Senior Press Officer / Publicity Manager - Avon

Purpose of the Role

Avon is a division of HarperCollins, one of the UK’s most prolific and innovative multi-platform publishers. Specialising in commercial fiction, Avon publishes a wide range of titles across crime, women’s fiction, historical and saga, for a predominantly female readership. With books that sell through the high street and the supermarkets as well as in digital, Avon is home to million-copy, Sunday Times and international bestsellers such as C.L. Taylor, Helen Fields, Katerina Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Mandy Robotham, Kitty Neale, Daisy Wood and Sue Moorcroft. Alongside its established stellar authors, Avon has long been known as a hotbed for emerging talent in the industry, with new authors such as TikTok sensation Megan Clawson, cosy crime author JM Hall, and debut crime writer Eve Kelman calling the division their home.

Avon is looking for a self-starting Senior Press Officer or Publicity Manager (dependent on experience) who will bring to the role energy and drive, along with the capability to manage the publicity demands of our exciting list, working in collaboration with the division’s Marketing Manager and the Marcomms Assistant. In this role, you will develop and implement integrated, innovative and targeted campaigns, liaising with external contacts as well as Avon’s internal sales, marketing and editorial teams, creating campaigns that reach all areas of the market and are known for their creativity and innovation. You will be responsible for delivering campaigns to budget and for reviewing and optimising systems and working practices both in-house and externally. You will be a key representative for Avon at all times, acting on behalf of the division at industry and author events.

HarperCollins is based in the News Building, which is shared with our News UK and Dow Jones colleagues in the London Bridge Quarter, opposite the famous Borough Market. The open-plan office has amazing views across London and includes a variety of break-out areas to aid inspiration and a collaborative approach, a multi-media suite, and a fabulous canteen floor and bookshop.

Core Accountabilities

• Devise and implement innovative publicity campaigns in line with key objectives across individual titles or brand authors, on brief and within budget

• Work closely with the editorial, marketing and sales teams to ensure publicity opportunities are fully maximised and communicated across the division

• Deliver high levels of author care, presenting and communicating publicity campaigns and strategy to external stakeholders including authors and agents where necessary

• Generate and foster review and feature coverage across relevant media, including newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, online and social media

• Plan and execute author events and tours to raise authors’ profiles and generate sales

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

• Stay in tune with trends and news within fiction and non-fiction publishing, to maintain an awareness of the market

Experience required

• Proven track record of generating stand-out publicity coverage across a variety of authors and campaigns within the commercial sphere

• Extensive experience of proving excellent author care and communication

• Excellent knowledge of different media opportunities across print, broadcast and online with a commercial fiction list in mind

• Extensive and proven network of media, literary and bookseller contacts

• Proven experience of organising and managing author tours and events

• Publicity experience in a trade publishing house is preferable.

Skills required

• Excellent communication and people skills at all levels and the ability to build and maintain first-rate relationships with internal and external contacts

• Fantastic organisation, multi-tasking and prioritisation skills, and the ability to juggle a heavy workload under pressure

• Ability and desire to work independently within a wider team

• A motivated and proactive self-starter with the ability and desire to own and drive your own workload

• Ability to be creative and innovative in a busy working environment

• Professionally resilient and determined, with a solutions mindset and the ability to creatively problem-solve

• A ‘can-do’ attitude and the ability to remain calm under pressure

• A genuine passion for commercial fiction

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required

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

• 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

• 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

• Onsite physiotherapy (London only)

• Charitable donation matching and volunteering day

• We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

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

• Subsidised canteen and retail discounts

• Onsite prayer room

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. Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.