Editorial Assistant, HarperNorth
Application Deadline: 28 July 2026
Department: Editorial
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Manchester
Compensation: £25,500 / year
Description
As Editorial Assistant, you will facilitate the smooth running of the department and provide administrative and editorial support to the publisher and editors. There will be regular opportunities for the successful candidate to develop their editorial skills, working on edits alongside the editors, assisting with creative briefs for books, idea generation and writing cover copy and AI sheets. This role requires regular liaison with authors, agents and other departments, and handling multiple titles in all stages of their life cycle, so a cheerful disposition, good time management and a can-do attitude are essential.
HarperNorth, established in 2020, finds, nurtures and grows northern writing talent and brings the best voices to the widest national and international audiences. With a track-record of top-ten bestsellers and award-nominated authors, HarperNorth offers a dedicated editorial, marketing and publicity function rooted in the north. As a close-knit team, HarperNorth offers the opportunity for team members to contribute to discussions across the imprint, ensuring constant learning and development opportunities. Based in the centre of Manchester, HarperNorth publishes bestselling fiction and non-fiction across the market. From crime to rom-com and memoir to history, we are looking for the best writers to reach the broadest possible readership.
Please note: this vacancy will close once 200 applications have been received. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to [email protected] with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.
Key Responsibilities
Administration
Managing the editorial tracker to ensure all titles’ progression through the critical path is monitored
Agenda building and circulation for Editorial and Acquisitions meetings
Organising/diary management of HarperNorth meetings: Editorial, Acquisitions, Publishing Operations, Focus and Launch
Taking minutes at divisional meetings, as required
Arranging author/ agent meetings and presentations, and preparing documents
Use of other general office admin/systems
Helping HN’s Marketing and Publicity assistant with general enquiries inbox management
Liaising with freelancers, raising purchase orders and processing invoices
Onboarding new editorial suppliers/ freelancers
Liaison on Publisher’s behalf with authors, agents, other departments etc.
Providing advance/sample materials for other departments e.g. sales, marketing, rights, audio
Tracking materials to/from designers, editors and production
Placing author/ agent book orders
Completing prize submissions
Collating sales data for sharing with authors and agents
Editorial
Researching the book market as required, including Bookscan, chart and competitor research
Raising new contracts, managing new contracts through the system
Creating/managing advanced information sheets, including bibliographic data
Monitoring Amazon to ensure copy and jackets are up to date
Monitoring and amending metadata in line with promotions
Looking up sales figures and data, creating sales reports for internal usage
Writing up physical and e-book copyright pages
Completing Editorial to Production forms
Completing audio briefing forms
Preparing and circulating cover briefs
Occasional picture research for internals/ covers
Management of open submissions inbox: turn downs and fielding potential submissions to editors
Writing reader reports for submissions
Researching new authors/ concepts for IP projects
Working closely with the Production team to ensure books are on schedule and files signed off by all relevant parties
Booking and managing freelancers for copy-edits and proofreads, including collation and marking up files
E-book editorial checks
Creating back ads for cross promotion in e-books
Helping to manage reprints/ second outings: responsibilities include organising the re-branding of covers, updating prelims, back ads and reading group notes etc.
Sending copies to authors/agents
Proofreading jacket copy and catalogue copy
Creating and monitoring timelines for key publications
Working closely with Sales and Marketing to help promote titles across the list
Communicating with authors about promotions
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Previous work experience, not necessarily in publishing
Solid administrative & organisation experience or knowledge with a high level of computer literacy
Reliable
Excellent time management skills
Ability to multi-task
Effective communicator at all levels (within the team, author/ agent facing)
Familiar with MS Word; Excel; Outlook; Powerpoint
Have a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
Be a book lover
Broad literary taste and interest in the media and cultural landscape and trends
Have a real passion for regional diversity within the publishing industry
