Overview:
Company: HarperCollins Canada Ltd.
Date: May 22, 2026
Job Title: Senior Editor
Department(s): Editorial
Reports to: Editor in Chief
Job Vacancy Status: Vacant and actively accepting application
The primary responsibility of the Senior Editor is to identify, acquire and edit high-performing titles for HarperCollins Canada Ltd. with a particular focus on titles for the Collins Canada imprint. The Collins Canada imprint is the leading Canadian publisher of nonfiction titles in business, health, how-to and sports as well as a growing list of intellectual property titles. The Senior Editor pursues quality submissions from agents and unagented authors and commissions new titles from house authors and new authors with the potential for strong market performance, impact and rights opportunities, with vision and creativity. The Senior Editor must have a strong interest and experience in editing works of narrative and practical non-fiction (not necessarily in book form). Experience with acquisitions of new projects, negotiating publishing agreements, familiarity with p&l statements is required. The Senior Editor must have established contacts within the industry, highly developed interpersonal skills, a strong record of industry engagement and be able to represent HarperCollins externally to agents and publishing colleagues. The Senior Editor must be a proactive team player who has an understanding of the strategic direction of the publishing program, and can work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. This role will report to the Editor in Chief
Responsibilities:
- Substantive and line edit manuscripts, publishing 10-12 titles per fiscal year.
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Identify and acquire high-potential non-fiction projects for the HarperCollins and Collins non-fiction lists
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Acquire books through agented submissions and referrals, as well as commissions by researching and pursuing personalities with established platforms
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Conceive and build projects from scratch for our intellectual property publishing program
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Analyze sales data and trends to be able to react quickly to publishing opportunities
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Project manage and see through to publication multiple books at a time on schedule
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Generate P&Ls and book costings that meet financial parameters
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Position books in-house and externally for maximum success through strong presentations and the preparation of compelling metadata and descriptive copy
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Communicate regularly with the Editor in Chief and the Publisher
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Identify legal issues and conduct legal reviews with counsel if necessary
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Contribute actively to increasing Diversity on the HarperCanada publishing program
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Provide the best possible care and attention to authors
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Attend launches and industry events and participate in industry outreach representing HarperCollins
Qualifications:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited university
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A diploma or certificate from an accredited publishing program would be an asset
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5 years minimum of editorial experience with a focus on acquisitions and substantive editing of both fiction and non-fiction
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
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Strong written and oral communication skills
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Strong negotiation skills
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Strong organizational and project-management skills
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Knowledge of the book industry and the market
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Established network of contacts
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Proven ability to meet deadlines, determine priorities and pay attention to detail
- The ability to work individually and collaboratively, and to maintain strong, positive relationships with others in-house and with the publishing industry at large
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A proven track record of industry engagement and outreach
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A positive attitude with a focus on collaboration and teamwork
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office
About HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin
Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Through HarperCollins’s global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.
The salary range for this position is $80,000-$90,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.
Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O’Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do. In addition to the Canadian publishing program, HarperCollins Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and publicity of HarperCollins titles from around the globe.
HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills,
knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.
HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at
[email protected]. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
