Desk Editor
This is an exciting opportunity to join an award-winning publisher at a key point of growth. We’re looking for an organized and detail-oriented individual who’s passionate about working across a variety of genres. This is an important and wide-ranging role for someone who enjoys seeing projects through to completion as accurately and effectively as possible.
Your team:
You will be working with the Managing Editorial team, reporting to the Editorial Manager for Pan. Managing Editorial is a collaborative and multifaceted department that forms the backbone of Pan Macmillan’s publishing programme, overseeing frontlist, backlist and reissued titles through all stages of the editorial and production process. We work alongside authors, commissioning editors, the production team and other in-house departments to ensure high editorial quality is maintained, technical processes are refined and commercial needs are met, all while bringing a wonderful and varied array of books to life.
Your role:
You will play a crucial role in supporting our Adult commercial publishing, project-managing backlist titles and your own frontlist allocations to iron out any pesky typos and misplaced commas.
A typical morning could see you liaising with commissioning editors and authors before moving on to check a jacket or proofread cover copy. Maybe you’re also reviewing a copy-edit, collating proof corrections or preparing a file for typesetting. Part of your afternoon might be spent in a progress meeting, following up with some Biblio schedule maintenance to keep on top of important critical path dates, then lining up one of our brilliant freelancers to work on an upcoming project. Perhaps you’ll also find yourself busy approving an ebook file, correcting picture captions, or copy-editing exclusive bonus content for one of our beautiful special editions.
Your key responsibilities:
- Project-managing a number of assigned frontlist titles, working across all elements of the editorial and production process, including copy-edits, proofreads, indexes, picture sections, endmatter and circulating jacket artwork
- Overseeing multiple formats of assigned titles, including special editions, export editions, backlist or reissued editions, and ebook files
- Working closely with commissioning editors, authors, production controllers, artworkers and other key stakeholders to problem-solve effectively and to keep assigned titles to schedule and on budget
- Booking and managing freelancers for assigned titles and quality-checking their work
- Inputting at progress meetings, providing updates on projects and monitoring outstanding material to ensure critical path dates are met
- Supporting the Managing Editorial team at peak times, working collaboratively to review key processes and carrying out general administrative tasks to assist with the smooth running of the department
- Copy-editing and proofreading text, as required, and checking catalogues, sales copy and ad-hoc material for other departments.
Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:
- Previous desk-editing or editorial assistant experience
- First-rate copy-editing and proofreading skills
- An impeccable eye for detail and an excellent understanding of the English language, i.e. grammar, punctuation and semantics
- An understanding of the production process and the ability to draw up, manage and renegotiate schedules in line with the critical path
- A self-motivated, highly flexible approach to work and the ability to pivot between tasks as priorities dictate, managing multiple projects effectively
- A strong understanding of Microsoft Word (track changes) and Adobe (for digital mark-up)
- The ability to work collaboratively in a team and communicate effectively.
Desirable skills we’d love you to have:
- Familiarity with Google for Work (Gmail/Google applications)
- Experience with Biblio (an advantage).
What you’ll get in return:
In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.
Salary starting from: £34,000
Closing date: 27 April 2025
Some of the benefits we offer:
28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays
Generous pension scheme
Discounted private medical insurance
Group income protection scheme
Enhanced family pay and leave
Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
2 Volunteer Days per year
75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)
Season ticket loan/advance
Cycle to work scheme
Discounts on shopping and gym memberships; Christmas club savings
Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch
This is a full time, permanent role, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.
At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, including any age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion
We want to ensure that all candidates are supported throughout the recruitment process, if you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Kayelle Danyluk (Head of Talent Acquisition) at kayelle.danyluk@macmillan.com
Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application
- Department
- Managing Editorial
- Locations
- Farringdon, London
Farringdon, London
Workplace & Culture
We pride ourselves not just in winning awards and publishing the bestselling books in the market, but also on the wellbeing and satisfaction of everyone who works with us. This is a company where all voices are heard and new, creative ideas are welcomed.
We seek to recruit and develop talent from all backgrounds, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. This has a profound impact on our perspective and ideas, encouraging us to learn from each other and to nurture the best talent leading us to publish books that appeal to the broadest possible readership.
Our mission is to publish the very best authors and illustrators successfully and sustainably because we believe that books enrich people’s lives and help build empathy and understanding.
Our values
To ensure that everyone who works at Pan Macmillan delivers on our mission and shares the same goals, we have developed a set of values that define our working culture and are the foundation of our publishing. These values were derived in consultation with the whole company and they are deliberately illustrated in a circle to underline a lack of hierarchy in importance.
Desk Editor
Loading application form
Already working at Pan Macmillan?
Let’s recruit together and find your next colleague.