Assistant Editor

John Murray; England; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious publishing company is seeking an Editorial Assistant to join their dynamic Arcadia team. The candidate will engage in desk editing and oversee special edition projects, requiring a passion for Science Fiction and Fantasy (SFF). Responsibilities include reading submissions, contributing to cover ideas, and collaborating with the Executive Publisher. This position offers a mix of in-office and remote work, alongside comprehensive benefits like private medical insurance and generous leave.

Benefits

28 annual leave days, increasing with service

Private medical insurance

Dental insurance

Generous pension schemes

Cycle to Work scheme

Up to 70% off book purchases

Qualifications

• Proven or relevant experience in editing and project management.
• True passion for SFF (Science Fiction & Fantasy).

Responsibilities

• Desk editing and managing special edition publishing.
• Reading and providing feedback on submissions.
• Developing ideas for covers and watching market trends.

Skills

Knowledge of SFF

Project management

Editing

Job description

Who we are and what we do

John Murray Press is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 10 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds. We publish books of excellence and lasting value written by authors with passion and expertise. We're home to popular fiction and non-fiction writers alongside some of the most progressive new voices in publishing. Established in 1768 and with a rich and illustrious history, we are the oldest imprint in the business and oldest surviving trade list in British publishing.

Arcadia, the SFF imprint of the John Murray Group, is an exciting and fast-growing imprint with award-winners, cult classics, viral sensations and international bestsellers represented across our list of science fiction, fantasy, horror, romantasy, cosy fantasy and crossover fiction. Founded in 2011 as Jo Fletcher Books, we rebranded in 2024 as Arcadia and have gone from strength to strength. We are a small and enthusiastic team with wide-ranging taste, all of which is reflected in what we publish.

What you'll be doing

As a member of the Arcadia team, you'll be key in helping to form our list for years to come. You'll be responsible for our desk editing and project‑managing, including overseeing our special edition publishing. Our ideal candidate will bring true passion for SFF with them to the role, and a big part of your job will including reading and feeding back on submissions, developing ideas for covers, watching trends in the market, pitching to special edition retailers and truly being involved in every stage of the publishing process.

You'll also have the exciting opportunity to work alongside our Executive Publisher on one of our biggest brand authors in the Romance space, with involvement in every aspect of a truly spectacular brand publication.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an Editorial Assitant with at proven or relevant experience, who is looking to take the next step in their career. Knowledge of and passion for SFF is key!

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:

• 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 2 community days per year
• Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
• Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development programmes (including mentoring)
• Up to 70% off book purchases
• A charity bookshelf
• 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

The role will be based at our London or Sheffield office, 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 your 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