Introduction to the role

Specialising in commercial fiction and innovative digital publishing, HQ publishes a wide range of fiction titles including contemporary fiction, historical, crime, thrillers and book club, alongside our bestselling non-fiction list, and thriving digital-first imprint. Combining rapid growth with commercial success, HQ has a stellar record in launching fiction debuts such as Ellie Keel’s The Four, Nadine Matheson’s The Jigsaw Man, Georgina Moore’s The Garnett Girls, and This Lovely City by Louise Hare, along with an array of outstanding Sunday Times bestsellers such as Adele Parks, Linwood Barclay, Sarah Morgan, Robert Thorogood and Erica James.

As Editorial Assistant, you will provide administrative and editorial support to the Publishing Director and Editorial Director, and the wider HQ Fiction team. This role is ideally suited to an organised and detail-focused candidate who has both initiative and energy and is looking for their first entry-level role in commercial fiction publishing. They will have a keen interest in all genres of commercial fiction, read widely, and be excited at the prospect of applying creative flair to the editorial process.

Key tasks and accountabilities:

• Maintaining the smooth running of the division alongside the other editorial assistants and assistant editors, managing the division’s roster of meetings and collating minutes as required

• Assisting with desk-editing

• Liaising with external freelancers on bookings and purchase orders

• Ensuring that books meet critical path in conjunction with the HQ production team

• Proofreading jacket copy, catalogue copy, AIs, and divisional documents as necessary

• Creating presentations as requested

• Writing copy as required, organising and creating back ads, as well as extra endmatter

• Reading and reporting on a range of fiction submissions

• Communicating with authors and agents on a regular basis

Offering significant support to the Fiction editorial team as necessary

Skills required:

• Excellent command of the English language

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• An effective multi-tasker, with experience of coping in a pressurised environment

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills

• Voracious reader of commercial fiction

• Advanced MS Word and experience of working with Excel and Powerpoint

• Some experience working with Adobe is desirable

• Reliable, with the ability to use own initiative

• Flexible, proactive and a team player

• Digtally savvy

  Benefits

  •  Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)

  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays

  • 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

  • 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

  • Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers

  • Gym membership discount

  • Onsite physiotherapy (London only)

  • Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days

  • We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

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

  • Subsidised canteen and retail discounts

  • Onsite prayer room 

    The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking internships or entry level positions. For more information visit  https://www.btbs.org/

  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.