Location: Lagos, Nigeria (Hybrid/On-site as applicable) 

Reports To: Managing Editor

Employment Type: Full-Time

About TBLNG Press

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate Editorial Assistant to provide editorial, administrative, and operational support to our editorial team throughout the publishing process.

Position Summary

The Editorial Assistant is an editorial professional with at least two years experience in the field. They will be responsible for supporting the editorial team in managing manuscripts from submission through publication. The role combines editorial, administrative, communication, and coordination responsibilities, ensuring manuscripts, authors, and publishing workflows move efficiently through every production stage.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys reading, has excellent written English, possesses exceptional organizational skills, and wants to build a long-term career in publishing.

Key Responsibilities

Manuscript Management and Editorial Support

• Receive, acknowledge and log manuscript submissions, ensuring all submissions are accurately recorded, organised and prepared for editorial review in line with TBLNG Press’s submission guidelines.
• Maintain accurate manuscript databases, editorial records and electronic archives, tracking each project from submission through acquisition, editing, production and publication.
• Conduct first-pass reviews of manuscripts, assessing their quality, structure, clarity and suitability for publication while supporting editors in the evaluation and acquisition process.
• Copyedit and proofread manuscripts to ensure accuracy, consistency and adherence to TBLNG Press’s house style, correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting and other editorial issues before manuscripts progress to the next stage.
• Review references, citations and supporting materials for accuracy and consistency, ensuring manuscripts meet the Press’s editorial and production standards prior to publication.

Author Relations and Editorial Administration 

• Serve as a key point of contact for authors, responding to editorial enquiries professionally, communicating manuscript progress and timelines, and coordinating revisions throughout the publishing process.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with authors, freelance editors, agents and other contributors, ensuring clear communication and timely follow-up at every stage of a project.
• Maintain editorial calendars, project trackers and documentation, ensuring meetings, deadlines and editorial milestones are accurately scheduled and monitored.
• Prepare meeting agendas, record and distribute minutes, draft editorial correspondence and maintain organised editorial databases and filing systems to support the efficient running of the editorial department.

Research and Quality Assurance

• Conduct research and verify names, dates, statistics, quotations, references and other factual information to ensure the accuracy and credibility of manuscripts and supporting content.
• Carry out background research on authors, subject areas and publishing trends, and contribute market and competitor insights to support editorial and publishing decisions.
• Review page proofs, cover copy and marketing materials for accuracy, consistency and adherence to TBLNG Press’s editorial standards before publication.
• Identify and resolve editorial inconsistencies, ensuring all publications meet the Press’s quality standards prior to production and release.

Production Coordination

• Coordinate with designers, typesetters, proofreaders, printers and internal teams across marketing, sales and distribution to ensure projects move smoothly through each stage of the publishing process.
• Monitor production schedules and editorial deadlines, ensuring manuscripts, editorial files and supporting materials are delivered accurately and on time.
• Track cover approvals, proof corrections and other production milestones, following up on outstanding actions to help keep publishing projects on schedule.

Required Skills and Competencies.

The successful candidate has strong editorial skills, including copyediting, proofreading, fact-checking and excellent written English, with a keen eye for detail and consistency. They are highly organised and able to manage documentation, editorial records, multiple priorities and competing deadlines with accuracy and efficiency.

They are proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature, while familiarity with content management systems such as WordPress is an advantage. The role also requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, professional email etiquette and the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with authors, freelancers and colleagues.

Personal Attributes

Our candidate is passionate about books, publishing and African literature, with a genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn. They are organised, reliable and attentive to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. They communicate clearly and professionally, work well with authors, freelancers and colleagues, and approach their work with initiative, sound judgement and discretion. Above all, they are dependable, collaborative and committed to producing high-quality work.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Quality and timeliness of manuscript assessments and editorial reviews.
• Accuracy and consistency of proofreading, copyediting and fact-checking across assigned projects.
• Timely progression of manuscripts through the editorial and production process, with effective management of assigned deadlines.
• Accuracy and organisation of manuscript files, editorial records and project documentation.
• Professional and timely communication with authors, freelancers and internal teams.
• Consistent application of TBLNG Press’s editorial standards, house style and quality expectations across all publications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (minimum Second Class Upper preferred) in:
  • English
  • Linguistics
  • Mass Communication
  • Journalism
  • Literature
  • Humanities
  • or related discipline

To apply, send CV and cover letter to careers@tblng.press