Editorial assistant

Salary: £28,000
Location: London
Job Title: Editorial Assistant
Department: Picador
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Support the editorial journey of literary non-fiction titles, helping shape books from acquisition through to publication.

Pan Macmillan UK is one of the largest general book publishers in the UK, with imprints including Macmillan, Mantle, Pan, Picador, Boxtree, Sidgwick & Jackson, Bello, Tor, Kingfisher, Macmillan Children's Books, Two Hoots, Bluebird, Campbell Books, Macmillan New Writing and Macmillan Digital Audio. Pan Macmillan is part of Macmillan Publishers International Limited.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organized Editorial Assistant to join the Picador non-fiction team. The Editorial Assistant will support a Publishing Director and Senior Commissioning Editor for non-fiction with their lists, working across a range of non-fiction projects. This is an ideal role for someone looking to join a thriving literary publishing house.

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 and award-winning list of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry: over our fifty-year history we have published some of the finest writers and thinkers of our times. Our writers include Patrick Radden Keefe, Rachel Clarke, Sathnam Sanghera, David Olusoga, Natalie Haynes, Michelle Zauner, Daniel Trilling, Lisa Feldman Barrett, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Judith Mackrell, Steve Brusatte and Mahmoud Khalil.

Your role:
In this wide-ranging role you will be responsible for the smooth running of the administrative and editorial processes of a Picador Publishing Director and Senior Commissioning Editor. You will be a key member of the team and you will learn about every stage of the publishing cycle, from acquisition to publication. We are looking for someone who is thorough, detail-oriented, resourceful, and organized, who can multitask and meet deadlines, and who is a very keen reader of a wide range of non-fiction and highly engaged with our current world.

Your key responsibilities:

• Support the editorial process: Guide a wide range of books through the editorial process, from reading and assessing manuscripts for possible publication and drafting cover copy to preparing information for the Sales and Communications teams and pitching and presenting books to colleagues.
• Maintain production workflows: Coordinate multiple book projects at various stages of production, ensuring each title moves smoothly towards publication.
• Manage rights and permissions: Handle the clearing of permissions for both text and images to ensure all content is correctly and legally sourced and documented.
• Liaise with global partners: Coordinate effectively with international publishers to support the global reach of our titles.
• Facilitate author relations: Manage the distribution of books and proofs to authors and key stakeholders, acting as a supportive point of contact for their queries and schedules.
• Oversee essential administration: Maintain accuracy within Biblio (our central bibliographic system), code invoices, and facilitate the approval of contracts and author payments.
• Act as a departmental ambassador: Field external enquiries and serve as a reliable point of contact for colleagues across the business regarding the publishing schedule.
• Support list development: Read and provide thoughtful and market-aware reports on incoming manuscripts, helping the editorial team identify projects that align with the Picador list.
• Track industry trends: Stay informed by reading a wide range of contemporary books beyond our own list to maintain a strong awareness of the market.

Essential experience, abilities, knowledge and values you’ll need to succeed:

• Administrative excellence: Effective organizational skills with a proven ability to prioritize tasks and manage a varied and unpredictable workflow effectively.
• Industry knowledge: A demonstrable passion for books and the publishing industry, particularly for Picador’s non-fiction list.
• Editorial discernment: Proven ability to review and assess texts for quality, clarity, and tone.
• Clear and effective communication: Effective written and spoken communication skills, with the ability to share information reliably and professionally.
• Solution-oriented: A proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to adapt to changing business needs while maintaining high standards of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Software/tools: Experience working with systems and tools such as MS Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Workspace, Canva and Biblio.
• Inclusion and representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring that our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
• Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment.
• Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives.
• Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.

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:

• 28 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 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.

Application process & inclusion:

Please note: All applications must be submitted via our careers site to be considered. We are unable to accept CVs or applications sent via email.

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 committed to publishing a wide range of voices that reflect the full breadth of the communities we serve. Joining us means playing an active role in bringing our titles to life as part of a team that champions inclusion at every level. We are dedicated to building a workplace that is as diverse and welcoming as the stories we tell, ensuring all perspectives are celebrated across everything we do.

We are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion

We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process, if you need any reasonable adjustments or have any accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application.

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

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.