Book Cover Designer, Saga Press

As a Book Cover Designer on our Saga Press team, you will be responsible for creating compelling, professional-quality covers that resonate with Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror readers. Your designs will directly influence first impressions, evoke mood and genre, and ultimately help books stand out in a crowded market.

Key Responsibilities

• Design front covers, spines, and back covers for print and digital formats
• Design of approximately 30-35 covers per year
• Collaborate closely with authors, editors, and marketing teams to understand the tone, themes, and target audience of each book
• Create original artwork, work with illustrators to commission original artwork, or source/license appropriate imagery and elements
• Stay current on design trends in genre fiction and incorporate best practices
• Prepare final designs for publishing platforms (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, etc.)
• Set, route, and prep mechanical files for printer in a timely and thorough manner
• Occasionally create cover-related graphics for marketing, social media, etc. 

Requirements

• Proven portfolio of book cover designs, preferably in Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror genres
• 2-3 years experience
• Strong understanding of genre tropes and reader expectations in speculative fiction
• Experience researching and working with freelance illustrators
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
• Excellent visual storytelling and typography skills
• Experience setting up files for print design and production
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects on deadlines
• Strong communication and feedback incorporation skills

Bonus Skills

• Illustration experience (digital or traditional)
• Photo-illustration and retouching abilities
• Familiarity with 3D rendering tools (e.g., Blender, Daz Studio)
• Experience with branding or series design
• Passion for speculative fiction