Job Description
Working closely with the Lead Editor, the Licensing Editor will manage a diverse portfolio of licensed publishing products from concept through to print.
The successful candidate will help to drive editorial development across licensed brands, ensuring products meet the highest editorial and creative standards while adhering to licensor guidelines, approval processes, schedules and budgets. They will act as a key point of contact for licensors, agents and internal stakeholders, balancing commercial objectives with brand integrity throughout every stage of the publishing process.
Main responsibilities:
- Manage a diverse portfolio of licensed titles from concept through to production, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget and to the highest editorial standards.
- Lead the editorial development of licensed products, ensuring content aligns with brand guidelines, licensor requirements and Curious Universe’s creative vision.
- Manage relationships with licensors, licensing agents, freelancers and internal teams, acting as a key point of contact throughout the product lifecycle.
- Coordinate and oversee approval processes, incorporating licensor feedback and ensuring all content, assets and copy meet required standards.
- Commission, write, edit and proofread engaging editorial content across a varied list of licensed titles.
- Create clear briefs and schedules for designers, freelancers and suppliers, managing multiple projects and critical deadlines simultaneously.
- Collaborate with Design, Product, Procurement and Compliance teams to develop commercially successful, high-quality licensed products.
- Support and mentor junior editors, sharing knowledge and helping to develop editorial best practice.
- Monitor publishing, licensing and children’s entertainment trends to identify new opportunities and inspire innovative product ideas.
Required skills
Skills and Experience:
- At least three years’ editorial experience within publishing, licensing, children’s publishing, toys, gifts or stationery.
- Experience working with licensed publishing programmes or branded intellectual property is highly desirable.
- Exceptional project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent schedules and approval deadlines.
- Excellent editorial judgement, copy-editing, proofreading and copywriting skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with confidence communicating with licensors, freelancers and internal teams.
- Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of creating products that satisfy both consumer expectations and brand requirements.
- Highly creative with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work within established brand frameworks.
- Positive, proactive and adaptable in a fast-paced publishing environment.
Benefits
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Free fitness classes
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Paid volunteer time
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
- Work from home