Senior Editor (NYC Hybrid)

Overview

Company:                  Harlequin Enterprises ULC  

Date:                          December 2025 

Job Title:                    Senior Editor, Afterglow and Carina by Harlequin

Department:               Editorial – Harlequin Brand Group 

Reporting To:             Executive Editor, Harlequin  

Status:                        Regular Full Time  

Location:                    195 Broadway, New York, NY (hybrid model) OR

                                   22 Adelaide Street West, Toronto (hybrid model)

 

Job Summary:            

Leading romance publisher Harlequin Books is looking for a trend-forward senior editor to solicit, acquire, and edit romance fiction across all sub-genres for trade and digital-first audiences, and guide the manuscripts through all stages of publication.

 

This creative, hands-on editor will have a dedication to compelling storytelling; an interest in publishing a wide range of voices and subgenres, including spicy and queer romance; a deep knowledge of romance trends and audiences; a record of acquiring commercially successful projects; a passion for author care; and an understanding of multiple publication formats, from print to digital, audio, and beyond.  

                     

Responsibilities

• For trade, acquire and edit lead-level projects with commercial, bestselling potential in line with the imprint’s vision
• For digital, acquire and edit projects serving emerging fandoms in the romance market
• Collaborate directly with authors of varying experience levels to elevate their storytelling through diplomatic, constructive feedback that respects their voice and lived experience
• Brainstorm, develop, and edit commercial, data-driven IP projects and coordinate with authors to write them
• Perform all editorial functions, including evaluating proposals, developmental and line editing, and a deep understanding of structure, pacing, dialogue, and character arcs
• Oversee books through all phases of publication from acquisition to on-sale and beyond, acting as the in-house liaison with internal departments, i.e., marketing, publicity, sales, art, production, contracts, etc.
• Develop and execute a clear and commercial publishing vision for titles, including launch presentations, cover direction, catalog copy, art briefs, and more
• Keep an eye on current cultural trends and the competitive marketplace, and develop book ideas with broad sales potential
• Foster existing and new agent relationships and negotiate contracts
• Act as a key representative for the imprint both internally and externally with agents, authors, and industry colleagues, with occasional attendance at conferences
• May share supervision of 1-2 direct reports

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ editorial experience in commercial fiction with a proven track record for acquisition and publication of profitable projects in the romance space
• A keen eye for commercial, compelling books with sales potential 
• Excellent editorial, copy writing and presentation skills
• Excellent negotiation skills, with knowledge of standard publishing contracts and P&Ls
• Broad range of agent, author and industry contacts
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization
• A curious, collaborative mindset that welcomes adaptability and innovation 
• A drive for results plus the ability to work independently and set priorities under pressure 

 

What's in It For You?

• The opportunity to be part of a company on the leading edge of publishing, working with a very talented team and exceptional books
• Summer Hours from late May to early September
• Hybrid work, flexible start/stop times
• Work from anywhere 4 weeks per year!
• Paid time off days and vacation allotment, starting at three weeks (prorated based on start date)
• Flexible benefit plans to fit your needs and pension matching
• Working with passionate people!

 

HarperCollins Publishers is a company full of people who are passionate about books.  When you apply for a position, we want to know why you want to work here, and why you are interested in the job. That’s why cover letters are strongly preferred.

 

The salary range for this position is $75,000-$95,000. 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