Assistant Editor (Kana)

Harry N Abrams Inc • New York, NY

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

If you're looking to grow your career at a company where creativity meets legacy, ABRAMS is the place for you. As a trailblazer in illustrated publishing since 1949, ABRAMS continues to set the standard for beautifully crafted books across art, design, culture, and children’s literature. We’re looking for an Assistant Editor to join our Comic Arts (Kana) Team! The Assistant Editor role offers valuable experience, exposure to the publishing process, and a chance to work closely with Licensors and Abrams professionals to shape and bring forth interesting content to readers worldwide. As an Assistant Editor, you will provide editorial and administrative support to the editorial team throughout the publishing process. This role supports content development, project coordination, and quality control across a variety of titles and imprints. The Assistant Editor works collaboratively with internal teams and external contributors to ensure the timely and accurate execution of publishing tasks.

Requirements

• 1 - 4 years of editorial experience in book publishing or a related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Close attention to detail and strong proofreading/copyediting ability.
• Must be meticulous; a keen eye for detail is critical.
• Can handle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines is essential.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Passion for storytelling, visual publishing, and collaborative teamwork.
• Ability to pivot and change rapidly, and open to learning new processes and technologies.

Nice To Haves

• 1 - 2 years of publishing and/or office experience, with a focus on comics preferred (manga in particular).
• Strong passion for manga and comics art, with a deep understanding of storytelling techniques and visual aesthetics.
• A genuine interest in manga, comics, graphic novels, literature, and the publishing industry is beneficial.
• Familiarity with editorial and production tools is a plus.
• Knowledge of Adobe and InDesign is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist and support the Publisher, Associate Publisher, and the editors on Spring and Fall lists.
• Organize, plan, and act as support staff for events, including Launch, conventions, and author book signings.
• Manage administrative tasks such as maintaining databases, filing documents, managing correspondence, recording, and circulating meeting minutes, maintaining schedules, preparing P&Ls, mailings, expenses, collating galleys, draft fact sheets, catalogue copy, and flap copy.
• Assist with research and development for new projects.
• Create and gather materials for sales and marketing as needed
• Format manuscripts according to agreed guidelines and standards, ensuring consistency throughout the text.
• Review and evaluate manuscripts submitted for consideration, assessing their quality, relevance, and potential for publication. Provide summaries and recommendations to the editorial team.
• Assist in reading and proofreading manuscripts to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to publishing guidelines.
• Function as point person for select titles each season, including corresponding with the originating publisher or author and agent, receiving, checking, and trafficking manuscripts, layouts, and color proofs.
• Assist in obtaining necessary permissions and copyright clearances for previously published material or artwork used in the publications.
• Review proofs of final layouts to identify any errors.
• Liaise with authors, agents, packagers, and other outside contacts.
• Provide editorial support, including copyediting, proofreading, and reviewing manuscripts for accuracy, clarity, and grammar.
• Draft and manage fact sheets, catalogue and flap copy, and marketing-ready descriptions.
• Support acquisition and development processes by evaluating proposals, preparing P&Ls, and assisting with project research.
• Act as editorial point-of-contact or project manager for select titles as assigned.
• Maintain editorial schedules, databases, meeting minutes, and file organization.
• Coordinate cross-functional workflows, including contracts, permissions, and rights tracking.
• Ensure quality control and accuracy of text, images, and metadata prior to final production.
• Collaborate with publishing partners, licensors, agents, and authors as needed.

Benefits

• Generous paid holidays and Summer Fridays.
• Company-paid year-end office closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day each year
• Comprehensive health benefits, including short-term and long-term disability.
• Retirement savings (401k) and life insurance.
• Vacation, Personal, and Sick time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees