Managing Director, Children's Trade

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Job title: Managing Director, Children's Trade

Reports to: co-CEO

Location:5th Floor, HYLO, 105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LZ

Working pattern: Hybrid - minimum of two days per week in the office; up to three days per week working from home

Department: Children's Division

Salary range: competitive depending on experience

General Summary

Bonnier Books UK are looking for an exceptional leader to drive the future of our thriving and award-winning children's publishing business.

Shortlisted for Children's Publisher of the Year in 2025, Bonnier Books UK is passionate about publishing books that engage and entertain all children in the market. It is proud to publish top ten bestsellers such as Holly Black, award-winning new talent including Nathaniel Lessore, Tik-Tok sensation E. Lockhart's We Were Liars, perennial picture book favourite The Colour Monster, film sensation Peter Brown's The Wild Robot and is also the partner for our hugely successful Disney publishing programme in the UK.

After four years of consistent growth across all markets, we are looking for an experienced, driven and highly motivated Managing Director to lead the team and grow our children's publishing into the future. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to set the strategy for growth, and lead a passionate, highly collaborative and hard-working team to deliver on your vision and goals.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of children's publishing and what drives success in this area, with a solid track record of delivery. They will be a strong and confident leader, a natural problem solver, a curious innovator and capable of inspiring and developing a team. Most importantly, they will be passionate about inspiring children to pick up a book, in whatever format, price point or market.

Key responsibilities

• Own the divisional P&L and monitor results closely to deliver on sales and profitability targets
• Set, communicate and deliver an ambitious strategy for growth of our children's publishing
• Oversee the publishing imprints and all acquisitions
• Lead and inspire the team with confidence and vision
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements across systems and processes to increase efficiency
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with authors, literary agents and industry contacts
• Be a key ambassador for Bonnier Books UK through engagement in children's industry and book trade initiatives

Qualifications and Experience

• A deep understanding of children's book publishing and an ability to spot trends
• Strong commercial skills and the ability to use data to inform decisions and measure results
• Impeccable communication skills and good stakeholder management, with a talent for developing strong, long-lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders alike
• Extensive negotiations skills
• A proven ability to continuously insist on high standards and lead a team to deliver best-in-class publishing experiences for authors
• A history of building and developing teams

Company Benefits

• Private health insurance
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Lively social committee hosting regular events
• Group Life cover - including 24-hour GP service
• Company-funded gym membership for all trade staff
• Comprehensive staff training and mentorship programmes
• Flexible working and flexible hours from day one of employment
• Additional holiday allowance accrued for long service - and a full bonus week of holiday to celebrate your 10th year at BBUK
• Enhanced family leave - with equal six months' paid leave for all new parents
• Employee assistance programme available to all employees and their families
• Dedicated volunteering hours each year to support charities promoting literacy and reading for pleasure
• Cycle to work scheme with bike storage and changing facilities on-site at our London HQ
• Wellbeing programme and daily benefits such as fresh fruit and porridge in the office

If you are interested in this role, please apply via our website. We look forward to hearing from you.