Art Director Fiction, Children's Department

The Job Profile We are looking for an Art Director to lead children’s fiction design for Simon & Schuster Children’s Books. Based in London and reporting to the Creative Director, you will develop distinctive, commercially effective design from brief through to print. Working with designers, external contributors, Editorial and the wider publishing teams, you will deliver books, packages and brands that serve our authors and readers.

The Job Role You will help shape the visual direction of children’s fiction, balancing creative ambition with audience, commercial and production needs. Reviewing manuscripts and briefs, you will guide creative decisions, present recommendations and resolve feedback while maintaining high design standards across formats, editions and campaign assets. You will commission and direct illustrators, designers and other contributors, negotiating contracts and managing briefs, budgets, schedules, approvals and payments.

Working closely with publishing teams, you will oversee delivery and address creative risks to keep projects on time and within budget. With Editorial and Production, you will prioritise titles and deliver print-ready files to agreed schedules and specifications. You will also maintain organised artwork, files and project information, supply assets to Sales, Marketing and Rights, and support bibliographic updates and general administration.

The Candidate Profile You will bring substantial experience of designing and art directing illustrated children’s books, preferably fiction covers and interiors, with a portfolio demonstrating strong concept development and finished work. You will have proven experience of commissioning and directing illustrators or other creative contributors, including managing briefs, fees, schedules and feedback. Sound knowledge of print production, pre-press, digital artwork and the technical requirements of book design is essential, alongside strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud and an understanding of the children’s fiction market, age-appropriate design, illustration talent and commercial publishing considerations.

With strong visual judgement, typography and art direction skills, you will be able to explain and defend creative choices clearly. You will confidently manage projects and budgets across multiple deadlines, combining careful attention to detail with a practical approach to solving problems. Your collaborative leadership style, constructive feedback and effective communication will support strong working relationships with colleagues and external partners.

A formal design qualification or equivalent professional experience is required. Salary: Competitive and benefits