Assistant to literary rights agent

Closing date: 4th November 2024

We are seeking a highly motivated, organised, and enthusiastic assistant to an international rights literary agent in our London Literary department. 

The Books team in London is a dynamic and collaborative group of agents and assistants, whose various remits include Primary Agenting and the sale of International Rights.

The ideal candidate will be an avid reader who is passionate about books, with a strong interest in international publishing and the global entertainment industry. This role will have a particular focus on translation rights, so previous experience in a Foreign Rights department or similar is desirable. Language skills are desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Assisting with the preparation of submissions; logging deals in our system; tracking contracts, payments, and royalties; and generating reports, lists, and timetables.
• Reading manuscripts and book proposals for all genres, for both UK and US authors, and producing concise reading reports for the International Rights department, with a specific aim to give feedback about their international scope.
• Liaising with clients, publishers, and internal colleagues, maintaining good relationships and open communication.
• Updating and maintaining key department databases.
• Assisting with the preparation of Frankfurt, London, and Bologna Book Fairs, as well as other business trips.
• Paying attention to trends in international markets and reporting back to the team.
• Proactive support to the agent, including diary management, travel arrangements, answering phones and drafting correspondence. Other ad hoc tasks as required.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A huge passion for reading, with an interest in global publishing and entertainment.
• Great attention to detail and the ability to work to a high standard whilst managing a high volume of information.
• A willingness to learn quickly, with a hard-working, extra-mile attitude compatible with a fast-paced environment.
• A genuine team-player who is reliable, can take initiative, and solve problems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A clear understanding of the importance of excellent client service and absolute discretion.

WME 

The WME Literary Department boasts a roster of bestselling and award-winning authors in all areas of fiction and nonfiction. With offices in New York, London, Nashville and Beverly Hills, WME Literary agents have the full range of expertise, from literary fiction to cookbooks to memoir to celebrity. The WME Literary Department’s extensive international rights team is devoted entirely to selling translation rights for clients’ books in over 50 languages around the globe.

WME, part of the Endeavor network, is a leading entertainment talent agency representing artists and content creators across all media platforms, specifically movies, television, music, theatre, digital and publishing. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, WME also has offices in New York, Nashville, London and Sydney.

Endeavor unites and brings people together in our love of sport, culture, and entertainment. We understand this can only be accomplished when we lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we strive to reflect the world’s diverse voices.  

Endeavor is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.

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