Group export sales assistant

Department: Export
Reporting To: Export Sales Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)

Interview dates: W/C 26th October & W/C 2nd November

Start date: November 2026
Location: Vauxhall, London (Hybrid Post Probation)

Start your career in international sales, working with customers and partners around the world at Walker Books.

Walker Books UK is part of the vibrant international Group that includes Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree in the USA and Walker Books Australia. Renowned for its truly original publishing and outstanding quality, the Walker Books Group is home to a wide range of children's and young adult books.

Award-winning authors and illustrators for the group include Angie Thomas, Sydney Smith, M.T Anderson, Patrick Ness, and Jon Klassen. We are also enormously proud to publish beloved family brands including Lucy Cousin’s Maisy, Michael Rosen’s We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram’s Guess How Much I Love You and Martin Handford’s Where’s Wally?

About the Role:

We are looking for an organised, commercially minded and proactive Group Export Sales Assistant to join our busy Export team. This is an excellent entry-level opportunity for someone looking to build a career in international sales and children's publishing.

Reporting to the Export Sales Director, you will provide sales, administrative and marketing support to the Group Export Sales team. You will play an important role in helping to manage relationships with international customers, distributors and sales representatives, preparing sales analysis and reports, coordinating sales materials and marketing campaigns, and helping to identify opportunities to grow export sales.

The role offers broad exposure to international publishing and the chance to develop commercial, analytical and customer-facing skills while working closely with colleagues across Sales, Marketing, Editorial and Design. It is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced international sales environment and contribute to the growth of our export business.

Key responsibilities:

Sales Support & Analysis

• Provide day-to-day sales and administrative support to the Group Export Sales team.
• Analyse sales data and support the team in identifying opportunities to drive additional sales.
• Produce monthly gap analysis reports for key titles.
• Create and maintain customer sales analysis reports for the sales team.
• Prepare monthly board reports and assist with the preparation of budgets and sales forecasts.
• Create and update customer order forms, promotional lists and other sales materials.
• Calculate and process commission payments for freelance sales representatives.

Customer & Sales Team Support

• Monitor and respond to enquiries received through the Export inbox, directing queries to the appropriate team member where required.
• Coordinate the distribution of blads, proofs, dummies, advances and samples to customers, distributors, freelance representatives and international sales colleagues.
• Liaise with the Marketing team on proof mailings and the production and distribution of marketing materials for export customers, distributors and representatives.
• Keep the Walker Books showroom up to date with key new titles.

Marketing & Communications

• Compile and distribute the weekly Export newsletter using Mailchimp and maintain the subscriber database.
• Support the creation of sales presentations, promotional materials and themed title selections for customers.
• Coordinate the production and distribution of the biannual Export catalogue, working with Design and Editorial colleagues to ensure information is accurate and delivered to schedule.

Events & Team Coordination

• Lead the coordination of the Walker Books stand at the London Book Fair, including liaison with contractors, production of display materials, table bookings, passes and sales materials.
• Attend internal product teach-ins, sales conferences and other relevant meetings.
• Take meeting notes and coordinate follow-up actions where required.
• Undertake additional duties and projects as required to support the Export team.

Please note the above is not an exhaustive list and does not necessarily include all the duties the job holder may have to perform.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate evidence of the following skills and/or experience:

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Confidence working with numbers and an analytical approach to interpreting information.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and an interest in developing your data analysis skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach and willingness to take ownership of tasks.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• An interest in sales, international markets and/or children's publishing.
• Previous experience in publishing, media or a commercial environment would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why join Walker Books?

We offer:

• A supportive working environment where all voices are respected and creativity is not hierarchical
• Hybrid work (at least two days in the office per week) once you have successfully passed probation
• 22 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (with annual leave increasing with length of service up to 27 days)
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Health Insurance and Health Cash Plan
• Life Assurance
• Summer Hours
• Remote working for up to two weeks per year
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Plus, other great benefits!

All children deserve to see themselves, their families, and their communities represented in the books they read. As children’s book publishers, it is our goal to ensure that the books and content we publish authentically and joyfully reflect the world around us. As an employer, we are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive working environment where everyone is included, valued, and empowered to do their best and most creative work. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, sex, or any other characteristic protected by law and those not yet protected by law.

Please note we reserve the right to close vacancies before the closing date where we have received sufficient applications. We recommend submitting your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload your CV and cover letter as one document (applications without a tailored cover letter will not be accepted)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact the company directly
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk
• Please note you will receive an update on your application no later than 6 weeks after the closing date

This opportunity is part of Discover Creative Careers, a government-funded programme delivered by Creative Access, Creative UK and Futures for All. The programme is creating 550 paid opportunities across the UK creative industries over three years, helping to open up pathways into creative careers for young people and people from under-represented backgrounds.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries. This includes individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from other ethnically diverse backgrounds, or people of any ethnicity who belong to the following under-represented groups: disabled people, people with the characteristic of gender reassignment, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, carers and asylum seekers.