Job Description

Publishing Director, Fiction

Department: Macmillan Children’s Books

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Are you a talented fiction editor with a keen eye for graphic novels, illustrated fiction & YA?

Join our award-winning MCB and First Ink publishing team! As Publishing Director, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to grow our award-winning fiction list. You will be able to inspire a new generation by publishing outstanding books for readers aged 6+ up to YA/crossover, with a core focus on graphic novels and illustrated fiction.

Your team:

You will be an essential part of a passionate and creative team dedicated to publishing a diverse, engaging and dynamic list for readers. We have an exceptional list of authors and high-profile brands, which includes YA voices such as Tomi Adeyemi, Elle McNicoll and Hafsah Faizal, middle-grade authors like John Patrick Green, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Pari Thomson, and non-fiction from influential figures like Hamza Yassin, Marcus Rashford and Dara McAnulty. And we have been publishing poetry at Macmillan for thirty years on our award-winning list.

Your role:

As Publishing Director, your primary responsibilities will revolve around acquiring competitively and creatively into a fast-moving market, leading the growth of the graphic novel and illustrated fiction list, and championing your books from idea to launch. You will work closely with the Publisher on the growth strategy of the fiction list and have management responsibilities.

Your key responsibilities:

• Acquisition & list development: Creatively seek out and commission promising authors to expand and diversify the list, ensuring alignment with the overarching growth strategy for the fiction list with a particular focus on graphic novels and illustrated fiction.
• List direction & profitability: Lead the graphic novels and illustrated fiction list, enhancing its appeal and profitability.
• Strategy & growth: Work closely with the Fiction & Non-Fiction Publisher to develop and implement a fiction publishing strategy that aligns with MCB’s growth objectives.
• Relationship building: Cultivate and maintain effective relationships with authors, illustrators, agents and industry contacts.
• Market awareness: Champion a culture of consumer and trend awareness within the team, using your up-to-date knowledge to inform publishing decisions and ensure a competitive edge.
• Team management: Manage direct reports, ensuring regular catch-ups to monitor and support performance.
• Inclusion & diversity: Embed DEI principles in publishing practices and champion a culture of inclusivity within all aspects of book acquisition and development.

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

• Children’s and YA expertise: Significant experience working within the publishing industry, and a genuine passion for children’s and YA literature, particularly for MCB’s and First Ink’s lists.
• Competitive negotiation skills: Proven success in managing high-level auctions and competitive negotiations.
• Commercial trend spotting: A commercially minded approach with a proven ability to identify, track and react to market trends.
• Advanced editing skills: Proven experience completing structural edits, developmental edits and line edits to a high standard, alongside experience adapting or editing US-originated books.
• Project management oversight: The ability to plan, track and manage complex publishing projects effectively from start to finish, and a proven ability to organize, prioritize and manage your workload to meet tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Publishing network connections: Established professional relationships with literary agents and a wide network within the broader publishing community.
• Commissioning & commercial success: A track record of acquiring profitable children’s and YA titles through creative, proactive acquisition strategies.
• Industry reputation & relationship management: Exceptional author and agent care, paired with extensive experience collaborating across internal publishing teams.
• Mentorship & development: Proven experience mentoring junior team members, driving their growth and supporting high-performing editorial teams.
• 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 working environment.
• Curiosity: A genuine drive for continuous learning and a readiness to embrace fresh ideas and experimentation.
• 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: 14th September 2026

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.