Press Officer - Harper Fiction

HarperFiction is a division of HarperCollins UK, and publishes some of the biggest commercial writers in the business, including bestsellers Lucy Foley, Karin Slaughter, Abigail Dean and Bernard Cornwell.

It is also home to world leading genre imprint Voyager, publisher of George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb and Jay Kristoff; literary imprint The Borough Press, home of Bella Mackie, Tracy Chevalier, Lionel Shriver and Joanna Cannon; and the literary estates of Agatha Christie and J. R. R. Tolkien. HarperCollins UK in turn is part of a global business within HarperCollins Worldwide and News Corp.

Purpose of the role

As directed by the PR Director, the Press Officer will create their own attention-grabbing campaigns for all the HarperFiction imprints and across an exciting range of genres including: crime & thriller, SFF, commercial women’s fiction, and commercial/literary crossover. They will lead events and partnerships strategies across the team, and play a key role in maintaining the team’s social media profile. They will also be supporting the PR Director on some of the division’s most high-profile and bestselling campaigns.

Responsibilities:

• Be a leading voice for our events strategy, helping to create engaging, unique events and talks across a range of titles, focusing on curation, brand partnerships and execution.

• Plan and implement fully integrated PR campaigns for books across our list (imprints include General Fiction, The Borough Press and HarperVoyager), by liaising with the media, festivals, booksellers, influencers, as well as programming Book It events.

• Maintain good relationships with the media, and regularly meet with journalists, festivals and bookshops on behalf of the team to pitch the list.

• Engage with online communities across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to build relationships with influencers and reach new audiences for our books in innovative ways, as well grow the team’s social media presence.

• Liaise with key stakeholders within the division – Marketing, Sales and Editorial – to ensure they have the publicity support needed to achieve our sales ambitions. You will also be taking part in author presentations and internal meetings to ensure smooth communication across your campaigns.

• Read submissions and feedback to line manager and editorial ahead of acquisitions meeting, and in some cases help create pitch documents for new authors.

• Maintain an awareness of the market and be tapped into news and trends and news within the publishing industry, as well as publicity campaigns of our competitors.

Person Specification

Experience:

• A genuine passion for, and preferably direct experience in, commercial fiction publishing – from general fiction to crime and thriller, historical to literary.

• Experience of organising and managing author tours and events.

• A range of hybrid event experience, ideally having worked with brand/media partners.

• Can evidence examples of social content creation, and its impact on a campaign.

• Proven track record of providing impeccable author care, and of having a strong relationship with the media.

• Excellent knowledge of different media opportunities across print, broadcast and online.

Skills & Disposition:

• A team player with excellent communication and people skills at all levels

• Motivated self-starter with a ‘can-do’ attitude

• A strong and creative eye for detail

• Fantastic organisation skills and ability to prioritise work effectively

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

• An assured content creator who can navigate different social media platforms with ease

• Ability to work odd evenings and weekends as required

• An excellent sense of initiative, always thinking one step ahead

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office) 

• 26 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.