Associate Editor, Delacorte Press – Licensed Publishing (Open to Remote)

Bertelsmann•New York, NY

1d•Remote

About The Position

Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, is seeking an Associate Editor to join its editorial team and support our growing licensed publishing program. Delacorte is a close-knit, highly collaborative team that believes the best publishing comes from working together. We are passionate about our books and authors, generous with ideas, and invested in one another’s success and we’re looking for a colleague who is excited to contribute to that team culture. Delacorte’s young adult licensed publishing list includes an exciting and expanding range of properties and publishing partnerships, including Disney, Marvel, Lucas, 20th Century Studios, and Warner Brothers. The program encompasses both licensor-driven publishing and original, in-house developed projects. The Associate Editor will manage a selection of licensed publishing projects, identifying viable licensor-developed titles and working with our team and the licensor to tailor them for our list. They will also identify and develop new publishing opportunities and acquire select projects. Working closely with authors, agents, licensors, and colleagues across Design, Production, Marketing, Publicity, and Sales, this role combines hands-on editorial work, acquisitions, creative development, and project management. The ideal candidate is a creative and highly organized editor with strong commercial instincts who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. They should be excited by the challenge of finding fresh ways to translate established characters, worlds, and franchises into compelling books for young readers while managing multiple projects, stakeholders, approvals, and evolving schedules.

Requirements

3+ years editorial experience in trade publishing, with experience independently managing books or comparable publishing projects through the editorial and production process.
Strong editorial judgment and the ability to provide substantive and line-level editorial feedback.
Excellent organizational and project-management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage a large and shifting workload and multiple simultaneous deadlines.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Ability to collaborate effectively with creative teams, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
A strong interest in children’s and young adult publishing, popular culture, entertainment properties, and franchise storytelling.

Nice To Haves

Experience with licensed publishing and/or working with licensors and approval processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage assigned licensed publishing projects from manuscript development through publication, providing thoughtful editorial feedback and creative direction while ensuring projects meet both Delacorte’s editorial standards and licensor requirements.
Identify, develop, and acquire select new projects with an eye toward commercial opportunities, emerging trends, and properties with strong potential in the MG and YA marketplace.
Develop original publishing concepts within licensed worlds, including identifying formats, story opportunities, and potential authors and creators.
Evaluate proposals and manuscripts and participate in acquisitions discussions.
Build and maintain strong relationships with authors, agents, licensors, creators, and other external partners, serving as a key liaison throughout the publishing process.
Manage licensor submissions, feedback, and approvals while maintaining detailed project schedules and navigating evolving deadlines.
Partner closely with Design, Production, Marketing, Publicity, and Sales on positioning and publication plans.
Manage retail-exclusive editions and paperback conversions, including the development and approval of new editorial content and design elements.
Identify opportunities within the backlist for refreshed, repackaged, or updated editions tied to cultural moments, franchise activity, or renewed consumer interest.
Contribute to the strategic growth of Delacorte’s licensed publishing program, identifying opportunities to expand and strengthen the list.