Happy Yak is looking for a Senior Editor to join its creative team. This exciting opportunity is for a highly organised candidate with a keen eye for children's trends and engaging content. As part of Quarto, which creates award-winning illustrated books for adults and children worldwide, the Senior Editor will play a vital role in shaping our publishing program. You will collaborate with authors, illustrators, and other departments to produce high-quality children's books on time and within budget.

Contract

12 months FTC

13 October 2025

Working hours

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

We currently operate a discretionary hybrid model, with three days in our London office and two working from home.

Salary from £34,500 - £37,000

About the role

A fantastic chance for a driven Senior Editor to become a part of Happy Yak's creative team and leave their stamp on this well-known trade imprint. With humour as the primary theme, we publish a dynamic range of picture books, preschool series, and children's illustrated non-fiction books. Reporting to the Acting Associate Publisher, you will work closely with key stakeholders across the business, such as Design, Production, and the Foreign Rights team.

What you will be involved in:

• Project managing approximately 10 titles per year, from concept through to print-ready files
• Managing and supporting authors
• Undertaking copy-editing and proofreading tasks as necessary
• Commissioning freelancers and managing their work
• Working closely with the design team to review and improve layouts, offering editorial input
• Ensuring compliance with metadata requirements for each title
• Delivering high-quality books on schedule and within budget
• Contributing to new idea generation – staying on top of current trends in the children’s entertainment space through independent research, store visits and consumer research.

About you

You’ll be an ambitious, highly creative and organised person with strong editorial skills, an eye for design and a keen interest in children’s trends.

You will have experience in managing illustrated-book projects and processes in a team context, with proven expertise in copy-editing and proofreading.

You will be able to show you can:

• Organise your own work effectively across multiple projects
• Work collaboratively with a diverse range of contributors
• Maintain publishing processes and editorial standards
• Problem solve and communicate proactively
• Deliver projects on time and within budget
• Use your passion for children’s content and trends to bring new ideas to the table

What we can offer

A supportive, open environment with development opportunities, as well as the following benefits:

• 25 days paid holiday per year (increasing up to 30 days per year), plus bank holidays
• Cultural appreciation day (to honour a cultural holiday which is significant to you, separate to your holiday entitlement)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts on selected shops, retailers, and restaurants
• Health Cash Plan
• Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Summer hours
• Active social and diversity committees

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to talent@quarto.com by the closing date and state the vacancy name in the email subject title.

Ensure you cover the following:

• Your motivation and what appeals to you about this particular role
• What key skills, experience and achievements you have that you think are relevant to this role, and why. Please provide examples of how you have used or demonstrated those.
• Where you saw the vacancy advertised

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

We employ individuals based on their abilities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds regardless of disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, belief, age, or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we aim to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for disabled people. Therefore, we encourage you to inform us of any reasonable adjustments you may require during your interview process. Please note, you only need to disclose information that you are comfortable sharing in order for us to accommodate your request.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates selected for interview. We will keep applications on file for 6 months should a suitable vacancy arise. If you’d rather we didn’t, please let us know with your application.

May close early due to a high volume of applications. Don't miss out—submit your application today!