Editorial Assistant - Children's Books (NYC Hybrid)

HarperCollins Publishers • New York, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

HarperCollins Children’s Books is seeking an Editorial Assistant to provide administrative and editorial support to Harper’s Picture Books and Programs team. This team is collaborative, creative, and focuses on classic brands and beloved characters. The role reports to an editorial director and executive editor. The group is dedicated to creating books around esteemed house brands such as Pete the Cat, Pinkalicious, Biscuit, and Fancy Nancy, including backlist care, and developing captivating new picture books and powerful middle grade and teen novels by award-winning authors. Their titles include New York Times bestsellers like Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak, Harlem Honey by Tamron Hall, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, Exquisite Things by Stonewall Award-winning author Abdi Nazemian, and National Book award long listee The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum. Additionally, the team continues to publish an evergreen backlist of books from beloved authors C.S. Lewis, Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, Soman Chainani, Victoria Kann, and Eric Carle. They publish literary and commercial works, with clever characters that invite readers of diverse backgrounds to laugh and think. The Editorial Assistant will work alongside a team of passionate editors committed to bringing many different stories and voices to life.

Requirements

• College degree or 1+ year equivalent work experience
• Prior relevant work experience (including but not limited to bookselling, internships, and/or coursework)
• Must have a passion for children’s books, knowledge of the marketplace, and keen interest in learning about the business of publishing
• Must enjoy working collaboratively, both in a small editorial team and across departments
• Proven ability to set priorities under pressure and multi-task; must be highly organized, resilient, flexible, patient, and detail-oriented
• Must be an efficient, self-motivated problem-solver with excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, and Power Point

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and editorial support, including coordinating prep for seasonal launch meetings, title data set-up and maintenance, reprint corrections, scheduling meetings, and processing expense reports.
• Manage deadlines and schedules for the team, completing assigned tasks on time and anticipating routine needs.
• Offer editorial feedback on projects in development and assist with preparation of acquisitions materials, including conducting sales research, creating P&Ls, Acquisitions Memos, and drafting contract paperwork.
• Maintain and update author files, review quotes, and records, and assist with contractual payments.
• Under close supervision draft copy for individual titles, including title sheets, flap copy, and selling copy; update backlist copy; generate and maintain metadata; conduct positioning research.
• Review production stages of books, maintaining intra-departmental communication and deadlines.
• Attend meetings, including departmental and small-group meetings.
• Contribute ideas and research to development efforts.
• Take notes and maintain records of projects and status.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package
• Variety of physical health benefits
• Retirement and savings benefits
• Caregiving benefits
• Emotional wellbeing benefits
• Transportation benefits
• Other benefits
• Elective benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree