Overview of the Role

As Editorial Assistant, you will provide administrative and editorial support to two senior editors, as well as general administrative support to the wider Avon team.

This role is ideally suited to a meticulously organised, detail-oriented, proactive self-starter, who has both initiative and energy as well as the ability to own and drive their own day-to-day work. They will be a fast learner who relishes the opportunity to hit the ground running and will be able to deal with a heavy and varied workload. They will also have a keen interest in mass-market fiction 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.

As well as taking ownership of administrative duties, there will be the opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their editorial skills, working on edits alongside editors and assisting with creative briefs for books. In time, the editorial assistant could take on their own authors under the supervision of a managing editor.

About Avon

Avon is a division of HarperCollins, one of the UK’s most prolific and innovative multi-platform publishers. Specialising in commercial fiction, Avon publishes a wide range of titles across crime, women’s fiction, historical and saga, for a predominantly female readership. With books that sell through the high street and the supermarkets as well as in digital, Avon is home to million-copy, digital, Sunday Times and international bestsellers such as C.L. Taylor, Helen Fields, Katerina Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Laura Jane Williams, Mandy Robotham, Lorna Cook and Sue Moorcroft.

Avon offers the opportunity for employees to contribute to discussions across the division, ensuring constant learning and development opportunities as new projects arise. As an exciting, market-leading division, Avon prides itself on being at the forefront of digital and industry developments, continually challenging the norm and aiming for best-in-class commercial fiction at all times. 

Key Accountabilitites:

• Assist senior editors as required, mainly with desk editing initially and then as you become familiar with the role, contributing to more creative tasks such as doing edits alongside editors, drafting cover briefs, writing copy and reading submissions.

• Maintain the smooth running of the division, managing the division’s roster of meetings, putting together agendas and collating minutes as required

• Maintain an effective relationship with marketing, sales production, and other departments

• Liaise with external freelancers on bookings and purchase orders

• Ensure that the senior editors’ titles meet critical path in conjunction with the Avon production team

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

• Order author copies and publication day gifts

• Collate monthly round-up and circulate to senior team

• Pull together Powerpoint presentations as requested for the team

• Collate and update an author and agent master list, with updated contact details

Experience required

• Significant administrative and organisation experience

• Experience of working within a high-pace environment

• Previous work experience in publishing (desired, not required)

• Advanced MS Office skills

Skills/attributes required

• Excellent organisation skills and an effective multi-tasker

• The ability to deal with a heavy and varied workload

• A meticulous eye for detail

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• A proactive self-starter who is keen to own and drive their own work

• Reliable, with the ability to use own initiative

• A commercial mindset and a demonstrable passion for mass-market fiction

• The ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Digitally savvy

• Creative and innovative

• Energy and passion

• High levels of resilience

• Cheerful and flexible, with a high commitment to service provision and professional standards

• The ability to work well independently and as part of a team

• Excellent command of the English language

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 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/