Publishing Executive

Hachette UK Limited; Camden Town; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in the UK is seeking an Editorial Assistant to support their editorial team. Responsibilities include managing manuscripts, supporting author communication, and assisting in marketing efforts. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for commercial fiction. This role offers a blend of in-office and homeworking opportunities, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

28 annual leave days

Private medical insurance

Dental insurance

Generous pension schemes

Rent deposit loans

Community days

Development programmes

Up to 70% off book purchases

Qualifications

• Keen and wide-ranging commercial fiction reader.
• First or second job in publishing, or mid-career adjustment.
• Ability to communicate effectively internally and externally.
• Impeccable attention to detail and excellent organization skills.
• Logical and analytical approach to tasks.
• Growth mindset with a desire to learn.

Responsibilities

• Support editors in overseeing editorial schedules and managing manuscripts.
• Clear images and liaise with designers on final cover files.
• Update authors on publication plans and provide administrative support.
• Create effective product pages, marketing materials, and metadata.
• Assist in distributing books with accurate pricing and metadata.
• Provide administrative support across the team and various projects.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Logical and analytical thinking

Data-driven evaluation

Job description

Overview

Bookouture is the UK's fastest growing digital publisher and part of Hachette UK. We are thirteen years old and have grown rapidly, selling more than 80 million books worldwide. We harness the power of data and combine the advantages of a big five publisher with entrepreneurial drive. If you are shortlisted and need adjustments for attendance at interview, please let us know. Location: this role can be based at our London office or our regional office in Sheffield, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Responsibilities

• Supporting our editors to ensure that our books are as good as they can be. This includes overseeing editorial schedules, managing manuscripts from copy edit through to typesetting / eBook conversion with focus on producing error-free final files and updating them as necessary.
• Supporting editors on packages: clearing images and liaising with designers on final cover files.
• Supporting editors with author communication - updating authors on publication plans and sales and other administrative author support.
• Assisting editors in creating persuasive, effective product pages, marketing materials, metadata, quotes and keywords for every one of our books.
• Assisting our Digital Operations Manager to ensure that our books are distributed to as broad an audience as possible with accurate pricing and metadata.
• Administrative support across the team as needed: each publishing executive has an area of extra responsibility (for example prizes, managing editorial, promotions, audio) and will support the head of that department with their workload.
• There will be opportunities to shadow edit, provide cover feedback, draft copy and pitches, and other creative work.
• Supporting the wider company on projects in key growth areas for the business.

Qualifications

• You will be a keen and wide-ranging commercial fiction reader, with an insight into which books work and why.
• This may be your first or second job in publishing or you may be mid-career and looking to move into commercial publishing.
• You will be a strong communicator with an ability to communicate effectively internally and externally in a timely fashion.
• You will have impeccable attention to detail, excellent organisation skills, and the ability to prioritise a busy workload on tight deadlines.
• You will be logical and analytical in your approach to all things.
• You will love using data to develop your understanding of Bookouture's publishing and market to better evaluate submissions and support commissioners.
• You will have a growth mindset, always looking for ways to improve and learn in your role.

Benefits

• 28 annual leave days per year, increasing to 29 after 2 years and 30 after 5 years (plus 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 (e.g., Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, AgeWise, Wellbeing, religious networks)
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!