Senior Publicist / Publicity Manager, Harper North (12 months FTC)

ABOUT HARPERNORTH

HarperNorth, established in 2020, finds, nurtures and grows northern writing talent and brings the best voices to the widest national and international audiences.  HarperNorth offers a dedicated editorial, marketing and publicity function rooted in the north. Based near Manchester Central Library, HarperNorth publishes fiction and non-fiction across the market with authors including Stuart Maconie, Sophie McCartney and Nazir Afzal OBE. From crime to rom-com and memoir to history, we publish best-selling and chart-topping fiction and non-fiction to reach readers everywhere. 

Key tasks and accountabilities

• Develop innovative and creative sales driving publicity campaigns in line with key objectives across titles and brand authors

• Target and secure review and feature coverage across relevant media, including newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, podcasts, online and social media

• Plan and execute online and in-person author events to raise author profile and generate sales

• Work closely with other departments to ensure publicity opportunities are fully maximised and communicated across the wider business

• Maintain, develop and grow relationships with key journalists, producers and new media contacts across all channels

• Generate trade press releases and announce new title acquisitions

• Be an active voice in divisional meetings

• Manage key publicity tracking documents

Skills required

• A minimum of 3 years publicity experience, ideally in trade book publishing; evidence of planning and executing creative and innovative publicity campaigns

• Proven network of press contacts and strong knowledge of media across broadcast, print and online

• Experience with planning effective in-person tours and online events

• Enthusiasm to find new and innovative ways to promote our books

• Strong relationship building skills and ability to manage relationships with authors, agents and booksellers

• Excellent communication skills, ability to speak confidently and pitch ideas

• A team player with strong organisational skills

• Results-driven, with an ability to analyse effectiveness of campaigns against budget and sales

• Ability to multitask, prioritise and juggle a heavy workload under pressure

• Strong attention to detail, with an understanding of the elements need to make a title commercially successful

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition Manager at [email removed - click apply for more details] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days. 

Benefits 

Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

Summer Hours  

Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

Relocation Rent Support Loan  

Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work and Pride at HC 

Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

Gym membership discount 

Charitable donation matching and  2 volunteering days 

We're a certified Carbon Neutral company 

Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

Onsite prayer room