8 Editorial / Writing / Storytelling Opportunities in Greater London

Closing date for applications: 6th July at 11.59pm

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Term: full-time, permanent position

Location: 2 days office based / 3 days home based (or fully office based if preferred)

Are you a history buff or interested in joining the book trade? Check out this entry-level position with Bloomsbury Academic.

Bloomsbury is a leading international publisher with strengths in trade, children’s, professional and academic publishing. We are currently looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and hardworking Editorial Assistant to provide administrative and organisational support for our Academic History list. The successful candidate will assist and report to the Senior Publisher, working across the European history and medieval history lists and the Bloomsbury History: Theory and Method digital resource. Our bestselling titles include The French Revolution and Napoleon, Germany since 1945, The Crusades and A Practical Guide to Studying History. This is an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about a broad range of activities across the publishing business and develop the key skills required for a career in publishing. The successful candidate will join a friendly team based in our central London offices.

To provide administrative support to the Senior Publisher for History in the effective management of print and electronic products throughout the publication process. This includes liaising with authors to ensure manuscripts are delivered on time, preparing manuscripts for production, sending proposals and draft manuscripts for review, managing backlist titles, and other administrative duties.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with authors, volume editors and series editors to ensure a high standard of author care throughout the publishing process
• Keeping the publishing programme on schedule through regular liaison with authors, and by maintaining and updating the frontlist plan for any given year
• Preparing manuscripts for handover to production to agreed standards and on schedule
• Setting up new titles on Biblio (our bibliographic database), and ensuring that any changes to projects are updated promptly and in line with key dates
• Assisting with the day-to-day running and management of the Bloomsbury History: Theory and Method digital resource
• Writing and editing marketing copy
• Commissioning peer reviews for projects as requested; ensuring these reviews are delivered in a timely way; recording the progress of all projects under review
• Putting together cover briefs, cover copy and briefing cover designs
• Supporting editors in managing backlist, including monitoring stock levels, reprints and the Print on Demand scheme, as required
• Responding promptly and appropriately to external and internal inquiries
• Providing basic reports and sales information
• Providing administrative support for team (filing, photocopying etc)
• Creating and managing companion websites

Knowledge, skills, experience

• Will have knowledge and/or experience of relevant processes, systems and websites
• Highly organised with the ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Exceptional attention to detail and command of English spelling and grammar
• Proactive and able to take initiative
• Good time management with ability to meet deadlines
• Evidence of project management skills
• Solution-focused, calm and able to logically solve problems under pressure
• Flexible and able to work independently
• Effective teamworking, networking and building relationships
• Excellent communication (oral and written) to internal and external contacts, handling information sensitively and professionally
• Strong IT skills including competency in using Microsoft Office, Word and Excel
• Some commercial awareness and understanding of the publishing industry desirable
• Places a high value on quality of content, author care, company reputation and sustained customer relationship
• An interest in academic publishing, and in developing industry and market awareness
• Some prior publishing experience an advantage

As an Assistant role, this position is eligible for Bloomsbury’s Rental Deposit Loan Scheme. To assist candidates who want to start and to establish a career in publishing, Bloomsbury offers an interest-free rental deposit to support securing somewhere to live. The rental deposit loan can be up to £3,000 and will be paid back over 2 years.

Bloomsbury is a place where anyone of any background, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, ability, or socio-economic status can thrive, feel comfortable, and be heard and accepted. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

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

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please flag to the recruitment team if required. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

The Book Trade Charity provide financial assistance for people looking to get into the publishing industry; you can find more information and talk directly here: http://booktradeentrysupport.org