Job title: Development Editor
Company: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Location: Leicester
Salary: Negotiable depending on experience
Is the role permanent? Permanent
Is the role full-time? Full time
Contact details: [email protected]
Closing date: 17.3.23

Job description

Who we are
We are an award-winning, independent children’s book publisher. We’re small, but mighty! We are looking for like-minded creatives to join our team. We are passionate about children’s books, telling diverse stories and making our books accessible and inclusive for all.

The Role
Would you like to be involved in the creation of children’s books? If so, we want to hear from you! Sweet Cherry Publishing is an independent children’s publisher based in Leicester. We are now looking for a Development Editor to join our team.

Our ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and organised with a positive work ethic, confident in leading their own projects. They will have excellent communication skills and an awareness of trends in the children’s book market.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

  • Reading and evaluating manuscripts, and proposing relevant works for the team to consider.
  • Editing, copy-editing and proofreading projects to ensure they are ready to go to press.
  • Being organised and keeping on top of deadlines.
  • Ensuring that all content complies with ethical codes of practice and legal guidelines.
  • Verifying facts, dates and statistics using standard reference sources.
  • Working with authors independently by giving them feedback with clear direction when editing a manuscript, and communicating with them to discuss deadlines and creative concepts.
  • Working with the Design and Production team to ensure that imagery accurately represents content and communicates the author’s vision.
  • Using Adobe Acrobat PDF mark-up tools appropriately so that edits can be exported into InDesign.
  • Writing blurbs and synopses and sharing them with the appropriate team members.
  • Working with the Design and Production departments to sign off material for publication.
  • Implementing and maintaining house style.
  • Researching and understanding the current children’s book market and anticipating upcoming trends.

Essential Skills:

  • Passion for children’s books
  • Ability to work effectively in a team and alongside other colleagues in a professional, polite and friendly manner at all times.
  • Excellent computer skills and the ability to work using a variety of IT programmes such as Word and Adobe Acrobat (Adobe InDesign desirable, but not essential).
  • Ability to be flexible regarding working days and hours to cover the needs of the business.
  • Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage workload including competing priorities, and to ensure tasks are completed to deadlines.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills when communicating with colleagues and corresponding with external companies, clients and customers.
  • To have a positive attitude and be capable of handling restructure, changes to working environment and receiving feedback.

What we offer:

  • Free onsite parking
  • Workplace pension
  • Working Hours: Our working hours are 40 hours a week, Monday – Friday, 8 hours a day (30 minute or 1-hour lunch break unpaid)
  • Holiday: 20 days plus bank holidays
  • Location: Sweet Cherry Publishing, Tolwell Road, Leicester LE4 1BR
  • Salary: £negotiable depending on experience

To apply: Please send an email including an example of the three things you are most proud of, a short covering letter, CV to [email protected]