Editorial Assistant (NYC Hybrid) – Children’s Books

About the Role

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 focused on classic brands and beloved characters, including backlist care and developing new picture books such as I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home, I Promise, and The Food Group series.

Versify, an award-winning imprint, publishes books that explore the beauty, hurdles, and hopefulness of life with a focus on underrepresented communities, including titles like Brownstone, The Undefeated, and the World of ¡Vamos! series.

Curiosity Studio, within the Clarion Books imprint, creates books around house brands and licenses, backlist care, and original IP for babies through young adult readers, including properties like Little Blue Truck, Curious George, and The Polar Express.

Work alongside a team of passionate editors committed to bringing diverse stories and voices to life.

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.
• 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, and 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.

Requirements

• College degree or 1+ year equivalent work experience.
• Prior relevant work experience (including bookselling, internships, and/or coursework).
• Passion for children’s books, knowledge of the marketplace, and keen interest in learning about the business of publishing.
• Enjoyment of collaborative work, both in a small editorial team and across departments.
• Proven ability to set priorities under pressure and multi-task; highly organized, resilient, flexible, patient, and detail-oriented.
• Efficient, self-motivated problem-solver with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Basic knowledge of social media (Instagram).

Pay

The salary for this position is $52,500. The quoted salary range represents the company’s good faith estimate for ideal candidates, with offers tailored based on experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other relevant factors.

Benefits

The company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, including physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits. Employees may select "elective" benefits to best fit their personal situations.