Editorial Assistant, Headline

This is a fixed-term, 6 month contract.

Who we are and what we do

Headline Publishing Group has a fantastic opportunity for someone wanting to gain knowledge and experience in fiction editorial within a highly successful publishing team.

Headline publishes some of the biggest names in fiction, including Martina Cole, Neil Gaiman, Victoria Hislop, Maggie O’Farrell, Jill Mansell, Simon Scarrow and Dorothy Koomson. We are looking for an energetic and enthusiastic new Editorial Assistant to join the Commercial Fiction Team on a six-month contract.

What you’ll be doing

The successful candidate will provide administrative support to the Publishing Director and Editorial Director as well as to the wider fiction editorial team when required. You will also be expected to read and report on manuscripts, master the systems and processes that go into making a finished book, brief freelancers and liaise with authors and agents, as well as create metadata for the titles worked on.

Who we are looking for

The successful candidate will be a passionate reader of commercial fiction, as well as being a highly organised individual with an ability to prioritise tasks. Previous publishing experience is not essential, and applicants should have excellent spelling and grammar and a keen eye for detail, as well as the ability to write good copy, combined with strong administrative and IT skills (Word & Excel).

Strong communication skills are a must, as is the ability to work well under pressure, to tight deadlines.

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. In addition to 25 days annual leave days per year + bank holidays, we have an extensive list of benefits that include: a wide-ranging training library, development programmes including mentoring, Cycle to Work vouchers, Private Medical Insurance, eye care vouchers, up to 70% off book purchases, a charity book shelf, 2 volunteer days per year to use at your charity of choice, many employee networks to join, delicious subsidized canteen food, summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months!), season ticket loans, rent deposit loans, generous pension schemes and much more!

The role will begin working from home due to ongoing Covid19 restrictions, but once normality resumes this role will be based at our London office, Carmelite House, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Our Commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

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 junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org