Art Director, UK Adult Trade (12-month Fixed Term Contract)

We have an exciting opening for an innovative, market-aware Art Director to join our UK Adult Trade team, directing the design of covers and interiors across our six trade imprints (Aurum, Carnival, Frances Lincoln, Ivy Press, Leaping Hare and White Lion Publishing). You will have the opportunity to shape our visual output and work on a wide range of high-quality content, from cookery and gardening to brand partnerships and narrative non-fiction, as well as managing a team of two senior designers.

Quarto creates bestselling books for audiences across the globe. As Art Director you will play a key role in this fast-paced area of the business.

Contract   

Fixed term contract, full-time.

Salary 

From £40,000 per annum.

Closing date  

20 December 2024

Working hours  

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 5.30pm.

We currently operate a discretionary hybrid model, with three days in our London office and two working from home.

About the role  

Reporting to the Group Publisher, the Art Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the design of the UK Adult Trade publishing programme. This includes ensuring that all internals and covers are market-relevant and managing the in-house design team to help deliver the programme on time and budget.

What you will be involved in: 

• Shaping the visual identity of the list with exceptional design, illustration and typography
• Translating cultural trends into visual concepts that work for global markets
• Creating compelling covers, sales and marketing materials
• Training, managing and supporting members of the design team
• Along with the Editorial Director, ensuring excellent cross-team workflow and communication
• Fostering an environment where everyone can do their best work as an ambassador for Quarto’s company values

About you  

You will have a proven contemporary aesthetic that can flex across a wide range of subjects and different book packages that will appeal to a UK trade and international audience. You will also have at least five years’ experience working at a senior design level in book publishing.

You will be able to show you can:  

• Design high-quality, innovative titles
• Take the lead as a senior stakeholder with proactive communication skills
• Demonstrate financial awareness and profit-focused budget management
• Think creatively and plan ahead
• Manage and commission a network of designers, illustrators, artists, photographers and other creative contacts
• Develop effective relationships between internal departments
• Juggle a high number of diverse projects
• Adapt during fast-moving periods

What we can offer  

A supportive, open environment with development opportunities, as well as the following benefits:   

• 25 days paid holiday per year (increasing up to 30 days per year), plus bank holidays
• Cultural appreciation day (to honour a cultural holiday which is significant to you, separate to your holiday entitlement)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts on selected shops, retailers, and restaurants
• Health Cash Plan
• Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Summer hours
• Free books scheme
• Active social and diversity committees  

How to apply   

Please send a CV, portfolio and cover letter to talent@quarto.com by the closing date and state the vacancy name in the email subject title.   

Ensure you cover the following:  

• Your motivation and match with the role requirements 
• What appeals to you about this particular role 
• What key skills, experience and achievements do you have that you think are relevant to this role, and why. Please provide examples of how you have used or demonstrated those. 
• Where you saw the vacancy advertised 

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for the vacancy.  

We employ individuals based on their abilities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds regardless of disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, belief, age, or sexual orientation.   

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we aim to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for disabled people. Therefore, we encourage you to inform us of any reasonable adjustments you may require during your interview process. Please note, you only need to disclose information that you are comfortable sharing in order for us to accommodate your request. 

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we only be able to respond to candidates selected for interview.