Rights Executive
Job Title: Rights Executive
Department: Adult Rights
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Are you curious about the international book market? Do you love connecting great stories with new audiences worldwide? We’re looking for a highly organized and sales-oriented individual to join the busy and successful Adult Rights team, with responsibility for direct sales for certain sub-rights, as well as supporting the Rights Director and the wider team in reaching our sales targets. This is an exciting opportunity to join an award-winning publisher at a key point of growth.
Your team:
The Rights Department are responsible for licensing rights across the whole adult publishing division, which includes the imprints of Macmillan, Macmillan Business, Pan, Picador, Bluebird, One Boat, Mantle, Tor and Macmillan Collector’s Library. We work closely with our sister companies in New York, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, and Stuttgart, but also with other international publishers, whether big or small, to find the right homes for our authors. We work directly with publishers in the major European and North American markets, and through a network of co-agents, with specialist local knowledge, in other selected territories throughout the rest of the world.
Your role:
In this role, you will play an essential part in driving our international sales. You will lead on deals across designated territories and sub-rights, while collaborating closely with the Rights Director to hit team targets and champion our titles abroad. Alongside direct selling, you will be a key point of contact across Pan Macmillan, coordinating with Editorial, Production, and Royalties, while building trusted relationships with our overseas publishing partners.
Your key responsibilities:
Direct sales and negotiation: Managing the negotiation and sale of English language sub-rights, including North American rights for selected titles, and production rights.
Director and time support: Providing administrative, sales, and deal support for the Rights Director.
Contract management: Negotiating, administering, and processing sub-rights contracts, from deals being agreed to contracts being raised, signed, and invoiced.
Production materials: Handling the negotiation, sale, and supply of production materials to international publishers.
Systems & reporting: Data entry and accurate upkeep of our publishing database (Biblio), and generating reports.
Book fair and trip planning: Helping create engaging rights guides and pitch packs, while managing meeting schedules for major book fairs and sales trips.
Customer and partner relations: Developing and maintaining collaborative, long-term relationships with overseas publishing partners.
Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:
Rights or literary agency background: Demonstrable experience working within an international rights department, literary agency, or related publishing sales environment.
Understanding of licensing and contracts: A working knowledge of sub-rights, international licensing agreements, and common contract terms.
Working with numbers: Comfortable handling figures, tracking financial information or sales targets, and maintaining numerical accuracy.
Planning and task management: A structured approach to prioritizing day-to-day tasks, tracking details across multiple projects, and meeting agreed deadlines.
Collaborative communication: The ability to communicate information clearly and constructively in writing and when speaking with international partners and colleagues.
Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive, positive, and vibrant working environment.
Curiosity: A genuine drive for learning, keeping up with international market trends, and embracing new perspectives.
Integrity: A commitment to openness, accuracy, and accountability in administrative and commercial negotiations.
Desirable skills we’d love you to have:
Publishing systems: Practical familiarity with Biblio or experience using similar publishing databases.
What you’ll get in return:
In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.
Salary: £30,000 to £33,000
Note on salary: The offered salary is dependent on experience and expertise. We benchmark our ranges to ensure fair, competitive compensation that grows with your impact.
Closing date: 11 November 2026
This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.
Some of the benefits we offer:
28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
Generous pension scheme
Discounted private medical insurance or health cash plan
Group income protection scheme
Enhanced family pay and leave
Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
2 volunteer days per year
75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
Season ticket loan/advance
Cycle to work scheme
Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch
How to apply & eligibility:
Our process: All applications must be submitted via our careers site to be considered. We are unable to accept CVs or applications sent via email.
Our timelines: Because we review every application thoroughly and with care, our shortlisting process can take some time. We appreciate your patience and will be in touch as soon as we have an update on your application.
Right to work: All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.
Our commitment to diversity & inclusion:
At Pan Macmillan, we are committed to publishing a wide range of voices that reflect the full breadth of the communities we serve. Joining us means playing an active role in bringing our titles to life as part of a team that champions inclusion at every level. We are dedicated to building a workplace that is as diverse and welcoming as the stories we tell, ensuring all perspectives are celebrated across everything we do.
We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve. You can read our full Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge here.
Disability confident scheme:
As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled candidates and people with long-term health conditions, aiming to offer an interview to everyone who meets the essential criteria for the role and chooses to apply under the scheme. The essential criteria can be found under our ‘Essential experience, abilities, knowledge and values you’ll need to succeed’ section.
Please note, some of our vacancies attract an exceptionally high volume of applications. In these circumstances, to ensure a fair and focused process for everyone, we may need to limit the overall number of interviews. Where this happens, we will look closely at who most closely aligns with the requirements to select the candidates applying under this scheme who best meet the essential criteria, in line with official government guidance.
Please remember that you are never required to disclose a disability to us, and you only need to share what you feel comfortable with.
Adjustment & support:
We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process. If you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements, please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com.
Privacy notice:
All personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice here. Please read this notice before submitting your application.
- Department
- Adult Rights
- Location
- Farringdon, London
Farringdon, London
Our Benefits
Our commitment to our people goes beyond the books we publish. We believe in supporting your wellbeing, growth, and life outside of work. Here's what you can expect when you join our team.
Work-Life Balance & Time Off
Annual Leave: Start with 28 days of annual leave, increasing with your length of service. This includes three days aligned with our annual Christmas office closure.
Flexible Working: Enjoy flexible working hours to help you manage your personal life.
Summer Fridays: Start your weekend early! Benefit from an early finish every Friday during the summer months.
Panniversary Scheme: Celebrate your commitment with an additional week of annual leave every five years of service.
Volunteer & Faith Days: Take two paid volunteer days per year, plus one designated faith day for religious celebrations.
Health, Wellbeing & Financial Security
Financial Security: Benefit from life assurance cover (4x base salary), 13 weeks of company-paid sick pay, and income protection (covering 66.67% of basic salary).
Pension: A generous pension plan with employer contributions of up to 11%.
Daily Perks: Enjoy free daily breakfast and snacks.
Health Coverage: Access subsidised private medical insurance or a fully funded cash plan, discounted gym membership, and eyecare vouchers.
Onsite Care: Regular onsite professional massages.
Support Services: Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support and advice.
Family & Commuting Support
Enhanced Parental Leave: Our award-winning support includes enhanced parental leave of 26 weeks for all parents, regardless of gender or path to parenthood.
Parental Support: Receive expert coaching through the SpringBack returnity programme to guide your transition before, during, and after parental leave.
Commuting Schemes: Utilise the Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, and the Octopus Electric Car Scheme.
Books, Growth & Culture
Book Discounts: Receive a 75% discount on all Macmillan books, plus employee book sales at highly reduced prices.
Holiday Book Voucher: A £50 voucher for books during the winter holiday season.
Professional Development: Access training, mentoring and coaching opportunities to help you grow your career.
Giving Back: Participate in the Give As You Earn scheme to support charities directly from your salary.