Overview

Are you a talented commercial fiction editor with a passion for women’s fiction? Pan Macmillan are looking for a Publishing Director to join the Pan Fiction team – the destination imprint for commercial fiction brands including Danielle Steel, Lucinda Riley, Peter James and David Baldacci. This is a fixed-term 12-month contract with a start date of early to mid February 2026. We would also consider candidates at an Editorial Director level for this role, with the final title to be confirmed based on experience.

Your team

Pan Fiction is home to the biggest and best commercial brands, including Peter James, Ann Cleeves, David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride, Kristin Hannah, Danielle Steel and Lucinda Riley. We publish critically acclaimed and award-winning commercial fiction from Araminta Hall, Ellery Lloyd, Alexandra Potter, Rosie Walsh, Simone Soltani and Lucy Jane Wood, as well as exciting debuts including Anna Brook-Mitchell, Jo Murray and Steph McGovern. We relentlessly drive creativity and innovation whilst supporting each other to deliver the very best work for our authors and to define the future of commercial fiction.

Your role

This is a busy and wide-ranging role and you will be responsible for publishing a list of titles across the fiction genres, with a focus on women’s fiction, and to be the publisher for selected existing key Pan brands and authors. In this role you will work with the Pan Fiction Publisher on the growth strategy of the Pan Fiction list whilst having management responsibilities.

Your key responsibilities

• Take editorial responsibility for Pan’s women’s fiction list, enhancing its appeal and profitability
• Work closely with the Pan Fiction Publisher to maintain a publishing strategy that aligns with Pan’s growth objectives
• Cultivate and maintain effective relationships with authors, illustrators, agents and industry contacts
• Champion a culture of consumer awareness and understanding within the team, using your up-to-date knowledge to inform publishing decisions and ensure a competitive edge
• Manage three direct reports, ensuring regular catch-ups to monitor and support performance
• Embed DEI principles in publishing practices and champion a culture of inclusivity within all aspects of book acquisition and development

Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed

• Experience in acquiring and publishing successful and profitable titles across commercial fiction
• A creative mindset in pursuing hot acquisitions and bringing new authors to the list
• A strong reputation with authors and agents and impeccable author and agent care across every stage of the publishing process
• Experience working with multiple departments across a publishing house
• Some management experience
• A can-do attitude in supporting the publisher in terms of ambitious growth for the list

What you’ll get in return

In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.

Closing date: 12 October 2025

Some of the benefits we offer

• 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Group income protection scheme
• Enhanced family pay and leave
• Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
• 2 Volunteer Days per year
• 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
• Season ticket loan/advance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on shopping and gym memberships; Christmas club savings
• Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch

This is a full time 12 month fixed term role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: Diversity & Inclusion Pledge information is available on our site.

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process. If you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: Recruitment Privacy Notice information is available on our site.