UK Sales Director, Harper Fiction

Overall purpose of the role

With a heritage stretching back nearly 200 years, HarperCollins is one of the world’s foremost English-language publishers, offering the best-quality content right across the spectrum, from enduring classics to cutting-edge contemporary fiction; from digital dictionaries to online curricula; and pretty much everything in between.

HarperFiction is HarperCollins’ largest trade division, and is made up of Borough Press, Harper Voyager, General fiction and Estate publishing such as Agatha Christie and J.R.R. Tolkien. It publishes in genres such as crime and thriller, and general fiction across all formats and all markets with huge vision, ambition and energy. HarperFiction is the leading division in the UK for breaking debut authors such as Rebecca Kuang, Lucy Foley, Gail Honeyman and Bella Mackie, as well as growing key brands such as Bernard Cornwell, Fern Britton and Jeffery Archer.

OMC launched in 2019 as a digital first imprint and has expanded in a short space of time to huge success both in the UK and across the globe. Bestselling authors include B.P Walter, Jackie Kabler and our biggest breakout star to date, Sally Page.

The successful candidate will be accountable and responsible for driving the divisional sales across the UK trade channel, reporting into the Sales Strategy Director, and working closely with the Group Sales Director and Commercial Director to hit the sales and profit targets for each budget year. This role is responsible for the UK Fiction and OMC trade sales team and works alongside the International Head of Sales and Digital Sales team, ensuring sales strategies are closely aligned and co-ordinated in partnership with the marketing, PR, publishing, and other key divisional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the Sales Strategy Director, Group Sales Director and Commercial Director to set and deliver the short-term and long-term UK sales strategy for the division

• Delivery of the UK divisional sales and profit targets

• Maintaining excellent UK industry relationships and networks

• Team management, development and leadership is key

• The role will also be required to work closely with the digital team, as well as establish strong working relationships with the International, Irish and Sales Development teams.

• Work with the Retail Director around providing market intelligence to help the division make appropriate acquisition decisions

• Provide the division with immediate market feedback to help them make the most of the titles in the market

• Work closely with Marketing, Publicity, Editorial and other in-house departments

• Attend internal meetings and chair meetings as required

• Manage the stock and print program, work closely with the division attending jacket and scheduling meetings

• Manage the Fiction and One More Chapter key account team

• Take responsibility for managing the retail spend budget for each year

Key Skills and Experience:

• Strong understanding of the UK Adult Publishing market.

• First class communication skills – both verbal and written

• Proactive and forward thinking – making the most of every situation and ability to implement change if required.

• Proven category management at a senior level.

• Track record of experience of working with multiple stakeholders, internally and externally.

• Established and advanced relationships at a senior level in retail.

• Solid experience of managing, motivating and directing others.

• Proven experience of developing business strategies and successful implementation.

• Excellent influencing skills along with the ability to build relationships, even in challenging situations

• An individual with confidence in their own abilities, and who inspires trust and confidence in others.

• Genuine enthusiasm about the list and able to generate enthusiasm in others.