Assistant Editor (Toronto Hybrid)

HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin Enterprises ULC; Toronto; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in Toronto is seeking an administrative support professional for editorial functions. The role involves providing editorial assistance, managing author submissions, and preparing packaging materials. Ideal candidates have an undergraduate degree, over 2 years of experience in publishing, and strong organizational skills. This role promotes a collaborative environment and offers opportunities for interaction with authors globally.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in the publishing industry.
• Flexible with the ability to manage rapidly changing situations.
• Strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provides editorial support to the Senior Editor.
• Works with authors to acquire suitable manuscripts.
• Manages requests for manuscripts and cover copy.

Skills

Strong administrative experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving skills

Customer orientation

Education

Undergraduate degree

Post-secondary publishing diploma

Tools

Editorial database HERS

Content management system RSuite

SMART system

Job description

Overview

Reporting to the Senior Editor, this position is responsible for providing administrative support for the Harlequin Special Edition, Montana Mavericks and Fortunes of Texas imprints as well as soliciting, acquiring and developing authors / books for the Harlequin series business.

Responsibilities

Editorial Support

• Provides editorial support to the Senior Editor as required, including such tasks as preparing draft revision and rejection letters, evaluating suitability of books for the program, assisting with first reads, author alterations and text refreshes; corresponding with author and agents; line editing with supervision.
• Works with specified author base to acquire manuscripts with the appropriate editorial fit and highest editorial quality for the publishing strategy. Reads submissions (solicited and unsolicited where applicable), responds to authors / agents, presents projects, negotiates contracts and monitors payments to authors; develops new authors to publication standard.

Product Packaging

• Packaging: preparing and collating the Title Briefs, prelim packages, back cover copy as assigned. Provides editorial input into packaging design in order to ensure that the key selling features of each scheduled title are reflected in the product packaging.

Administrative Support

• Provides administrative and clerical support, including such tasks as scheduling, creating reports, competitive analyses and presentations; establishing / maintaining electronic file systems; booking meetings; directing queries to appropriate individuals. Manages requests from overseas offices and internal departments for manuscripts, cover copy, prelim material, cover flats, art briefs and reviews.
• Processes all incoming and outgoing submissions within agreed upon systems and guidelines. Logs and distributes submissions. Responds to unsolicited / un-agented submissions (slush). Forwards agented / solicited submissions to appropriate editors.
• Maintains effective logs and tracking systems including the use of editorial database HERS and content management system, RSuite. Enters and submits prelim information into SMART system when submitting monthly prelims to Production. Adapts to any new systems introduced into the processes.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree
• Post-secondary publishing diploma an asset
• Strong administrative experience and / or aptitude
• 2+ years experience in the publishing industry
• Flexible with the ability to manage and adapt to rapidly changing situations and circumstances
• Strong communication, planning and organizational skills as well as attention to detail
• Capacity to build trust / teamwork / collaboration and customer orientation
• Good problem-solving, decision-making and prioritization skills

About HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin

Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Through HarperCollins’s global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.

Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O’Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do. In addition to the Canadian publishing program, HarperCollins Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and publicity of HarperCollins titles from around the globe.

HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills, knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.

We are also committed to ensuring that the accessibility needs of candidates and employees are considered and accommodated during the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.