Are you an enthusiastic and engaged person looking for an exciting step into the publishing industry? Are you an avid reader of a wide range of genres from fun commercial fiction to high-end literary non-fiction? If you enjoy taking on challenges and learning new things, like the prospect of working in a fast-paced environment and keeping up to date with market trends, we want to hear from you. With authors including Stuart Maconie, Ed Davey, Elle Machray, Coleen Nolan, Karen Woods, Natalie Chandler and Spudman, we’re a list that loves to publish the best of the best. If you’ve got a keen eye for detail, are a great communicator, love to organise and collaborate, and are excited about discovering books from the north to share with the wider world then this could be the job for you. We want to meet candidates who are ready to showcase and develop their skills in administration, planning and prioritising, while building experience in all the editorial processes that drive bestsellers through from acquisition to publication.

Overview of the Role

As Editorial Assistant, you will facilitate the smooth running of the department and provide administrative and editorial support to the publishing director and team. There will be regular opportunities for the successful candidate to develop their editorial skills, working on manuscripts alongside the editors, assisting with creative briefs for books, idea generation and writing cover copy and AI sheets. This role requires regular liaison with authors, agents and other departments, and handling multiple titles in all stages of their life cycle, so a cheerful disposition, good time management and a can-do attitude are essential.

Resonsibilities:

Administration

• Agenda building and circulation for Editorial and Acquisitions meetings

• Organising/diary management of HarperNorth meetings: Editorial, Acquisitions, Publishing Operations and Production

• Taking minutes at divisional meetings as required

• Arranging author/ agent meetings and presentations, and preparing documents

• Use of general office admin/systems

• Helping HN’s Marketing and Publicity assistant with general enquiries inbox management

• Liaising with freelancers to book copyedits/proofreads, raising purchase orders and processing invoices

• Onboarding new editorial suppliers/freelancers

• Liaison on Publishing Director’s behalf with authors, agents, other departments etc.

•   Providing advance/sample materials for other departments e.g. sales, marketing, rights, audio

• Tracking materials to/from designers, editors and production

• Keeping a close eye on the publishing schedule in order to keep books on critical path

• Placing author/agent book orders

• Completing prize submissions

• Collating sales data for sharing with authors and agents

Editorial

• Researching the book market as required, including Bookscan, Bookseller announcements and competitor research

• Creating/managing advanced information sheets prior to contract and updating them through a book’s life

• Monitoring Amazon to ensure copy and jackets are up to date

• Monitoring and amending metadata

• Looking up sales figures and data

• Creating copyright pages

• Completing Editorial to Production forms and audio briefings

• Supporting on and circulating cover briefs

• Creating barcodes

• Occasional picture research

• Coordination of open submissions inbox

• Writing reader reports for submissions

• Researching new authors/concepts for IP projects

• Booking and managing freelancers for copy-edits and proofreads, including collation and marking up files where required

• E-book editorial checks and back ads

• Helping to manage reprints/second outings including updating prelims

• Sending proof and finished copies to authors/agents

• Proofreading copy for covers, jackets, catalogues and pitches

• Monitoring timelines for key publications

• Working closely with Sales, Marketing and Publicity to ensure accurate information is shared in a timely manner

 Key Skills:

• Demonstrable interest in the book world

• Reader of a wider range of genres

• Personable disposition/great communicator

• Ability to multitask

• Confident administrator and organiser

• Calm and efficient when prioritising and juggling enquiries and commitments

• Sharp eye for detail

• Benefits

  • Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)

  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days) 

  • Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave 

  • Private healthcare cover and life assurance 

  • Summer Hours  

  • Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal 

  • Season ticket loans (from day 1 for entry level) and cycle to work scheme 

  • Relocation Rent Support Loan  

  • Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work

  • Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes 

  • Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers 

  • Gym membership discount 

  • Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days 

  • We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

  • Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)

  • With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire

  • Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books 

    At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity in our recruitment process. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of all applications, we ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities.  This allows us to fairly assess your knowledge, skills, and experience to determine how they align with the role. We value diverse perspectives and genuine contributions, even if answers are not perfect. The use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted for specific tasks.

    If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to stephanie.jemmett@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.

    Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.