Assistant Editor, Crown

Job Description

The editorial team at Crown/Random House is seeking an Assistant Editor to report to two Executive Editors acquiring at the Crown imprint. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to and immerse yourself in a creative and hands-on imprint renowned by readers as the go-to publisher of narrative non-fiction, gain experience in a broad range of categories ranging from pop culture to memoir to history to idea-driven non-fiction, and get exposure to all aspects of the editorial process from proposal to published book.

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

Crown award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors include President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Erik Larson, Rachel Maddow, Matthew McConaughey, Rebecca Skloot, and Mindy Kaling, among others.

The Role:
• Evaluate proposals and provide feedback to the editorial team
• Perform developmental and line edits on select projects
• 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.
• 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 support, including scheduling meetings and video conferences.

The Essentials:
• 1-2 years of experience in an editorial role
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and accurately complete multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• A strong writer with excellent communication skills.
• Motivated, eager to learn, and resourceful, with 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 non-fiction topics including pop culture, memoir, business, popular history, and popular psychology.
• The ability to maintain a professional correspondence with celebrities, business leaders, and other high-profile authors, as well as with 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. 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-gxyjxj-3-141-198-146-42 in your application.