publishing, but most training happens on the job and through short courses from providers such as The Publishing Training Centre.

Larger organisations often take a more structured approach to training and have bigger budgets for CPD (continuing professional development).

Short courses in proofreading, editing and production are commonly available.

The Publishing Training Centre offers courses in:

• commissioning and list management
• editorial project management
• managing publishing strategy
• digital publishing
• working with authors.

The ALPSP also offers training in commissioning and journal editorial management and Publishing Scotland offers editorial, marketing and design courses. You’ll usually need to manage your own CPD by gaining varied experience and staying informed.

Keeping up with industry trends is essential. Membership of bodies such as The Publishers Association.

Career prospects

Opportunities for progression often depend on the size of the company. A small publishing company may offer early exposure across a range of editing, production, marketing and business management areas, while larger companies may offer the opportunity to specialise earlier, with a clear career structure and more opportunity for promotion.

Career development success is sometimes linked to the level of profit generated by a commissioning editor, though this is not always the case. Other factors can influence career progression, such as:

• the critical reception of the commissioned work
• the degree to which commissions strategically align with the publisher’s brand or goals
• how well author relationships are fostered, and talent is developed
• the contribution an editor makes to growing a publisher’s list or expanding in a market
• the ability to innovate in digital or emerging formats
• positive team collaboration and project management.

Gaining varied experience in one or more organisations may increase your chances of career development and it helps if you can be geographically mobile.

It’s a specialist role with limited upwards mobility unless you move into management. Career paths include becoming a publisher, managing the entire editorial function, or moving laterally to manage a new subject area.

Other options include moving to a larger company, shifting into magazine publishing, or becoming a self-employed literary agent or publisher.