Position Title: Editor (Fiction & Non-Fiction)
Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY
Working Model:100% In-Office (5 days/week)
Employment Type: Full-Time (Mid-Level: 2–5 Years Experience)
About Skyhorse Publishing
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. is a leading independent book publisher based in Manhattan. We publish a wide, eclectic range of titles across numerous genres and imprints—including literary and commercial fiction, history, politics, memoir, sports, humor, true crime, and lifestyle. We pride ourselves on agility, entrepreneurship, and giving voice to compelling stories and diverse perspectives.
Role Overview
Skyhorse Publishing is seeking a passionate, versatile, and proactive Editor to join our team in Midtown Manhattan. The ideal candidate possesses 2 to 5 years of editorial experience within trade book publishing and is equally adept at acquiring and evaluating both fiction and non-fiction titles.
This role requires a keen eye for storytelling, strong structural and line-editing skills, a solid understanding of book market trends, and effective project management abilities. This is a full-time, 5-day in-office position located at our Midtown office.
Key Responsibilities
Acquisitions & Curation
- Actively scout, evaluate, and acquire 12–20+ titles per year across both fiction and non-fiction categories
- Review manuscript submissions, proposals, and query letters from literary agents, authors, and packagers
- Prepare acquisition P&L statements, present prospective titles at weekly editorial board meetings, and negotiate contract terms under executive guidance
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with literary agents, authors, subject matter experts, and industry contacts
Editing & Editorial Development
- Perform detailed structural, developmental, and line editing on assigned fiction and non-fiction manuscripts
- Collaborate closely with authors to refine manuscript organization, pacing, narrative tone, clarity, and market appeal while respecting the author's voice
- Write compelling copy for book jackets, catalog descriptions, sales sheets, and press materials
Project & Pipeline Management
- Oversee the end-to-end editorial workflow for acquired titles, managing schedules from raw manuscript to bound book
- Coordinate with copyeditors, proofreaders, indexers, and production managers to ensure high quality and adhere to publication deadlines
- Collaborate with cover designers and art directors to establish cover concepts and visual positioning for each title
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Marketing and Publicity teams to identify target audiences, angle pitches, and support promotional strategies for lead titles
- Provide sales teams with key metadata, pitch points, and competitive title comparisons for seasonal presentations
Qualifications & Requirements
- Experience: 2 to 5 years of editorial experience in trade book publishing, literary agenting, or a closely related editorial environment
- Genre Versatility: Proven comfort and enthusiasm for editing both fiction (literary, commercial, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, etc.) and non-fiction (memoir, history, current events, pop culture, self-help, etc.)
- On-Site Presence: Ability to work in-office 5 days a week in Midtown Manhattan (Koreatown area)
- Editorial Skills: Exceptional developmental editing, line-editing, and copy-writing skills with meticulous attention to detail
- Industry Knowledge: Solid grasp of current publishing trends, agent networks, and consumer reading habits
- Project Management: Outstanding organizational skills; ability to prioritize multiple complex projects simultaneously under tight deadlines
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Comparative Literature, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
Compensation & Salary Range
- NYC Pay Transparency Salary Range: $70,000-80,000 per year, depending on exact experience, editorial track record, and skill set
- Full benefits package including health/dental coverage, paid time off, and retirement benefits
