Assistant editor (12-month fixed-term contract)

Closing date for applications: 8th January 2026

Salary: £27,000 - £30,000 per annum, depending on experience

Reporting to: Executive publisher

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

Department: Editorial

Imprints: Piccadilly Press, Ink Road and Hot Key Books

Bring your passion for fiction to a leading children’s book publisher, working closely with editors, authors, and illustrators across every stage of publication.

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, Ink Road and Hot Key imprints, publishing fiction for young readers through to YA and older readers. You will be spending your time on editorial tasks and project management, working both with the in house team and authors and illustrators to progress our books from inception to publication; also assisting the team with research, file management and administrative tasks. We are looking for candidates with existing experience in children’s fiction.


Responsibilities

• Assisting commissioning editors with briefing and checking internal illustrations
• Project managing the publication process through to finished copy stage, liaising with authors and designers as required
• Managing the rolling reprint programme, including checking updates, reprint files, briefing design and creating new end matter as required
• Assisting with proofreading and copyediting select titles
• Assisting with managing freelance copyeditors and proofreaders
• Project managing the acquisition of US files and ensuring all necessary changes are checked and made
• Assisting the relevant commissioning editor with briefing typesetters and text designers
• Creating e-pub files
• Assisting with checking of rights and sales catalogues
• Researching competitor titles and sales performance across the market, to support commissioning editors
• Assisting the relevant commissioning editors in writing cover briefs, audio briefs, cover copy and advance information sheets for selected titles
• Opportunity to read and consider submissions from the team for weekly editorial meeting
• Dealing with general enquiries, and liaising with the relevant member of the team as necessary
• Taking clear and concise minutes for weekly editorial meetings and monthly launch meetings
• Assisting the team with maintaining and updating the publication schedules with title moves, metadata and content on Biblio
• Assisting the team in preparing for regular meetings with the sales, marketing and publicity teams as required
• Assisting commissioning editors in seeking endorsements for forthcoming titles as required and adding to Biblio
• Assisting the editorial team with reversion requests
• Liaising with the other teams as required, e.g. supplying prize shortlist and bookseller submissions to the publicity and sales teams
• Assisting with book fair arrangements as required, inc book fair schedules

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Proven experience working on layouts for illustrated and non-illustrated children’s fiction and liaising with authors and designers, copyeditors and proofreaders
• Proven experience managing a title from inception through to publication to a high standard
• Proven experience working well with a range of in house teams
• A proactive, diligent and enthusiastic person
• A literate communicator - both verbally and in written correspondence
• Able to effectively manage time and priorities, while working across multiple different projects
• Works well under pressure
• Well versed in essential Microsoft and/or Apple office packages. Knowledge of InDesign and Adobe programs essential
• 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

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

If you are interested in this role, please apply via our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.