Editorial Assistant, Embla Books

Publishers Association Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Holiday purchase scheme

Contributory pension scheme

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Embla Books, based in London, seeks an Editorial Assistant to support the editorial team and publishing director. You will assist authors, manage metadata, optimize keywords, and help prepare endmatter for ebooks while coordinating with the audio and press teams.

The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, commercial publishing environment, bring strong proofreading and organizational skills, and work on a hybrid model from our London office with flexible home days.

Qualifications

• Ambitious and creative self-starter with a passion for books and excellent organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the editorial team in ensuring the imprint’s smooth running, including author care, production and distribution tasks, sending author and agent copies.
• Managing Biblio for all titles.
• Leading on putting together ‘best in class’ metadata for all titles and regularly optimising keywords.
• Ensuring endmatter for all eBooks follows internal guidelines and is regularly updated.
• Updating reader quotes and Amazon pages for new releases during the pre-order period and post-publication; ensuring pages follow best practices.
• Working with the publishing director and senior editors on market research, acquisition documents, author pitches, proofreading, cover briefing and drafting press releases.
• Reading and evaluating submissions.
• Supporting the audio team with administrative tasks.

Skills

Self-starter

Creative thinking

Data driven

Organisational skills

Proofreading

Communication

Team player

MS Office

Apple iWork

Tools

MS Office

Apple iWork

Job description

Job title: Editorial Assistant

Reports to: Senior Commissioning Editor

Location: 5th Floor, HYLO, 105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LZ

Working pattern: Hybrid – minimum of two days per week in the office; up to three days per week working from home

Imprint: Embla Books

Department: Editorial

Salary: £28,860 per annum

Deadline: 30th October 2026

General Summary

Embla Books is looking for a talented and ambitious editorial assistant to join its dynamic, forward-thinking and leading digital team. Based in our new London offices, you’ll work closely alongside the publishing director and two senior commissioning editors on their list of titles, assisting their authors directly as well as providing general support to the wider team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to become a valued member of a collaborative publishing team, where you’ll learn first-hand how to create digital bestsellers and you’ll have the opportunity to work with a variety of authors, from brands to debuts, in all commercial genres.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting the editorial team in ensuring the imprint’s smooth running, including but not limited to general author care, production and distribution tasks, sending author and agent copies.

• Managing Biblio for all of our titles.

• Leading on putting together ‘best in class’ metadata for all our titles and regularly optimising our keywords across the list.

• Ensuring endmatter for all eBooks follows internal guidelines and is regularly updated in the most strategic ways.

• Updating reader quotes and Amazon pages for new releases during the pre-order period and immediately post-publication. Ensuring our Amazon pages follow best practices at all times and appeal directly to our target consumer market.

• Working closely alongside the publishing director and the two senior commissioning editors on their lists and assisting them with market research, acquisition documents, author pitches, proofreading, cover briefing and drafting press releases.

• Supporting the editorial team in reading and evaluating submissions.

• Supporting the audio team with various administrative tasks.

Qualifications and Experience

• An ambitious and creative self-starter with a passion for books and excellent organisational skills.

• Someone who is data driven and thrives in a fast-paced, commercial environment with excellent organizational skills.

• Feels confident prioritizing a busy workload on tight deadlines while supporting multiple members of the team.

• Creativity, passion and the ability to come up with new ideas and think strategically about publishing across multiple genres.

• Confident in providing first class author care and in liaising directly with the broader company and agents on a range of queries.

• Ability to work independently and with initiative on individual projects, with appropriate support and mentoring.

• Strong proofreading, communication and problem-solving skills.

• A dynamic, proactive team player with a positive attitude.

• Well versed in essential Microsoft and/or Apple office packages.

Company Benefits

• Private health insurance
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Lively social committee hosting regular events
• Group Life cover – including 24-hour GP service
• Company-funded gym membership for all trade staff
• Comprehensive staff training and mentorship programmes
• Flexible working and flexible hours from day one of employment
• Additional holiday allowance accrued for long service – and a full bonus week of holiday to celebrate your 10th year at BBUK
• Enhanced family leave – with equal six months’ paid leave for all new parents
• Employee assistance programme available to all employees and their families
• Dedicated volunteering hours each year to support charities promoting literacy and reading for pleasure
• Cycle to work scheme with bike storage and changing facilities on-site at our London HQ
• Wellbeing programme and daily benefits such as fresh fruit and porridge in the office