Jobs

PUBLISHER, SERPENT’S TAIL

Serpent’s Tail is one of Britain’s most distinguished imprints, with a reputation for its highly distinctive fiction and edgy non-fiction. Founded in 1986, and acquired by Profile Books in 2007, it has published three Nobel Prize winners and won the Orange Prize with Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin. Its founder, Pete Ayrton, is now editor-at-large.

Job description

This is a highly unusual opportunity to head one of Britain’s most distinguished imprints. Above all the job means acquiring exceptional books; publishing the whole list, championing each book from development and acquisition to successful publication in the UK, in export and in translation; and being the list’s public face. You will report to Profile’s Publisher.

The job, inter alia, covers the following key processes and tasks:

•   Publishing the Serpent’s Tail list (around 18-24 new books and 12-16 B formats and reissues a year)
•   Acquiring yourself around 10-15 books a year from existing and new authors, through the Acquisitions Meeting
•   Working with authors from signing contracts to publishing their books
•   Developing ideas for books (and perhaps series of books)
•   Editing manuscripts and ensuring they are published in a timely fashion
•   Supporting Serpent’s Tail authors
•   Championing the list internally and working closely with sales, marketing, rights and other colleagues to ensure titles’ maximum success
•   Developing and maintaining relationships with agents and international publishers

•   Preparing financial appraisals for Serpent’s Tail titles
•   Creating and negotiating contracts
•   Writing advanced information sheets
•   Obtaining and selecting advance quotes
•   Briefing covers
•   Writing jacket or cover copy

•   Presenting the Serpent’s Tail list at sales conferences and other occasions
•   Representing the list to the media
•   Attending the London and Frankfurt book fairs and other such international trips as are agreed
•   Undertaking any other relevant tasks

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Andrew Franklin, Managing Director, Profile Books Ltd, 3A Exmouth House, Pine Street, London EC1R 0JH.
Or email: andrew.franklin@profilebooks.com

All applications will be treated in strictest confidence.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 2 December. Interviews will take place in December.