What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Acquisitions Editor, Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Gift Books position at HarperCollins Publishers?
Overview
Are you a creative visionary with a passion for beautiful books? Do you know what it takes to craft a bestselling, Christian market title? Are you excited to collaborate with top-tier authors and agents? If so, we want you on our team!
At HarperCollins Christian Publishing, our gift divisions—Thomas Nelson and Zondervan—are at the forefront of creating inspiring, high-design Christian gift books that resonate with readers worldwide. We specialize in publishing a wide range of meaningful, beautifully crafted titles including devotionals, seasonal gift books, lifestyle books, and more. From bestselling authors like Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, Emily Ley, Sadie Robertson Huff, and David Jeremiah, to beloved brands, our imprint is dedicated to publishing works that uplift and transform lives.
We are seeking a motivated and dynamic Senior Acquisitions Editor who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is skilled at identifying trends, and has the creativity and expertise to acquire and develop books that will inspire readers. The ideal candidate will be an avid book reader, highly organized, detail oriented, tech savvy, an active member of the team, and possess a can-do attitude.
This is a hybrid position based out of our Nashville office.
Responsibilities
Essential Responsibilities:
- Solicit, acquire, evaluate, and developmentally edit 10-12 high-revenue generating new titles annually—consistent with a multi-faceted publishing strategy and financial goals.
- Leverage market research, social media, retailer insights, and other data to find relevant felt needs, competitive analysis, topics, and authors that can excel in the marketplace.
- Concept proposals for commercially viable author-driven and proprietary titles.
- Present projects at editorial board, sales conference, and other internal and external meetings selling to internal and external partners on the vision for the project.
- Help negotiate approved publishing offers to agents and authors.
- Understanding of a macro level edit and ability to offer feedback and suggestions to the author with the goal of improving the work.
- Participate in creative development of titles and subtitles, descriptive copy, metadata to optimize search engine discovery, and covers for books acquired.
- Assist the publisher in title list evaluation and development.
- Offer best in class author care to existing author relationships and grow new author, agent, and corporate connections.
Qualifications
Knowledge:
- Editing experience is a must, including substantive editing, editorial project management, and speaking into aesthetics and design. Thorough knowledge of the book editorial process and Chicago Manual of Style is strongly encouraged. Familiarity with the Bible and Christian doctrine required.
- Should be well versed and engaged in social media, including emerging trends and voices in areas like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Meta, and more as it relates to authors to acquire.
- Understanding the Christian publishing industry, with a familiarity with gift book or four-color publishing
Work Experience: Proven success as an acquisition’s editor with 7-8 years’ editorial experience or other relevant publishing experience. Experience in specialty or 2/4-color publishing preferred.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in English, Writing, Journalism, Publishing, or equivalent degree required.
Industry Knowledge: Working knowledge of the book market, leading authors, and agents, strongly preferred. General knowledge of the book creation process.
Additional Skills:
- Collaborative team player.
- Ability to handle multiple competing projects and priorities at one time .
- Strong eye for design and industry trends.
- Cooperate with brand stakeholders and creatives to achieve a better result.
- Ability to turn data and research into creative ideas.
- Excellent editing and communication skills.
- Confronts obstacles with persistence.
- Decisive, well organized, strategic planner.
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced, evolving industry and environment.
- Must be able to travel as needed.
HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
