Publishing Industry Department Guide
Stepping into the world of publishing can often feel like entering a labyrinth of interconnected departments and roles. Each of them play a crucial part in the journey of a book from manuscript to publication. If you’re new to the industry, it can be confusing trying to decide which path to take. Most new entrants to the industry tend to gravitate towards Editorial or Design departments, but there is so much more to the industry. There is a wide range of departments, all requiring slightly different skillsets.
Each publisher is organized slightly differently, but here we will try and summarise the most typical departments that you might find in a publishing company. Whilst large publishing companies tend to have more clearly defined departments and roles, small publishers are more fluid and roles can overlap. If you have a particular publishing company in mind, make sure to check their website for information on what type of structure they have. You can also find the company on LinkedIn and look at the job titles of the people that work there to get a better understanding of what roles and departments make up that company.
Editorial Department:
The editorial department is responsible for acquiring, developing, and editing manuscripts. Editors work closely with authors to shape their manuscripts, provide feedback, and ensure that the content meets the publisher’s standards and objectives.
Editorial staff also collaborate with other departments, such as design and production, to bring the final product to market. Some of the typical job roles you can find in Editorial include Editorial Assistants, Junior Editors, Commissioning Editor, Development Editor, Senior Editor, Managing Editor and Editorial Director.
Design Department:
The design department is responsible for the visual aspects of the book, including cover design, layout, typesetting, and formatting. Designers work closely with editors and marketing to create visually appealing book covers and interiors.
They will have a good understanding of the production process and will often work closely with production teams on complex projects to ensure that these can be produced to the right quality and within the budgets. Some of the key roles in this department include Design Assistant, Junior Designer, Senior Designer, Head of Design, and Art Director.
Production and Operations Department:
Production staff oversee the printing process, including coordinating with printers, managing schedules, and ensuring quality control. The Operations team will ensure that the manufacturing process runs smoothly, and that the publisher has access to a robust supply chain.
Production and Operations also ensure correct stock levels and inventory is maintained for the books. These roles typically involve a good understanding of publishing workflows, being able to manage critical vendor relationships, and data analysis and forecasting skills. Some of the common roles in this department include Publishing Assistant, Operations Assistant, Production Controller, Head of Operations, Operations Manager and Production Director.
Marketing and Publicity Department:
The marketing and publicity department is responsible for promoting and selling books to the target audience. Marketing staff develop marketing strategies, campaigns, and materials to generate buzz and drive sales.
Publicists work to secure media coverage, arrange author events, and build relationships with influencers and book reviewers to increase visibility and awareness of the books. Some common roles in this department are Marketing Assistant, Publicity Assistant, Marketing Executive, Senior Publicist, Head of Marketing and Marketing Director.
Sales Department:
The sales department is responsible for selling books to retailers, wholesalers, and other distribution channels. Sales representatives negotiate contracts, pitch books to buyers, and coordinate sales efforts to maximize distribution and revenue.
They also monitor market trends, track sales performance, and adjust strategies accordingly to meet sales targets. Some of the key roles in this department include Sales Assistant, Sales Executive, Senior Sales Executive, Sales Manager, Head of Sales, and Sales Director.
Rights and Licensing Department:
The rights and licensing department manages the sale and licensing of subsidiary rights for books, including translation rights, audio rights, film rights, and merchandising rights. Rights managers negotiate contracts with foreign publishers, agents, and other partners to maximize the book's reach and revenue potential.
Some of the most common job roles in this department include Rights Assistant, Foreign Rights Executive, Senior Rights Executive, Rights Manager, Head of Rights and Rights Director.
Finance and Accounting Department:
The finance and accounting department oversees the financial operations of the company, including budgeting, invoicing, payments, and financial reporting. Accountants track revenue, expenses, and royalties, ensuring accurate financial records and compliance with accounting standards and regulations. They liaise with every other department in the business and advise on policies and systems for tracking revenues.
Warehouse:
This is a department that often gets overlooked as it is housed separately to the publishing company. However, this is one of the most crucial parts of a publishing company as without them books would never get to customers. These warehouse and distribution centres often receive, store, pick, pack, and ship out millions of books daily to customers worldwide.
There are other departments like Legal/Contracts, Audio, IT (Information and Technology) and Human Resources, that also form a part of large publishing companies. These often require additional training, experience and qualifications (for example a Law degree). Each publishing company is setup differently, so when you are applying for a job in any particular department it is important to understand where your role sits within the company, and also how the department itself functions with the other departments in the company. There are various other resources online (such as this one from Penguin) that can help you gain a more in-depth understanding of each of these job roles and departments.
