Editorial Assistant, Children's and YA

About the Role

Sourcebooks is seeking an enthusiastic, creative, and highly organized Editorial Assistant to join our Children's Indie Program. This entrepreneurial, fast-moving team partners with independent authors, brands, and creative voices to bring extraordinary books to young readers, from picture books and middle grade adventures to young adult fiction. You will support projects from acquisition through publication, contributing to manuscript development, creative positioning, market research, and project management. This is a hybrid position with in-office days at our Naperville, Illinois office. This is an hourly non-exempt position at $22.00/hourly.

Key Responsibilities

• Support editors in developing and managing a list of children's, middle grade, and young adult books.
• Draft and edit back cover copy, catalog descriptions, website copy, metadata, and other materials.
• Contribute to the creative positioning of new projects, including brainstorming titles, subtitles, packaging concepts, and marketing language.
• Research competitive titles, sales performance, emerging consumer trends, and opportunities in the children's and YA publishing landscape.
• Read and evaluate manuscript submissions, assist with editorial notes, manuscript preparation, and provide proofreading and copyediting support.
• Help manage project schedules, publishing milestones, databases, and tracking systems.
• Collaborate with editorial, design, production, sales, marketing, and publicity teams.
• Support author and agent relationships through responsive communication and attention to detail.
• Prepare materials for acquisitions meetings, book launches, sales conferences, and other publishing milestones.
• Assist with keyword research, metadata optimization, and frontlist and backlist title management.
• Contribute to weekly reporting, sales analysis, meeting preparation, and general editorial administration.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Previous publishing experience is not required; relevant internships, coursework, or transferable experience are welcome.
• Genuine passion for books, storytelling, and the children's and young adult publishing marketplace.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong writing, proofreading, and communication skills.
• Interest in publishing trends, consumer behavior, and understanding book appeal.
• Collaborative, adaptable attitude and enthusiasm for working with authors, creative partners, and colleagues.
• Comfort with spreadsheets, databases, Microsoft Office, and learning new tools.
• Resourcefulness, initiative, and willingness to tackle both creative and administrative tasks.
• Desire to develop editorial judgment and publishing knowledge.