Editorial Assistant, Random House

Job Description

Editorial Assistant, Random House

Random House is the proud home of the world's most acclaimed storytellers, thought leaders, and innovators. Our imprints include Ballantine, Bantam, Delacorte, Del Rey, The Dial Press, The Modern Library, Random House, One World, Hogarth, Crown, Currency, Clarkson Potter, Ten Speed Press, Harmony, Rodale, Convergent, WaterBrook, and Multnomah.

The editorial team at Random House is seeking an Editorial Assistant to work with an editorial director at the imprint. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to and immerse yourself in a creative and hands-on department renowned by readers as a fine publisher of literary narratives of fiction and non-fiction, gain experience in a broad range of categories including fiction, idea-driven non-fiction, memoir and history, and get exposure to all aspects of the editorial process from proposal to published book. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to gain a greater understanding of both publishing and storytelling.

The Editorial Assistant will be responsible for daily editorial activities, including reading and providing input on proposals and manuscripts, drafting catalog and flap copy, helping to manage a list of books, participating in the development of new book ideas, and researching sales and competition. In addition to providing administrative support, the assistant will liaise with authors, agents, and different departments across Penguin Random House to support the editorial process and the publishing of Random House titles.

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors published by Random House include Jon Meacham, Isabel Wilkerson, Emma Cline, among others.

The Role:
• Evaluate manuscripts and provide feedback to the editorial team
• Coordinate management of the publishing of a list of books​ from acquisition to publication
• Research trends and competition, including sales research on comp titles (books that may be comparable in terms of potential sales, audience, reader interest).
• Draft catalog/flap copy (the synopsis/pitch of the book) and sales sheets.
• Manage communication between authors/agents and the editorial department.
• Establish and coordinate editorial/production schedules to ensure all projects are met in a timely manner
• Track and log agented submissions, payment requests, and invoices.
• Draft contract and P&L requests.
• Manage information flows between editorial and other internal departments such as production, managing editorial, art, marketing, publicity, and rights.
• Provide general administrative and author support, including scheduling meetings and video conferences.

The Essentials:
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and accurately complete multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• An understanding of the overall publishing process.
• A strong writer with excellent communication skills.
• Motivated, eager to learn, and resourceful, with a sense of humor and the ability to solve problems creatively and proactively.
• Ability to follow departmental processes and keep track of deadlines.
• Attentive to current events and popular culture, with a keen eye for/interest in cultural and publishing trends.
• Interest in working on a variety of fiction and non-fiction, on topics including contemporary culture and life, history, memoir.
• The ability to maintain a professional correspondence with high-profile authors and their agents and teams.
• A team player who can cultivate productive working relationships but also work independently when needed
• An ability to learn new applications, familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Docs a plus.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program, kindly include your cover letter and resume in our application system.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-dym1nk-3-142-249-42-42 in your application.