Acquisitions Editor, Lifestyle
Unieboek | Het Spectrum B.V. is one of the largest general-interest book publishers in the Dutch-speaking world. The publisher is known for successful non-fiction titles, including lifestyle, culinary, psychology and spirituality, history, biographies, popular science, and journalism. In addition, with its imprints Van Holkema & Warendorf, Van Goor, and Best of YA, the publisher is a major player in children’s and young adult books. Spectrum Fictie, Capitool (travel guides), Paper Life (workbooks and journals), Forte (cooking, creative, and green), Winkler Prins (online encyclopedia), and Prisma (language training and products) are also part of Unieboek | Het Spectrum.
Unieboek | Het Spectrum Publishing is part of LannooMeulenhoff B.V. and is located on the14th and15th floors of the Mondriaan Tower in Amsterdam. It is an inspiring, creative environment with a fantastic view of the entire city.
Unieboek | Het Spectrum Publishing aims to be a diverse and inclusive organization—one that welcomes everyone and harnesses the power of its employees’ diversity to achieve better results.
The acquisitions editor plays a key role in the growth and renewal of the lifestyle imprint. You identify trends and potential new authors, and you are responsible for planning editorial activities that align with the publishing concept and the agreed-upon budget. Together with the other acquisitions editor and editors, you report to the senior lifestyle publisher.
What tasks and responsibilities are involved?
- You maintain an extensive network consisting of authors, agents, designers, and publishers
- You read and evaluate manuscripts, scouting reports, and reading reports
- You bid on manuscripts and proposals from authors
- Your primary focus is on Dutch authors, but you also evaluate international manuscripts
- You provide editorial guidance to Dutch authors
- You write compelling promotional copy and blurbs
- You commission book covers from designers and ensure that the books look appealing
- You proactively suggest new publishing ideas and authors for the fund, as well as proposals and cost estimates for the (re)exploitation of titles within the fund
- You will oversee the quality, costs, and scheduling of upcoming expenditures within your fund
What kind of person are we looking for?
- You have at least a college-level education and way of thinking
- You have extensive experience as an acquiring editor
- You have a broad, demonstrable interest in lifestyle topics, with a focus on health, popular psychology, self-help, meaning, and spirituality.
- You know exactly what's going on and closely follow the trends and the people who matter, including online
- You combine substance with a keen business sense
- You have an extensive (media) network and can contribute ideas regarding the marketing of your titles
- You enjoy working closely with authors
- You are persuasive and have a critical, open mind
- You have a good command of English, both spoken and written; knowledge of an additional language is a plus
- You have strong organizational skills and boundless enthusiasm
- You are efficient, meticulous, accurate, and able to handle stress
What do we offer you?
- A challenging and varied job in a dynamic environment at a beautiful location
- The freedom to work independently, as part of a dynamic and motivated team
- Salary in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for the publishing industry, Scale VIII (€3,090.80 – €4,316.39 gross per month); starting salary depends on experience, education, and age
- A flexible benefits package, including a personal flex budget that allows you to save up for extra time off or have your vacation pay paid out at a time of your choosing
