Editorial Assistant (NYC Hybrid) – Children’s Books

HarperCollins Publishers • New York, NY

17h • 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, Versify, and Curiosity Studio imprints, reporting to two editorial directors and an executive editor. The Harper Picture Books and Programs imprint is a collaborative, creative team with a focus on classic brands and beloved characters. This group is dedicated to creating books around esteemed house brands such as Pete the Cat and Fancy Nancy, including backlist care, and developing captivating and bestselling new picture books. Versify, a boutique award-winning imprint under the Harper group, publishes books that explore the beauty, hurdles, and hopefulness of life with a focus on underrepresented communities; they publish books that will engage, entertain, and empower young people to imagine and create a better world. Publishing everything from board book to picture book, to graphic novel, middle grade, and YA, Versify’s innovative list includes award-winning titles. Curiosity Studio is a collaborative, fun, mission-driven team within the Clarion Books imprint. This group is dedicated to creating books around house brands and licenses, backlist care, and developing original IP for babies through young adult readers, including inventive novelty formats. We publish classic, literary and commercial works, with clever enduring characters that invite readers of all backgrounds to laugh and think. Work alongside a team of passionate editors who are 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
• Basic knowledge of social media (Instagram)

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.
• Under close supervision, 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 drafts 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.
• Maintain Versify’s Instagram account with engaging posts, reels, and stories.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "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