Editorial Assistant

Job Title: Editorial Assistant
Department: Picador
Contract: Permanent, full-time

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.

Your team:
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 dedic…