UK remote
Editorial Operations Director
About this role
We're looking for an Editorial Operations Director (Books) to provide visionary leadership across our editorial operations, leading a team of four Editorial Workflow Managers. This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives on shaping strategy, driving transformation, and ensuring editorial operations deliver real, sustainable advantage for the business. You'll be a key voice at the leadership table, translating big-picture strategy into actionable plans, championing innovation, and building a culture where people and processes can genuinely excel.
What you'll be doing: Leadership & Team Development Lead, coach, and develop a team of four Editorial Workflow Managers Build organizational capability and strengthen the leadership pipeline beneath you Champion succession planning and talent development at senior levels Foster a culture of innovation and excellence across editorial operations Strategic Vision & Planning Shape multi-year strategic plans aligned with wider business objectives Partner closely with Publishing Directors to bring editorial strategy and vision to life Lead initiatives that drive genuine competitive advantage Turn organizational strategy into clear, actionable roadmaps Operational Performance Establish enterprise-wide KPIs and performance frameworks Oversee portfolio performance and profitability across business units Drive process improvements that scale with the business Keep a close eye on the competitive landscape to inform decision-making Partner with teams across the matrix to ensure delivery and achievement of key operational metrics Stakeholder Engagement Represent editorial operations in executive forums and strategic sessions Build strong relationships with senior leaders across the organization Influence strategy and advocate for editorial operations enterprise-wide Digital Transformation & Innovation Drive the digital transformation strategy for editorial operations Champion emerging technologies and smarter ways of working Lead the evaluation and rollout of enterprise-level systems Keep editorial operations at the leading edge of industry innovation Financial & Resource Strategy Own and manage the editorial operations budget across portfolios Make strategic calls on investment in technology, people, and infrastructure Optimize resources to maximize return on investment Present financial performance and investment proposals to senior leadership What We're Looking For Essential Significant experience leading leaders/managers at an executive level A proven track record in strategic planning and organizational transformation Deep knowledge of academic publishing and its industry dynamics Strong financial acumen, including P&L management experience A track record of influencing senior executives effectively The ability to develop talent, build vision, and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes Strong strategic and business acumen, including comfort making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information Confident, credible communication with board-level and C-suite audiences Leads with vision, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to our values Shows courage in tough decisions and resilience under pressure Takes full accountability for outcomes and leads cultural change by example Desirable Extensive, progressive leadership experience within academic publishing International or multi-market experience Models continuous learning, intellectual humility, and openness to feedback Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core priority Closing Date: 10th November 2026 The successful candidate will be able to utilise our balanced working model.