EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Bradt Travel Guides – one of the world's leading guidebook publishers – is seeking to recruit an Editorial Assistant to support the editorial department in producing its award-winning print books and e-books. The wide-ranging role includes everything from database management and photo research to checking text and maps, writing cover blurbs and assisting with Bradt’s social media platforms, and is a superb opportunity for a hard-working recent graduate with plenty of energy and ideas. The successful candidate will have excellent time-management skills, the ability to juggle several balls at a time, a very strong eye for detail and immaculate written/verbal skills (which will be tested as part of the application process). Some travel experience would be an advantage. If you are up for a challenge and are driven to succeed, then this could be the position for you. This is an in-house position at Bradt’s office, currently based in south Bucks.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The role of Editorial Assistant is to support the editorial department in every aspect of editorial and production work, with a particular focus upon assisting the Project Managers with the origination of the books themselves (from receipt of manuscript to delivery of books to warehouse). It is a wide-ranging role that requires excellent time management, the ability to juggle several balls at a time, and high-quality written and verbal skills. It may also involve assisting other departments where necessary.
The following are some specific responsibilities; the list is far from comprehensive:
Editorial
Book specific
Assisting Project Managers to ensure that books are published on time and to budget
New project research – competition/statistics/market/author
Day-to-day liaison with freelance workers and authors
Checking and updating briefing documents and standard box texts when requested
Checking of proofs against checklists
Proofreading and copy-editing (after training)
Drafting of back-cover blurbs
Compiling comp-copy lists and sending comp copies
Involvement in:
- picture research and archiving
- preparation and design of covers, including mocking up in Photoshop and author/designer liaison
- preparation and design of colour sections, including author/designer liaison, managing invoices and keeping spreadsheets up to date
General
Maintenance of databases (including freelance workers in all fields)
Ensuring shelves of editorial working copies are kept up to date and in good order
Awareness of general competition and related sales material via all media
Processing update information from authors and readers
Production
Day-to-day liaison with printers as required
Collating print-ready files and sending material to printers
Checking of plotters and advances
Checking returned material, dissemination and chasing
Ensuring all files are archived after printing
Website and social media
Website
Collating content (text, video, audio and photos), clearing copyright as required
Liaising with authors on web-specific content, editing as required
Uploading content and logging information in relevant spreadsheets
Maintaining content to ensure it is up to date and frequently refreshed
Social media
Engaging with social media through the company’s official channels
Collating content (text, video, audio and photos), clearing copyright as required
Maintaining content to ensure it is up to date and frequently refreshed
Posting regularly on our social media channels on pre-agreed days
Attending social media meetings and sharing ideas on themes/direction, etc
Sales and marketing
On occasions, assisting with marketing activity
On occasions, assisting at consumer/trade shows and other events
Administration
In addition to the above, routine jobs will include photocopying, filing, handling post/deliveries and answering telephones.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a CV and covering letter by email to Managing Editor Claire Strange (claire.strange@bradtguides.com). Closing date is midnight on Friday 23 November 2018.
For more information about Bradt Travel Guides, please visit our website www.bradtguides.com.