Executive Scouting Assistant

The company

Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting Ltd. is a major UK based scouting agency. We work with a host of outstanding international publishers around the world to help them find the very best of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books from the UK, the the US and international markets, to be published in translation, and to be adapted for film and TV.

Our offices are based in the Notting Hill area.

Job title

Executive Scouting Assistant (entry level)

The role

We are a friendly and supportive team looking for a meticulous and hard-working Executive Scouting Assistant, to start as soon as possible. The successful applicant will provide general administrative support for the office, input new book information onto our database and assist in the general day-to-day running of a busy scouting agency. Other responsibilities may include diary management, managing spreadsheets and contacts lists, scheduling for book fairs and client visits, responding to client queries and related research. As we work closely with the US market, some liaising with US contacts may occasionally be required outside of regular work hours.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will want to take on a long-term role in the agency’s international work. Scouting is exciting, varied and very fast-paced, so we are looking for someone highly organised and diligent, who is able to remain coolheaded in a busy working environment. They should show good judgement, communicate well in both written and spoken English, as well as enjoy and excel at administration. They should be self-motivated and feel comfortable working independently, as well as part of the close-knit team at the agency. Candidates will have at least one year’s experience of full-time employment in an office environment. That experience can be in the book trade or elsewhere, but an interest in books and publishing is essential. A particular interest in translation rights and international markets is also welcome, as is a knowledge of any foreign languages.

Responsibilities and duties

General

• Assisting with producing and editing book reports and inputting corrections.
• Responding to emails as quickly as possible and assisting with managing our email flow.
• Entering key information onto our database and writing clear copy for our book reports.
• Logging responses from clients.
• Assisting with client queries.
• Working closely with colleagues to request material from agents and publishers.
• Following industry news and social media to find information on authors, deals, personnel moves and other key industry information.
• Providing miscellaneous administrative support when required.
• Scheduling book fair appointments and organising schedules for clients.
• Assisting with obtaining information about key titles in preparation for book fairs.
• Assisting with general bookfair organisation and attending as required.

Qualifications and Skills

• Highly motivated and able to work quickly and accurately under pressure
• Strong organisational skills and great attention to detail
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent team-working qualities
• Comprehensive IT and data entry skills and experience of working with databases
• Discretion and diplomacy, as the role requires handling extremely confidential information and liaising with senior international publishers and agents
• European foreign languages are an advantage, as would be a dual European-British or U.S.-British citizenship

Contract type

Full-time, starting as soon as possible.

The role will be mainly home-working based, with the opportunity for at least one in-office day per week, in addition to regular in-office team days, company get-togethers, reviews and in person meetings with the line manager.

Salary

£22-24k depending on experience

Benefits include flexible working, pension scheme, eye care voucher scheme, Cycle to Work voucher scheme, allowance for setting up home-working station.

Application

To apply, email charlotte.james@schlingmann.co.uk with the subject line: DSLS EXECUTIVE SCOUTING ASSISTANT. Please send your CV and a covering letter, and please include your earliest availability to start.

Applications will close on Monday 19th June 2023, but we reserve the right to close the recruitment process early if we have found the right candidate.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or race.