Editorial Assistant: Trade & Academic

Department:  Editorial

Reporting to:  Editorial Director, Trade & Academic

Full time (35 hours per week) and permanent contract

Salary:          Circa £20,000 to £22,000 per annum depending on experience

Job Summary

Yale University Press London seeks an enthusiastic, meticulous and hardworking person with a genuine interest in trade and academic book publishing. Reporting to the Editorial Director, the role is responsible for editorial, organisational and administrative duties to support the Editorial Director and the editorial team of Yale’s prestigious Trade and Academic list. 

Purpose of job

To support the Editorial Director on their titles, and to work alongside the Assistant Editor to provide administrative and organisational support to editorial staff within the Trade and Academic department. 

About Us

Originally founded in New Haven Connecticut in 1908, Yale University Press has a unique position as the only American university press with a full-scale publishing operation in Europe, publishing serious non-fiction and fiction in translation, that contributes to a global understanding of human affairs. Our diverse and prize-winning list includes numerous prestigious museum and gallery partnerships, the Pevsner architectural guides series, and books by globally respected authors including Carmen Bambach, John Carey, Terry Eagleton, Nicholas Kenyon, Yasmin Khan, Geoffrey Parker, Thomas Piketty, Griselda Pollock, David Rieff, Zeynep Tufekci and Can Xue.

Equal Opportunities

Yale University Press London is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We value, promote and seek diversity.

Key tasks

To support the Editorial Director

This includes undertaking administrative duties such as liaising with authors on Author Information Sheets, soliciting reader reports and endorsements, assisting with the preparation of sales figures for Acquisition Panel proposals and compilation of AP packets.

Other tasks include administering peer review of proposals and manuscripts, adding titles to TMM database, preparing Title Information Sheets, processing contracts and cheque requests, working with authors on picture sections and clearing image permissions when necessary, reporting on proposals, organizing author advances and forwarding author mail.

To provide administrative and organisational support to editorial staff within the Trade and Academic department

This includes being the primary liaison between the trade & academic team and the press/marketing departments in both Yale’s London and New Haven USA offices, providing material as required for key meetings and use in press and marketing campaigns, handling unsolicited submissions, answering general departmental enquiries from authors and the public, processing author book orders and complimentary copies.

Other tasks include administering contracts for books acquired by trade & academic commissioning editors and processing cheque requests, tracking contract status, sending complimentary copies to endorsers, and implementing and maintaining the input of data to the TMM database. The input of data includes ensuring accurate author and title information for all trade & academic titles, including creation of entries, Title Information Sheets, inputting copy, sales figures and citations, editing copy, revising and updating title information in line with Yale’s critical path including preparation for key publishing meetings and deadlines, preparing Publishing Committee and YUP funding documents.

To provide specific editorial support to the Trade & Academic editorial team on certain authors and individual book projects (on occasion).

This includes liaising with authors on Author Information Sheets, soliciting reader reports and endorsements, assisting with the preparation of sales figures for Acquisition Panel proposals and compilation of AP packets, administering peer review of proposals and manuscripts, adding titles to the TMM database, preparing Title Information Sheets, processing contracts and cheque requests, clearing image permissions when necessary, reporting on proposals.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Core Duties

• Logging and filing unsolicited manuscripts and writing rejection letters
• Author, Marketing and Book Research for new projects and initiatives
• Identifying Endorsers/Puffers and sending out complimentary copies of books
• Writing Marketing copy as required
• Sundry administrative duties if required

Additional Duties undertaken:

• Filling in the jacket cover design briefs, and suggesting ideas with regards to imagery. 
• Reading and reporting on new proposals and existing manuscripts.
• Obtaining and distributing advance/comp copies as required
• Occasional attendance at and preparation for events and conferences
• Performing other duties or tasks in support of colleagues as required

Person Specification – Key knowledge & skills

Essential:

•  A keen interest in trade and academic publishing
•  An ability to manage a varied workload and work well under pressure
•  Highly organised, proactive and efficient, with an ability to prioritise   effectively, use    initiative and work to deadlines
•  A keen eye for detail
•  Good team player with a willingness to work collaboratively across the department and the organisation
•  An enthusiastic and willing approach
•  Some knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Excel, Word, Acrobat
•  A good standard of general education or equivalent relevant experience

What we can offer:

Yale University Press London offers a generous package of benefits including accommodation deposit and travel loans, a cycle purchase scheme, a lively social scene and a generous pension scheme. As Co-organisers of the annual Bedford Square Arts Festival, our staff enjoy access to the Bedford Square gardens at lunchtimes throughout the summer months.

The Location:

The role will be based in our offices on Bedford Square in Bloomsbury WC1, with convenient access to the Northern and Central lines as well as many bus routes.

Please send your CV and supporting covering letter (including availability, notice period details and current salary) to: vacancy01@yaleup.co.uk ensuring you include “Editorial Assistant” in the email subject line.

Closing date: 11th August 2021

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