Metadata Assistant Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)

Company:                       Harlequin Enterprises ULC

Date:                               May 8, 2026

Job Title:                         Editorial Assistant

Department:                   Editorial – Harlequin Brand Group

Reporting To:                  Senior Editor, Toronto

Status:                             Regular Full Time

Location:                         22 Adelaide Street West, Toronto (hybrid model)

Job Vacancy Status:       Vacant and actively accepting applications

We celebrate and support the differences that make each of us unique, striving to create a welcoming workplace that ensures everyone has a voice and is able to do their best work. We welcome all applicants, including those who identify with groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing industry including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and persons with disabilities.

Join us, and share your story.

Job Summary:

The Editorial Assistant is responsible for a wide range of administrative and editorial support for the global series publishing program. This is an editorial training role, in which the Editorial Assistant will learn to perform many functions that support various aspects of book publishing, including: brainstorming and research to support new initiatives; managing tools to enhance discoverability including metadata; and working on various stages of the editorial production process. This role also provides a front-line contact for the Editorial team and assists in positively portraying the company to external sources.

• Completing first screen for all “slush” manuscripts and query letters submitted, and identifying and forwarding those for further consideration.
• Providing assistance to the Editorial team by preparing reader reports and revision letters.
• Reviewing copy editing of manuscripts and final author alterations. Assisting with other editorial duties as needed.
• Preparing cover design briefing documents and frontmatter materials.
• Collecting materials for and submitting back cover copy requests.
• Creating and coordinating metadata specific to each story.
• Trafficking backlist materials and assisting with research of titles and more.
• Screening requests and answering queries from authors/agents, addressing unsolicited author/agent inquiries, and participating in online and in person pitching events.
• Providing assistance to team as needed to support imprint strategy and growth.

Qualifications:

Specific training or job experience required includes:

• Undergraduate degree in the Humanities
• Previous administrative experience
• Post-secondary publishing Diploma is an asset
• One-year experience in the publishing industry is an asset

Competencies/Skills:

Competencies and skills required to perform this job include:

• Quick to learn, adaptability and flexibility, functional and technical knowledge, familiarity with software platforms, i.e. MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and a drive for results.
• The ability to manage execution, to prioritize, to pay close attention to detail, and to deal with -pressing deadlines and production schedules.
• Strong communication, time-management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

About HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin

Harlequin is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. We publish more than 100 titles a month that reach audiences globally. Encompassing highly recognizable imprints that span a broad number of genres, we are home to many award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Harlequin is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world. Through HarperCollins’s global publishing program, Harlequin titles are published in 17 countries and 16 languages.

The salary range for this position is $45,000-$48,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.  

Known worldwide for the quality of its list, HarperCollins Canada is the proud home of many bestselling and award-winning authors, including Esi Edugyan, Heather O’Neill, and Lawrence Hill. It is our vision to publish the best books of our generation and to work with authors over the length and breadth of their careers. Our authors are at the centre of everything we do. In addition to the Canadian publishing program, HarperCollins Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and publicity of HarperCollins titles from around the globe

HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are based on job requirements and the skills,

knowledge, and experience of the candidate, regardless of any other factors unrelated to job performance.

HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at TalentManagement@harpercollins.com. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests. 

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.