Assistant Editor

Overview of the Assistant Editor Role

Reporting to the Senior Editor, this position is responsible for providing administrative support for the Harlequin Special Edition, Montana Mavericks and Fortunes of Texas imprints as well as soliciting, acquiring and developing authors/books for the Harlequin series business.

Responsibilities

Editorial Support

• Provides editorial support to the Senior Editor as required, including such tasks as preparing draft revision and rejection letters, evaluating suitability of books for the program, assisting with first reads, author alterations and text refreshes; corresponding with author and agents; line editing with supervision.
• Works with specified author base to acquire manuscripts with the appropriate editorial fit and highest editorial quality for the publishing strategy.
• Reads submissions (solicited and unsolicited where applicable), responds to authors/agents, presents projects, negotiates contracts and monitors payments to authors; develops new authors to publication standard.

Product Packaging

• Packaging: preparing and collating the Title Briefs, prelim packages, back cover copy as assigned.
• Provides editorial input into packaging design in order to ensure that the key selling features of each scheduled title are reflected in the product packaging.

Administrative Support

• Provides administrative support, including such tasks as scheduling, creating reports, competitive analyses and presentations; establishing/maintaining electronic file systems; booking meetings; directing queries to appropriate individuals.
• Manages requests from overseas offices and internal departments for manuscripts, cover copy, prelim material, cover flats, art briefs and reviews.
• Processes all incoming and outgoing submissions within agreed upon systems and guidelines. Logs and distributes submissions.
• Responds to unsolicited/un-agented submissions (slush). Forwards agented/solicited submissions to appropriate editors.
• Maintains effective logs and tracking systems including the use of editorial database HERS and content management system, RSuite.
• Enters and submits prelim information into SMART system when submitting monthly prelims to Production.
• Adapts to any new systems introduced into the processes.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree
• Post-secondary publishing diploma an asset
• Strong administrative experience and/or aptitude
• 2+ years experience in the publishing industry
• Editing experience an asset
• Flexible with the ability to manage and adapt to rapidly changing situations and circumstances
• Strong communication, planning and organizational skills as well as attention to detail
• Capacity to build trust/teamwork/collaboration and customer orientation
• Good problem-solving, decision-making and prioritization skills

About HarperCollins Canada And Harlequin

Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Through HarperCollins' global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.

Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O’Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do.

Salary Information

The salary range for this position is $51,000-$61,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills, knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.

HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at TalentManagement@harpercollins.com. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests.

Key skills/competency

• Editorial support
• Author acquisition
• Manuscript evaluation
• Content development
• Product packaging
• Administrative support
• Competitive analysis
• Database management
• Communication skills
• Organizational skills