HarperCollins Publishers UK
Assistant Editor, HQ Digital
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Application Deadline: 6 September 2026
Department: Editorial
Location: London
Compensation: £31,500 - £33,000 / year
Description
HQ Digital is the digital-first list of HQ, specialising in innovative digital publishing across the commercial fiction market, from contemporary fiction, romance, historical fiction to crime and thrillers. Combining rapid growth with commercial success, we’re proud to have launched stellar careers for a host of digital bestselling authors both in the UK and internationally, including Rebecca Raisin, Portia Macintosh, Faith Martin and Neil Lancaster.
As Assistant Editor, you will provide editorial and desk editing support to the Publishing team at HQ Digital. This is a role with a great amount of potential for growth, and the new Assistant Editor will be an important member of our small and dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to develop their editorial skills and career across a unique range of commercial publishing. It will suit digitally-savvy candidates who have both initiative and energy, and who are excited to think creatively about how we publish our books.
To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate a track record in editorial work, enjoy working on your own initiative, have the ability to juggle competing priorities and be able to anticipate the needs of the Publisher in delivering best-in-class publishing, publishing comms and author care. You will be an excellent communicator who combines creative flair with an eye for detail and can work co-operatively within the team.
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Key Responsibilities
Editorial
- Maintaining communication with authors and agents and developing publishing strategies
- Assisting the publishing director with their list of authors, providing support and responding to authors in a timely manner
- Liaising with authors over the progress of their book, as well as liaising with teams across the business including marketing, sales, rights, operations and digital
- Liaising with freelance editors for projects
- Project managing titles from acquisition through to publication
- Ownership of metadata/AIs for individual authors ensuring up-to-date information is available internally and externally
- Writing cover/catalogue copy as required
- Use AI tools within our internal systems to streamline editorial and administrative processes, with a proactive mindset to experiment and find innovative ways to simplify day-to-day tasks
- Track and read submissions for the Publisher and draft responses or respond direct
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Administration
- Act as a key point of contact for authors, agents, and internal departments on behalf of the Publisher
- Arrange meetings, book fair appointments, and other logistical support for the Publisher
- Take minutes at internal meetings when required
- Looking up sales and total consumer market figures
- Manage submissions for prizes
- Any other ad-hoc tasks as instructed
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Experience working at editorial assistant level or above
- Strong knowledge of the digital publishing market and emerging trends
- A love of commercial fiction
- Proven editorial skills, including desk editing work, copywriting and accurate proof-reading
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle competing priorities and work independently
- Excellent command of English, with strong attention to detail and accuracy
- A collaborative team player with excellent communication skills at all levels
- Advanced MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint
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