Editor - Children's/YA

Sourcebooks•Naperville, IL

2d•$60,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Sourcebooks, we believe books change lives—and we're looking for an Editor who wants to help shape the next generation of children's and young adult publishing. This isn't a traditional editorial role. It's an opportunity to build a publishing list, champion new voices, and develop books that resonate with readers and drive commercial success. We're looking for someone who loves discovering authors, thinking strategically about the marketplace, and partnering across every stage of the publishing process—from acquisition through publication. As an Editor on the Children’s and YA team, you'll acquire and develop children's, middle grade, and young adult titles while helping shape the future of one of the industry's most entrepreneurial publishing programs. If you're excited by balancing creativity with business strategy, thrive in a collaborative environment, and believe books have the power to change lives, we'd love to meet you.

Requirements

3–5+ years of publishing experience with editorial acquisitions and developmental editing experience.
A passion for discovering new talent and building successful publishing programs.
Strong editorial instincts and the ability to shape manuscripts for both readers and the marketplace.
Experience managing multiple publishing projects from acquisition through publication.
Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
A commercial mindset paired with strong creative judgment.
An entrepreneurial spirit—you enjoy taking ownership, solving problems, and helping build something bigger than yourself.
A collaborative approach and excitement for working across departments.
A genuine love of children's and young adult books.

Responsibilities

Build and manage your own publishing list across the Children’s + YA program.
Identify, acquire, and develop commercially successful children's, middle grade, and young adult titles.
Cultivate relationships with literary agents, authors, and publishing partners to identify new opportunities.
Present projects at acquisitions meetings and negotiate deals with authors and agents.
Develop manuscripts through developmental editing, positioning, and editorial guidance from acquisition through publication.
Shape each project's market positioning, including titles, subtitles, packaging, metadata, marketing copy, and sales materials.
Partner with Design, Production, Marketing, Publicity, Sales, and Content Delivery to successfully launch every title.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality, organization, and deadlines.
Analyze marketplace trends and competitive titles to help inform publishing strategy and future acquisitions.
Contribute to licensing opportunities, independent publishing partnerships, and strategic growth initiatives across the Children’s + YA program.