Editor, BOOM! Studios

Penguin Random House values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Job Description
BOOM!, an imprint of Random House Worlds, seeks an experienced Editor to join the team. Founded in 2005, BOOM! is the home to award-winning, critically acclaimed, bestselling comic books & graphic novels, including Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR, Something is Killing the Children, Lumberjanes, Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel, Hellraiser, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Mexican Gothic: The Graphic Novel. Reporting to an Executive Editor, the Editor will have extensive responsibilities and work on various titles and potentially some direct-to-consumer specialty products.

A BOOM! Editor takes responsibility and ownership of the creative process, creative execution, and level of commercial and critical success of the projects under their purview. They work independently to produce high quality creative content on time while maintaining strong creative relationships with talent and key partners. This role involves acquiring new projects, creative development on new and existing projects and properties, extensive independent project management from creating and managing schedules to overseeing art and design, and demonstrating creative excellence with emphases on core audiences and visual storytelling. An affinity for highly communicative collaboration; creative development; wide-ranging problem-solving; and a general, top-level knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite terms are essential.

In addition to independent projects, the Editor will also provide editorial support to various additional titles within the office of the Executive Editor. While individual purview and motivation is a must, BOOM! seeks a team-oriented Editor looking to have an impact across all titles in an office and the overall BOOM! slate.

Our ideal candidate is highly motivated, enthusiastic about publishing, possesses an intimate knowledge of the comic book and graphic novel marketplace, and enjoys seeing projects from inception to completion. We are looking for a detail-oriented, meticulous self-starter who loves graphic storytelling of all types and is invested in the process of bringing comic books & graphic novels to a wide readership, has strong writing and analytical skills, communicates clearly, is comfortable asking for help when needed,  and wants to be an active participant on a collaborative team. Must be able to handle the details of immediately urgent tasks, while also remembering to step back, consider the big picture, and adjust strategy when needed.

Specific responsibilities include:

Acquire new projects, develop and produce new and existing projects, and contribute to the overall commercial creative execution of the BOOM! Studios List
Be the project manager and primary point of contact for overall scheduling, communication, administration, and creative development and production for all titles under purview
Provide support within Executive Editor’s office, including scheduling, talent relations, and internal tracking and routing
Negotiate contracts for new projects being acquired
Identify and contract new talent, and retain high performers
Collaborate on and create go-to-market strategies, run development meetings, and identify key opportunities for sales-marketing
Work closely with production design on branding, packaging, and general design
Provide and enforce deadlines for talent on all facets of editorial production
Support the sales, marketing and metadata teams by helping provide metadata and assets
Manage creator and licensor approvals on editorial production assets
Distribute periodic updates, reports, and presentations (weekly, monthly, seasonally)
Perform other related projects or duties as assigned or required.
Qualifications
A minimum of five years’ experience in comic book & graphic novel editing is required
Exceptional attention to detail, proofreading skills, the ability to prioritize, and strong follow-up skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively and meet deadlines, take initiative, and problem-solve creatively
A team player with the ability to build relationships with other departments. A collaborative spirit is essential
A strategic and critical thinker who observes market conditions and trends to help inform creative decision-making
Superb organizational and time management skills
Outstanding ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment
Solutions-focused when met with challenges and can comfortably adapt to changes and anticipate needs when once familiar with the role
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite, and/or Airtable a plus.