Editorial assistant

Closing date: 24th February 2025

Salary: £27,000 dependent on experience (+bonus +benefits)

Location: The role will be based at our London office, Carmelite House, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Can you take the initiative to keep a team running smoothly? We are looking for an enthusiastic and meticulous editorial assistant to support the Sceptre team, working closely with its executive publisher.

For almost forty years Sceptre has been the home of the very best in fiction and non-fiction. We are one of the most dynamic literary imprints in British and international publishing, working with some of the most iconic names in contemporary writing and some of the world's most beloved books.

We publish across a wide range of categories including fiction (both written in English and translated), biography and memoir, popular culture, narrative non-fiction and graphic novels.

Our authors include Arifa Akbar, Jessica Andrew, Jenn Ashworth, Abi Daré, Ned Beauman, Kaliane Bradley, James Cahill, Tracey Emin, Wendy Erskine, E. M. Forster, Charles Frazier, Siri Hustvedt, Thomas Keneally, Fiona McFarlane, Tom Lamont, David Mitchell, Andrew Miller, David Nicholls, Simon Parkin, Hans Rosling, Martin Scorsese, Pier Vittorio Tondelli, John Vaillant and Charlotte Wood.

Sceptre is an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton. With over 150 years of ground-breaking publishing from book lovers, original thinkers and market leaders, Hodder & Stoughton's unwavering mission has been to publish the most compelling voices in every genre. 

What you'll be doing

• Reporting directly to the Executive Publisher, you will be responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks including general office administration, running our internal systems, organising meetings, keeping minutes, overseeing our publishing critical path, updating Biblio, processing invoices, organising book proof mailouts and supporting the busy team of commissioners and editors with a variety of ad hoc tasks.
• Editorial tasks include proofreading covers, writing copy, preparing editions for production, dealing with author and agent queries and managing reprint corrections. You will also play a supportive but active role in helping our commissioning team shape the future of Sceptre, taking part in our editorial meetings and learning what goes into the process of acquiring and publishing a book. 
• While the role sits within the Sceptre team, you will work across the broader Hodder division, with colleagues from editorial, design, production, sales, marketing, publicity and beyond. 

Who we are looking for

• A clear passion for books and for the business of bringing stories into the hands of readers.
• Proven office experience is essential.
• Some publishing experience would be an advantage but is not strictly necessary.
• Knowledge of a language other than English is encouraged.

The ideal candidate will be:

•  Motivated, flexible and cheerful
•  Passionate about literary fiction and non-fiction, and culture in general
•  Well-read, with broad general knowledge
•  Highly organised with a meticulous eye for detail
•  Able to multitask and prioritise effectively
•  Confident with excellent written and verbal communication skills
•  A competent administrator with knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:

• 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 2 community days per year
• Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
• Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development programmes (including mentoring)
• Up to 70% off book purchases
• A charity bookshelf
• 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

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

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org