Introduction to the role

We are looking for a Communications Assistant to support the Communications Team on all corporate communications disciplines: comms (internal and external), CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), events and public affairs. Special responsibilities include writing news stories, supporting with corporate events and CSR, managing and editing the company intranet and corporate company website, and managing the company’s central X account and liaising with other social media teams.

This is a varied role in a small and busy central team, interacting with all divisions in the wider company.

Opportunity to think creatively and take ownership of core projects. The ideal candidate will be a self- starter with great attention to detail, strong organisational and copywriting skills and with an ability to work independently. Candidates should be confident working with individuals at all levels within and external to HarperCollins.

 Core responsibilities:

Internal Communications

•   Draft and issue internal communications, and design and create supporting assets

•    Draft press releases

•    Maintain a record of corporate communications

Intranet

• Draft news stories for HarperHome, the HarperCollins intranet

•   Content creation for all corporate channels

• Liaise with contacts across the company to ensure that the intranet reflects key activities and events

Social Media

• Creating content for and scheduling posts for the @HarperCollinsUK X account

• Work with the digital marketing and divisional publishing teams to ensure we are amplifying all priority communications, including key titles and events

• Create and maintain an asset library, using software such as Canva

Corporate Communications

• Edit the corporate website to ensure the site is up-to-date, including uploading press releases and building pages for new company projects

• Monitor the shared inboxes

• Collate and maintain information such as prize winners and bestseller lists

• Working with teams in the HarperCollins global business and our sister company, NewsUK.

CSR and Environment

• Work with the Comms team to implement charity and environmental strategies and campaigns

• Develop and maintain relationships with key charitable and other external partners

Research

• Draft briefing documents for Communications Director and wider Comms team

• Monitor and share key news articles on HarperCollins and publishing-related topics

• Brief the communications team on market research HarperCollins Publishers

Skills required

• Proven ability to write accurate and highly readable copy

• Ability to communicate confidently and with discretion at all levels

• Excellent organisation skills

• Ability to respect confidentiality at all times

• A proactive and can-do attitude, with the ability to remain calm under pressure

• Ability to work independently, proactively and anticipate the greater needs of the team

• Excellent attention to detail required

• Excellent computer skills: Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Experience of design programmes preferable (e.g. Photoshop or Canva)

  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 

  • Onsite physiotherapy (London only) 

  • 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 

  • 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/

  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.