Assistant to managing director
RCW literary agents take pride in managing the careers of some of today’s most successful authors, and are widely regarded as one of the world’s leading literary agencies. The agency is home for writers across all genres including literary and commercial fiction, crime and thrillers, children’s and YA, and all forms of non-fiction. RCW also works with a number of major film and TV agents both in the UK and US who help to bring its authors’ books to screen.
The agency was established by Deborah Rogers in 1967, and she was later joined by Pat White and Gill Coleridge who together formed Rogers, Coleridge & White. The agency appointed Peter Straus as Managing Director in 2006.
In this role, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how a literary agency operates while assisting managing director Peter Straus. See below for what your day-to-day could involve.
Closing date: 7th February at 11.59pm
Location: Hybrid, with an initial 3 days per week at the Notting Hill office
Salary: From £24,500 (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Responsibilities:
* Fielding incoming requests for authors (film/TV enquiries etc.) and managing event diaries
* Contracts: negotiating, drawing up contracts, sending to authors/publishers, setting up in the system (Bradbury Phillips), managing payments, etc. Reviewing contracts in cases where the publishers draft, comparing to recent precedents and deal memos to make sure wording and terms are correct.
* Author care: dealing with authors directly and answering queries, particularly around deal stage and publication, attending book launches and readings, sending out proofs and post
* Accounts: author queries, invoicing, monthly chasing overdue payments, annual budget
* Foreign rights: liaising with foreign rights team and co-agents (film and US) at various stages of editorial process, provide manuscripts, proofs, author information. Filling in quote sheets with quotes from editors/publicists, news and reviews
* Website: adding new authors, titles, news items, quotes, author photos and copyrights
* Help with Instagram account: sharing new publications and covers, awards and events
* Diary management, meetings: book fair schedules and trips, meetings with editors, current and future clients, take notes at meetings, manage publication schedule and catalogue
* Smooth running, filing and organisation of agent’s office
* Submissions and reading: reading and responding to submissions, writing book reports when requested, providing editorial notes on manuscripts in progress, reading for DRF Award
* Developing new ideas and opportunities, looking for potential new clients
* Selling audio rights, arranging speaking engagements, careful proofing of agreements and negotiating terms with publishers
* Events: organising book fair and Christmas parties (with front desk), setting up, hosting, helping with any other company events or parties (DRF, salons, Anniversaries etc.)
* Helping front desk with office management e.g. book filing, charity collections, waste disposal, archiving, weekly food shops, smooth running of office services
* Ad hoc queries and duties as required
Knowledge, skills, experience
Essential
* Administrative experience, author service oriented
* Excellent communication skills, organisational ability and time management
* Confident, calm and polite telephone manner
* Proactive, flexible, a ‘can do’ attitude, able to show initiative and work independently
* Accurate and diligent, good attention to detail
* Hard-working and practical
* Excellent written English
* Good IT skills including Excel/MS Office/PowerPoint
* A solid understanding of the use of a range of social media platforms, particularly in relation to Twitter and Instagram
* Interest in books and publishing
* Ability to work well under pressure in order to meet deadlines
* Analytical and multitasking skills
Helpful to have
* Experience in the publishing industry is advantageous
* Familiarity with MS Publisher, web design and Adobe Photoshop
We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.
The successful candidate for this opportunity will also participate in a Creative Access support programme that sits alongside workplace training. This includes a programme of induction training, monthly masterclasses, wellbeing support, buddying / mentoring and more.