Senior Editor, Simon Maverick

Simon & Schuster was named to Forbes magazine list of America's Best Mid-Size Employers 2022. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world's most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Simon Maverick, a division of Simon & Schuster, is looking for a Senior Editor to join our new audio-first imprint geared towards publishing audiobooks from independent authors.

Our goal is to introduce both new and established voices on the independent author scene to our rapidly-growing list, merging the entrepreneurial spirit of these writers with the unsurpassed resources and distribution of Simon & Schuster. We are looking for a self-starter who is enterprising and entrepreneurial, eager to get in on the ground floor of an imprint with the goal of merging the best of traditional publishing with the ever-changing literary marketplace, with aims to be as malleable as the authors we publish. This individual will report directly to the VP, Editorial Director and work closely with authors, agents, production, publicity, marketing, and subrights to pursue opportunities across a wide range of subject matters. But most importantly, this individual will have the freedom to pursue projects both within and outside of their mandate. In short: this job is very much what you make of it.

Major Responsibilities/Task

• Acquiring projects for audiobook publication, both frontlist and backlist, with a focus independent/self-published authors.
• Working closely with the industry-leading S&S Audio publishing, editorial and production teams to maximize audio opportunities that complement and expand the growing Simon Maverick list
• Identifying a wide range of independent authors and creators to approach and engage for audio publication, as well as working with agents who represent independent/hybrid authors.
• Negotiating multi-faceted publishing deals that include rights acquisition, content development guidelines and schedules, narration, and other production commitments
• Coordinating and collaborating with S&S Audio production team to shepherd projects from acquisition to publication

•Collaborating with other divisions of Simon & Schuster and identifying Maverick projects that S&S may have interest in publishing in print and/or ebook in addition to audio.
• Managing title acquisition P&Ls that capture the dynamic complexity of assessing the finances of audio publications.

•Updating tip sheets and selling points to ensure we explore all possible marketing and publicity opportunities for our titles.
• Managing a rapidly-expanding list of audiobooks in varied stages of development, in a range of editorial categories, with diverse production formats. 

Required Experience: 

 • Minimum five years’ experience in book publishing on the acquisition or content development side. Experience in audio publishing is not mandatory, but a general familiarity in (and enjoyment of!) audiobooks and their various platforms is a plus.

• A working knowledge of the independent author space and the various platforms authors use to promote their books. A strong network of publishing industry contacts is also preferable.

• Experience or interest in commercial fiction, including but not limited to romance/romantasy, fantasy, commercial women’s fiction, horror, mystery and suspense, as well as non-fiction in health and wellness, spirituality, and true crime. But above all, an interest in terrific books often published off the beaten path that you believe readers will fall in love with.
• Exceptional levels of initiative, curiosity, and autonomy from day one
• Ability to adapt to production necessities and schedules
• Experience in content acquisition and evaluation
• Strong and demonstrable editorial and project management skills
• Experience creating P&Ls, and managing them to incorporate changing input and financial goals
• Ability to cultivate an editorial perspective that assesses and speaks to the current cultural moment, and anticipates the next