Applications for this job are now closed
Picador is the literary imprint at Pan Macmillan and what defines a Picador book is the author’s voice: we believe the way a story is told is just as important as the story itself. We are home to prize-winning, internationally renowned writers and we are the proud publisher of many bestselling titles.
Picador has an extraordinary non-fiction list. Over our fifty-year history we have published some of the finest writers and thinkers of our times. Our non-fiction authors include David Olusoga, Patrick Radden Keefe, Olivia Laing, Jon Ronson, Jenny Kleeman, Michelle Zauner, Oliver Sacks and Natalie Haynes.
Your role
In this busy and wide-ranging role you will be responsible for the smooth running of two of our editors’ administrative and editorial processes. You will be a key member of a team and you will learn about all aspects of a book’s life, from acquisition to publication.
We are looking for someone who is calm, resourceful and organized, who can multitask and meet deadlines, and who is a very keen reader. This is an entry-level role.
Your key responsibilities
- Management of a wide range of books through the editorial process: from reading manuscripts to drafting cover copy; writing up information for Sales and Comms (Publicity and Marketing); and presenting books to colleagues
- Multitasking on books at different stages of production
- Permission clearing for text and pictures
- Coordinating with international publishers
- Mailing books and proofs to authors and others
- Updating Biblio (our central bibliographic information repository), coding invoices and getting approval for contracts and author payments
- Acting as a port of call for authors and colleagues who have questions about the publishing schedule; fielding external enquiries
- Reading and reporting on submissions
- Reading a wide range of books not published by our list.
About you
Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed
- Excellent administration skills with the ability to organize, prioritize and manage workflow
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Exceptional attention to detail
- A willingness to learn new skills and software
- Aptitude for teamwork
- Ability to multi-task and work calmly under pressure
- Interest in the wider world of culture and literature.
Desirable skills we’d love you to have
- Familiarity with the Google suite of apps, Adobe Acrobat and the Microsoft Office suite
- Evidence of working with bespoke in-house systems and/or willingness to learn.
What you’ll get in return
In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package. Some of the benefits we offer:
- 25 days annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
- Generous pension scheme
- Discounted private medical insurance
- Group income protection scheme
- Enhanced family pay and leave
- Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
- 2 Volunteer Days per year
- 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
- Season ticket loan/advance
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounts on shopping, Tastecard+ and gym memberships; Christmas club savings
- Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch
This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week. All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.
At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DE&I are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices.
Workplace culture
We pride ourselves not just in winning awards and publishing the bestselling books in the market, but also on the wellbeing and satisfaction of everyone who works with us. This is a company where all voices are heard and new, creative ideas are welcomed.
We seek to recruit and develop talent from all backgrounds, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. This has a profound impact on our perspective and ideas, encouraging us to learn from each other and to nurture the best talent leading us to publish books that appeal to the broadest possible readership.
Our mission is to publish the very best authors and illustrators successfully and sustainably because we believe that books enrich people’s lives and help build empathy and understanding.
Our values
To ensure that everyone who works at Pan Macmillan delivers on our mission and shares the same goals, we have developed a set of values that define our working culture and are the foundation of our publishing. These values were derived in consultation with the whole company and they are deliberately illustrated in a circle to underline a lack of hierarchy in importance.
