Junior german language production editor

Overview

Closing date for applications: Sunday 1st March 2026 11:55pm

Salary: £31,041 (Pro rata salary for part time £24,832)

Location: Farringdon, London – Hybrid after probationary period

Contract: Permanent – Full Time 5 days a week or Part Time 4 days a week

Role: Help create and maintain German-language editions of Usborne books, working closely with translators, designers, and international colleagues.

Usborne is an independent, family business, creating books which spark curiosity in children of all ages. These range from books for babies such as the bestselling THAT’S NOT MY®… series of touchy-feely books, to YA fiction from acclaimed authors such as Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Ravena Guron – with everything from Sticker Dolly Dressing to Philosophy for Beginners in between. Whilst the company is now a market-leader in children’s publishing and one of the best-known brands in children’s books globally, the company retains a friendly and familial feel.

If you want to work somewhere close-knit enough for people to know your name, but which has a first-class reputation around the world, Usborne is the place for you.

Our Foreign Language Publishing team creates hundreds of new Usborne titles every year in all the major European languages, and many smaller ones, translating Usborne books for distribution right around the world. As part of the busy German Language Publishing team, the Junior German language Production Editor will work on the creation and maintenance of our German (own imprint) editions. While the role is based within our Foreign Language team in London, it requires regular communication and close collaboration with colleagues working remotely and based in our office in Germany.

We are looking for a proactive, highly organised and detail-orientated individual with native level German language skills, excellent administrative, communication and digital skills to join the team on a permanent basis. You will be involved in the creation of German editions, from receiving translations to the handing over of print ready files to the Production department. Day to day, you will take responsibility for typesetting text, proofreading translations, developing title suggestions and ensuring correct archiving of back-up files.

• Preparing and sending files and instructions to native speaker translators, setters, editors, and checkers.
• Proofreading material before submission to the Production team.
• Occasional writing and proofreading of blurbs and catalogues.
• Supporting German Production Editors in developing German book title suggestions, ensuring compliance with Titelschutz regulations.
• Working closely with designers creating covers for German editions.
• Translating smaller book titles as and when necessary.
• Handling and maintaining information on our database (Biblio).
• Preparing German reprints in close collaboration with German Editorial Team.

You will need to have native-level written and spoken German and excellent English language skills.

• Previous experience of editing or translating.
• A good working knowledge of Adobe InDesign (although training can be provided).
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Clear, confident communication skills when liaising with internal teams and external partners.
• Ability to work independently and proactively while supporting and collaborating with a team based with you and remotely, building effective working relationships across locations.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office; experience with databases such as Biblio is an advantage.

This permanent role is based in our London, Farringdon office.

This role can be offered on a 4 days or 5 day per week schedule (salary to be pro rata for 4 days schedule). Please specify your preferred option in the application.

After a successful initial induction period (where we require new staff to work in the office for 4 or 5 days per week) we then operate a hybrid working model of 3 days in the office and 1 or 2 days working from home subject to business need, which optimises…