Assistant Editor

Reporting to the Editorial Director and the Director of Special Initiatives within the Harvard University Press Acquisitions Department, the Assistant Editor provides administrative and editorial support to designated senior editors while contributing to the successful development and publication of scholarly books. The role collaborates with the Editorial Director on select backlist republication projects, rewrites copy, develops metadata for selected backlist titles, and solicits forewords for new editions of classic works. Following a period of training, the Assistant Editor also assists the Editorial Director with special initiatives.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Assistant Editor supports all phases of the editorial process, including coordinating peer review, managing manuscripts and artwork, preparing title information sheets and design briefs, maintaining editorial databases, and handling a range of administrative responsibilities that support the department's editorial and publishing operations.

• Assists acquisitions editors with preparation of manuscript considerations packets for the Acquisitions Planner workflow.

• Assists acquisitions editors and Editorial Director to prepare for the monthly Syndics Meeting, Editorial Meeting, and Lookahead Meeting, and the triannual Marketing Launch Meetings.

• Assists editors with entire peer review process.

• Assists editors with preparation of fact sheets, design briefs, and solicit author questionnaires. 

• May solicit advance endorsements for books. Coordinates with editors and Editorial Director to finalize back ads order and other metadata, as needed.

• May proofread front matter, descriptive copy, and jacket mechanicals.

• Coordinates and monitors deadlines, collaborates with authors, translators, mapmakers, and illustrators to ensure that final manuscripts and artwork meet HUP’s requirements; provides Editorial Director, editors, and other relevant colleagues in the Press with updates on project progress, expected dates, and manuscript elements. 

• Tracks design elements and technical problems in manuscripts; works with authors, editors, and relevant Press staff to eliminate problems to keep books on schedule.

• In collaboration with editors, prepares manuscript for timely and complete transmittal to the copyeditorial department (using HUP’s “turnover” memo) in accordance with internal guidelines. 

• Drafts correspondence as needed.

• Maintains book files; scans and saves material to servers; uses Biblio Publishing Management System and Digital Asset Management system to track seasonal lists.

• May prepare Contract Request Forms.

• May assist with travel arrangements and process travel expenses.

• May travel to scholarly conferences.

• Performs clerical duties, including processing departmental forms, mailing, photocopying, faxing, paying bills, as needed. 

• Assists members of the Acquisitions Department as needed in support of the department goals as determined by manager.