Editorial Assistant, Trade

Job Description:

W. W. Norton is seeking an Editorial Assistant to join its Trade Editorial Department. This is a full-time, entry-level position based out of Norton’s headquarters in New York City.

Essential Job Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting two editors acquiring a diverse list of nonfiction in subjects ranging from science, math, and economics to social issues, narrative journalism, food, and cookbooks.
• Reading and reacting quickly to nonfiction submissions of various genres.
• Preparing manuscripts for copyediting and production; managing manuscripts in all stages of production; working with editors and authors to meet deadlines.
• Drafting promotional copy for catalogs, book jackets, and sales-related materials.
• Professionally interacting with authors, production, marketing, and sales staff to relay messages; following up on requests/information; and in general anticipating when to act proactively on messages.
• Administrative management: organizing and maintaining files; tracking manuscripts and reviews; copying, printing, and emailing; tracking and processing payments.
• Managing text and photo permissions with authors and the contracts department.
• Creating and editing Excel and Word documents to support projects and/or manage office responsibilities.
• On proven ability, some editing of manuscripts and contributing to overall publishing strategy of individual titles.

Please note: this job description is not designed to cover all activities required of the employee.

Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Must be able to work full business hours from Norton’s New York City Headquarters.
• W.W. Norton & Company ('Norton') strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace. To that end, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment for all new Norton hires. Norton makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other conditions protected by applicable law.
• Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the U.S. is required
• Resumes MUST be accompanied by a concise, eloquent cover letter describing current reading interests and reasons for applying to this job in particular. No resumes will be considered without a strong cover letter. The letter must be free of typos and grammatical errors.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to interact with confidence, warmth, and respect with authors, agents, and employees at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring that all aspects of daily activities are handled with painstaking accuracy.
• Proactivity, flexibility, and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment; must be able to anticipate needs and deliver timely, relevant solutions and actions, and to adjust with a "can-do" attitude. Must be self-directed and independent.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively across departments, activities, and projects.
• Must be seen as knowledgeable and capable of handling sensitive, critical information.
• Mastery of email and calendar management tools, specifically Outlook; proficiency in Word and Excel.
• Employment eligibility to work with W. W. Norton & Company in the U.S.
• Sharp, curious mind, expanded by breadth and depth of reading in contemporary nonfiction of various genres, including science, food, current events, cultural and international subjects. Applicant should regularly follow multiple reputable sources, both in print and online, for news and information. (This is a nonfiction-oriented job, and while sensitivity to language and ability to judge strong storytelling are essential, those whose interests are exclusively literary will be at a disadvantage in the application process.)
• Interest in cookbooks and cooking a plus.

About Norton:
W. W. Norton & Company is the oldest and largest publishing house owned wholly by its employees. W. W. Norton & Company strives to carry out the imperative of its founder to "publish books not for a single season, but for the years." In college publishing, that imperative applies not only to books, but also to an ever-growing list of essential print and digital resources that support teaching and learning. For more information about the Company, visit us online at: http://www.wwnorton.com.