Assistant Editor London 2024

Bonnier Children’s Books is one of the leading children’s book publishers in the UK. For this role you will be working within the children’s fiction team, which comprises the Piccadilly Press and Hot Key imprints, publishing fiction for young readers through to YA and older readers. You will be spending your time on creative editorial tasks and project management, working both with the inhouse team and authors and illustrators to progress our books from inception to publication; also assisting the team with research, file management and some administrative tasks.

The role would be perfect for a candidate who has some experience at this level already and is looking to build on and broaden their skills. The role is full-time and based in our central London offices, with a minimum of 2 days a week in the office, usually Tuesday and Thursday.

Role Responsibilities

Creative

• Reading and considering submissions from the team for editorial meetings
• Researching competitor titles and sales performance across the market, to support commissioning editors
• Opportunity to be involved in the creative process for IP projects
• Assisting the relevant commissioning editors in writing cover briefs, audio briefs, cover copy and advance information sheets for selected titles
• Assisting commissioning editors with briefing and checking internal illustrations and project managing the publication process through to finished copy stage, liaising with authors and designers as required
• Assisting the managing editor with the rolling reprint programme, including checking updates, reprint files, briefing design and creating new endmatter as required
• Assisting the managing editor with proofreading and copyediting select titles
• Project managing the acquisition of US files and ensuring all necessary changes are checked and made
• Assisting the managing editor/commissioning editor with briefing typesetters and text designers
• Assisting the managing editor with creating e-pub files
• Assisting with checking of rights and sales catalogues

Administrative

• Dealing with general enquiries, and liaising with the relevant member of the team as necessary
• Taking clear and concise minutes for regular meetings, such as weekly editorial meetings and monthly launch meetings
• Maintaining and updating the forward programme with title moves, metadata and content on Biblio and editorial team schedules
• Assisting the team in preparing for regular meetings with the sales, marketing and publicity teams as required
• Seeking endorsements for forthcoming titles and adding to Biblio
• Assisting the editorial team with reversion requests
• Liaising with the other teams as required, eg supplying prize shortlist and bookseller submissions to the Publicity and Sales teams
• Managing advance author copies
• Assisting with book fair arrangements as required, inc book fair schedules
• Supporting the Editorial team in processing invoice payments and chasing payments as necessary

Qualifications and Experience

• An ambitious and creative self-starter with a passion for children’s books
• A good awareness of publishing and trends within the young fiction, middle grade and YA markets
• A proactive, energetic and enthusiastic person who is diligent and full of creative ideas
• An interest in building on existing editorial skills within a broad age-range within children’s publishing, from young fiction to YA and older readers
• Ability to manage jobs from inception to completion to the highest standard
• A literate communicator - both verbally and in written correspondence
• Able to effectively manage time and priorities, while working across multiple different projects with the ability to pivot tasks dependent on direction and priority at any given time
• Works well under pressure
• Well versed in essential Microsoft and/or Apple office packages. Knowledge of InDesign and Adobe programs an advantage
• Experience of working with Biblio a distinct advantage
• Demonstrates inclusivity and tolerance at all time
• Previous editorial publishing experience is essential
• Experience of working across a team and a variety of functions is essential