ASSISTANT EDITOR

Chronicle Books LLC.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 37,760 - 43,394; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Profit-share plan

Paid family, maternity, and paternity leave

Annual tuition assistance

Job summary

Chronicle Books LLC. is seeking a creative and savvy Assistant Editor to join their Art & Entertainment publishing group in San Francisco. The position requires at least three years of publishing experience and involves providing editorial support on various commercial books and formats, focusing on licensing relationships.

Responsibilities include acquiring books, managing author relationships, and tracking project schedules. The hiring salary range is $27.41 – $31.50 per hour, and the role offers a hybrid work schedule with numerous benefits including medical insurance and paid vacation.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of publishing experience with proven project management skills.
• Strong interest in licensing and skill in copywriting/written communications.
• Ability to represent the publishing director and executive editor in meetings.

Responsibilities

• Provide editorial and project management support on commercial books and formats.
• Independently acquire or serve as project editor for 6–8 books per year.
• Build industry relationships, cultivate authors and makers, and maintain title schedules.

Skills

Project management skills

Copywriting/written communications

Attention to detail

Job description

Job Overview

Chronicle Books is looking for a creative and savvy Assistant Editor to join the Art & Entertainment publishing group. From Grumpy Cat to Dolly Parton, the Art & Entertainment team acquires and publishes pop culture books, formats, and calendars across a wide range of non‑fiction categories. Our titles are contagious, thoughtfully designed, funny, and commercial. We need a quick‑thinking, pop‑culture and trend‑loving editor who has many creative ideas, an interest in growing publishing relationships, and a clear vision for what makes a book irresistible.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide editorial and project management support on commercial books and formats, focusing on licensing relationships under the direction of the Publishing Director.
• Independently acquire or serve as project editor for 6–8 books, calendars, and formats per year, generating innovative concepts and conducting consumer research.
• Build industry relationships, cultivate authors and makers, and maintain title schedules throughout the development cycle.
• Evaluate manuscripts, input corrections, generate title memo copy for tipsheets, and track licensor approvals.
• Communicate with authors, artists, packagers, licensors, and literary agents; present proposals to the publishing group meeting.
• Generate P&L statements and deal sheets, lead creative meetings, make offers, monitor marketplace trends, and collaborate with department group members.

Requirements

• Minimum three years of publishing experience with proven project management skills.
• Strong interest in licensing and skill in copywriting/written communications.
• Ability to represent the publishing director and executive editor in meetings.
• Excellent attention to detail, self‑motivation, and the capacity to manage multiple tasks independently and collaboratively.

Hiring Salary Range

$27.41 – $31.50 per hour. This range reflects the anticipated low and high end of the expected salary for this position and will be determined by factors including education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, geographic location, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Profit‑share plan
• Three weeks of paid vacation at start, two weeks of sick time per year, and company holidays, including a paid winter break between Christmas and New Year
• Paid family, maternity, and paternity leave
• Commuter benefits
• Long‑term disability insurance
• Annual tuition assistance
• Annual wellness stipend

Schedule

Hybrid schedule in our San Francisco office: at least three in‑office days per week and up to five, depending on project and business needs.

Equal‑Opportunity Employer Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. Chronicle Books is an equal‑opportunity employer and welcomes applicants who support a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace.