Music Publishers Association

Commissioning Editor – Music

We are the world’s largest university press. We have both a worldwide reach and a personal understanding of local needs, partnering on the ground to adapt publications and resources to meet the individual needs of communities, societies, and countries. We partner with researchers, educators, and technology partners to stay ahead of the changing ways people around the world are accessing and sharing knowledge. With a presence in more than 50 countries and millions of customers around the world, an idea launched at OUP can have global impact.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a confident, proactive, and collaborative individual to commission and acquire content for publication as part of OUP Music’s global sheet-music portfolio. Working with the Head of Publishing, you will research, identify, develop, and contract new titles, as well as evaluating submissions. This key role is ideally suited to someone with a strong understanding of music publishing and its associated markets, particularly in field of choral music.

Duties of the role will include:

Commissioning new titles in order to build departmental income, profitability, and reputation, to the point of handover to colleagues for editing and production.
Developing titles by reviewing, consulting with advisers, testing markets, and initiating rewrites so that publications are of an appropriate standard and achieve maximum impact.
Planning and monitoring schedules for the delivery of frontlist manuscripts, finding solutions to problems and contributing authoritatively to the discussion of all relevant publishing details.
Supporting the Head of Publishing with strategic planning and budgeting of the publishing programme.
Working effectively with composers/editors/arrangers to ensure that the aims of their publications are fully realized and that positive working relationships are fostered.
Developing and nurturing connections to ensure the publishing list represents a broadening contribution from composers of different backgrounds, including sourcing new music and composers with global voices and commercial potential.
Contributing to wider Departmental discussion on strategy and, as a member of the Music Leadership Team, supporting the smooth running of the department, including deputizing for the Head of Publishing as needed.
Advising and communicating effectively with colleagues to ensure successful publishing, contracting, production, sales, and promotion of new titles.
Maintaining knowledge of competition and audience needs in order to commission the most relevant and appropriate titles, including attending conferences and industry events.
We are committed to finding the right person for this job and would consider offering the role of Senior Commissioning Editor to a candidate with experience at the appropriate level.

We are currently thinking through how we use our offices in the future and are open to discussing flexibility within this, such as a blend of office and home working. We expect this role to require a minimum of 2 days per month in the Oxford office.

ABOUT YOU

You will have:

editorial experience with a music publisher, including experience of commissioning and editing (music and text)
detailed knowledge of classical (particularly choral) music and markets globally
commercial acumen and the ability to commission, recognise, and nurture composers and music with global potential
a high level of practical musicianship, including good piano and aural skills, and understanding of choral practice and orchestral instruments
strong critical skills, including flair and confidence to initiate rewrites
an eye for detail
experience of managing projects and relationships
strong communication, organization, and negotiation skills
excellent written English

BENEFITS

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect of working hours and the use of technology to support regular remote working, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies.

We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

QUERIES

Please contact [email protected] with any queries relating to this role.

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.

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