Specialising in commercial fiction and innovative digital publishing, HQ publishes a wide range of fiction titles including crime, thriller, contemporary fiction, historical 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 Nadine Matheson’s The Jigsaw Man, Christina Dalcher’s Vox, and This Lovely City by Louise Hare, along with an array of outstanding Sunday Times bestsellers such as Adele Parks, Linwood Barclay, Erica James and Sarah Morgan.

As Editorial Assistant, you will facilitate the smooth running of the department and provide editorial and administrative support to the Publisher.

As an efficient and hard-working member of the team you will, amongst other things:

• Maintain the smooth running of the Publisher’s list, assisting with desk-editing and liaising with freelancers; collating proofs

• Book copyedits and proof-reads with external freelancers, and collating proofs on their return

• Proof-read copy on covers and jackets

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

• Communicate with authors and agents on a regular basis

In addition to this, there will be regular opportunities for the successful candidate to develop their editorial skills, working on edits alongside the Publisher, and writing cover copy and information sheets. In time, the editorial assistant will be able to take on their own authors under the supervision of the Publisher.

This role is ideally suited to an organised and detail-focused candidate who has both initiative and energy and is looking for an entry-level role in commercial publishing, or a current editorial assistant who is keen to work on a thriving commercial fiction list.  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, ensuring that our publishing continues to stand out at the forefront of a competitive market.

Key Tasks

• Assisting with desk editing and taking ownership for co-ordinating copyedits and proofreading

• Reading submissions and submitting reader reports.

• Weekly updates of editorial minutes.

• Managing freelance editorial bookings

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

• Writing copy as required.

• Ebook editorial checks as required.

• Liaising with the production team to ensure critical path is met.

• First point of contact with other departments for general editorial queries.

• Take ownership of creating effective metadata  for titles.

• Responsibility for updating presentations with new jackets and info as necessary.

• Compiling Powerpoint presentations for Launch Meetings and presentations.

Skills and Experience

• Some administrative and organisational experience

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

• Digitally savvy

• A passion for commercial fiction

• Excellent attention to detail

• Voracious reader of commercial fiction

• Advanced MS Word/ some Excel/ Powerpoint

• Stong organisational skills

• Great attention to detail, including spelling

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Reliable, with the ability to use initiative

Benefits

• Hybrid working model (2+ days in the office)

• 26 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

• 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

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

• 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 volunteering day

• We're a certified CarbonNeutral 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 http://www.booktradecharity.org/