Key Account Manager, UK Sales 12 month Fixed Term Contract

Key Account Manager Special Sales 12 month Fixed Term Contract

The opportunity

The Key Account Manager will contribute towards our ambitious growth strategy for the Special Sales channel working across all Bloomsbury publishing divisions to sell our extraordinary list of bestselling authors and brands. Our list encompasses Childrens Head of Zeus Adult Trade Cookery and Lifestyle including the following authors: William Dalrymple Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Johan Hari Elodie Harper Dan Jones SJ Maas Madeline Miller Poppy OToole J.K Rowling and Katherine Rundell.

The candidate will have responsibility for sales made to a range of Special Sales accounts with a specific focus on driving backlist strategy in close collaboration with publishing teams.

The role

• Manage a varied portfolio of accounts creating and ensuring best practise is followed at all times.
• Contribute to strategies to maximise turnover and profit of Special Sales department selling across the Childrens Adult Trade Lifestyle Head of Zeus and Special Interest divisions whilst working towards group sales strategy and targets.
• Actively identify new business opportunities in the non-trade and non-traditional retail sector.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness and an in depth understanding of P&Ls in order to build bulk print runs working closely with the UK Sales and Export teams to maximise ROI for the business.
• Represent the Special Sales team at relevant internal meetings providing market insight contributing to and shaping sales strategy.
• Feed into internal reporting across all publishing divisions including but not restricted to business reviews acquisition discussions and weekly sales updates.
• Work closely with the publishing production and operations teams and senior stakeholders.
• Support sales team colleagues when necessary.

Knowledge skills and experience

• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with stakeholders of different levels.
• Excellent time-management and organisational skills experienced at multi-tasking and prioritising work-load.
• Demonstrate excellent client relationship building and development skills.
• Self-starter able to use initiative with excellent problem solving skills.
• Strong negotiation skills with a clear understanding of the commercials.
• Creative flexible and agile approach to sales.
• Good attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Biblio Vista Nielsen and Cognos would be advantageous.
• Skilled at Word Excel and PowerPoint.

Additional information

The role is a full-time 12 month fixed term contract position. Due to begin in April 2026.

Salary Range: 35000 - 38000 per annum

The role is based at our London office 50 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP. On a hybrid-working pattern of 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred). Allocated office days for this role are: Mondays & Tuesdays

Please apply with a CV and covering letter addressed to Human Resources (Word or PDF format only) via the APPLY NOW button detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role by 23:59 on Friday 23rd of January 2026.

For best results please use a desktop to apply as some mobile browsers may not fully support the application portal.

Bloomsbury reserve the right to close the role early if we exceed the required number of applications

Bloomsbury Benefits

As well as a fantastic opportunity to join a global award-winning organisation Bloomsbury offers the following competitive benefits package:

Working Pattern

• Hybrid working pattern of: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)

Holidays

• 25 days holiday
• 3.5 days Christmas company holiday

Other Benefits

• Two paid Personal Wellness Days
• Flexible Fridays take Friday afternoon off by working an additional3 hours and 30 minutes earlier in the week
• Work Anywhere Fortnight - For two weeks of any calendar year. The minimum period for Working Anywhere is one week the maximum period is two weeks.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Learning & Development - Free access to LinkedIn Learning BookMachine Campus InRehearsal & IPG Skills Hub
• Share Save Scheme
• AXA Healthcare Plan (Private Medical Insurance)
• Ride to Work Scheme
• Peppy Health App
• In-house Doctor
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• EAP Advice and Counselling

Company culture Employee Voice Meetings Staff Networks (Bloom Accessibility Mental Health Pride and Parents Guardians and Carers Multi-Faith) and Mental Health First Aiders trained across the UK offices Publishing Events and access to free Publishing Resources

For additional benefits see below

Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background race ethnicity religion sexuality gender identity age ability or socio-economic status can thrive feel comfortable and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process please flag to the recruitment team if required

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Bloomsbury Publishing is a leading independent publishing house established in 1986 with authors who have won the Nobel Pulitzer and Booker Prizes and is the originating publisher and custodian of the Harry Potter series. Bloomsbury has offices in London New York New Delhi Oxford and Sydney. Within Bloomsburys Academic division it publishes under Bloomsbury as well as under a number of prestigious and historic imprint names. Read Our Story for how it all began.

Bloomsbury is committed to creating a working environment that stimulates creativity and collaboration is respectful of difference is inclusive and ethical in its practice and promotes well-being. We are determined to nurture and develop our employees to reach their highest potential and we know that our success is down to the passion commitment and hard work of our talented people. We recognise the urgent need to attract and support applicants from all backgrounds and identities to become part of the global publishing industry allowing diverse voices to reflect and shape our culture and society.

Please read more on our Missions and Values here.

Please read our environmental policy here.