Editorial assistant

Closing date: 2nd June 2025

Salary: £27,000 based in London, £24,840 based in Sheffield(+bonus +benefits)

Are you passionate about great storytelling in all its forms? Are you a highly organised team player who would be excited to roll up your sleeves and support a busy team of commissioners? Do you think you could bring some innovative book ideas of your own to the table? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Headline Non-Fiction is a part of Headline, one of the most successful, dynamic and fastest-growing consumer book publishers in the UK.

The Headline Non-Fiction and the Welbeck Narrative Non-Fiction lists boast an incredible array of award-winning talent from the worlds of celebrity, music, culture, history, TV, sport and current affairs. We have an eclectic list ranging from global stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Perry, Priscilla Presley and Megan Fox to TV brands such as Fawlty Towers; compelling memoirs from authors such as Amanda Knox and Bryony Gordon; bestselling history writers such as Al Murray, Otto English and Robert Verkaik; cult comedians and musicians like James Acaster, Ivo Graham, Oasis and Flea; plus some of the biggest sporting names in the country including Ben Stokes and Jamie Redknapp.

What you'll be doing

• We are looking for a highly organised, innovative and creative self-starter to join the Headline Non-Fiction editorial team in the key role of Editorial Assistant.
• You’ll be assisting the editorial team with seeing books through the publication process – whether that’s helping with the admin of commissioning a book; managing the copy-editing, proof-reading and collating of our manuscripts; diligently managing the schedule; or liaising with authors and agents.
• Meanwhile, you’ll be learning what it takes to acquire new non-fiction projects and how we build our publishing strategies and campaigns.
• You’ll also be able to get involved with our vibrant IP development programme. It’s a busy, demanding, but most of all really rewarding entry role in publishing.
• A flexible attitude and good time management skills are essential, as is the ability to prioritise under pressure.
• Your day will involve lots of detail-oriented work, but there will also be plenty of opportunities to develop and stretch your commercial and creative muscles.
• You’ll liaise directly with authors, TV companies, literary and talent agents, read submissions, attend author events, and get stuck into manuscripts, metadata, and copywriting.
• It’s a collaborative role that will see you working closely with staff in all other departments, contributing creatively to marketing and publicity plans and maintaining our social media presence, so you will need to be an outstanding communicator and solid team player.

Who we are looking for

• First and foremost, we’re looking for someone who loves books and wants to throw themselves into learning how the editorial side of publishing works.
• You’ll be full of creative energy, thriving on working with brilliant authors and amazing ideas.
• Other key attributes include:
  • You’ll be interested in the world around you – from pop culture, celebrities and social media stars to current affairs, wellness, sport, history and the arts.
  • Your attention to detail will be extraordinary.
  • You’ll be efficient, organised and able to juggle lots of things all at once.
  • You’ll be confident, calm and an excellent communicator.
  • The ability to balance a busy and varied workload is important, as well as being a team player.
  • You’ll know your way around Microsoft Suite and be a fast learner for other software such as Adobe.
  • You’ll want to have fun at work, and to bring your own personality and taste to the role to really make it yours.
  • This is an entry-level position, and no previous publishing experience is required.

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
• Dental 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.

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

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