Inventory and Reprints Assistant (7 Month FTC)

Our Sales Operations team is seeking an Inventory and Reprints Assistant to support the management of our extensive backlist programme and to recommend reprints across our trade divisions, including HarperNonFiction, Fourth Estate and William Collins . This is an excellent opportunity for a confident, numerate individual looking to begin a career in publishing, particularly for those with an interest in Sales, Operations and data-driven decision making . The role is analytical and offers hands-on exposure to backlist management, inventory planning and publishing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor stock availability across the backlist, working closely with Sales and Production teams to ensure continuity of supply.
• Analyse sales patterns, seasonality, printer lead times and other factors to recommend appropriate reprint quantities.
• Liaise with the Production department to obtain reprint costings and timelines.
• Prepare agendas for reprint meetings and take responsibility for chairing discussions.
• Manage inventory for key publishing lists and programmes, including Short Run, and Print on Demand.
• Respond to stock availability queries from teams across the business.

Skills, Attributes and Experience

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across multiple teams.
• Confident numerical and analytical abilities, with a keen eye for trends, patterns and anomalies.
• A proactive and curious approach, using initiative to identify efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities.
• Excellent organisational skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Willingness and ability to learn new systems, processes and ways of working.
• An interest in publishing, stock management or Sales Operations.

Benefits

• Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (option to buy and sell holiday days)
• Enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
• Private healthcare cover and life assurance
• Summer Hours
• Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal
• Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work
• Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal, management courses (up to MA level) and mentoring programmes
• Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers
• Gym membership discount
• Onsite physiotherapy (London only)
• Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days
• We're a certified Carbon Neutral company
• Green Electric/Hybrid Car Benefit Scheme (salary sacrifice)
• With Trees for Life we plant a tree in the Highlands of Scotland for every permanent hire
• Free e-books and audiobooks, digital newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books
• Subsidised canteen and retail discounts
• Onsite prayer room

At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity in our recruitment process. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of all applications, we ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities. This allows us to fairly assess your knowledge, skills, and experience to determine how they align with the role. We value diverse perspectives and genuine contributions, even if answers are not perfect. The use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted for specific tasks.

If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to stephanie.jemmett@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days. Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking internships or entry level positions. For more information visit https://www.btbs.org/