Job openings

Contracts Executive - Full time

LOCATION: Hybrid: London office and remotely
FULL TIME POSITION - PERMANENT 5 days per week
SALARY £30,000–£32,000 depending on experience.

The London office of Verso Books, the world’s leading independent radical publisher, is looking for a Contracts Executive to handle the process for contracting new titles. Responsibilities include negotiating and drafting new contracts, maintaining our database, ensuring timely advance payments, and processing royalties.

We are looking for candidates who can show:

  • Two to three years of experience in contract work.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong attention to detail, and the ability to plan work effectively.
  • An understanding of and engagement with Verso’s publishing programme would be beneficial.

      JOB DESCRIPTION

      The Contracts Executive is responsible for the negotiating, drafting and processing of contracts for new acquisitions and translations, as well as any revisions during the course of a work’s life. As well as maintaining accurate records, they will need to liaise with external and internal stakeholders to resolve queries. In addition, annually, they will be responsible for the processing and distribution of royalty statements.

      Primary Responsibilities

      1. To draft head contracts in accordance with the agreement discussed with Editorial, templates, the costings module, and any applicable precedents.
      2. To check head contracts provided by agents against the agreement discussed with Editorial, templates, the costings module, and any applicable precedents. 
      3. In liaison with their line manager, to negotiate head contracts in line with precedents and company policy.
      4. To draft, check and amend designated translation and subsidiary rights contracts as required.
      5. Setting up new edition elements as relevant following Editorial sign off and new season set up in our database.
      6. To process signed contracts and maintain contract files precisely and accurately, including uploading signed contracts.
      7. To ensure databases are accurate and up-to-date.
      8. To respond to and resolve queries from Editorial, authors, agents, accounts, etc.
      9. Setting up new suppliers and contacts in the database.
      10. Setting up and processing monthly advance payments.
      11. Processing and mailing annual royalty statements.

      Secondary Responsibilities

      1. To check, negotiate and amend publisher release forms.
      2. Updating contracts as instructed: drafting reversion agreements.
      3. Develop and maintain good working relationships with the relevant stakeholders within the company.

      Skills and Experience

      • Two to three years of experience in drafting and negotiating contracts from templates and free-form.
      • Extremely close attention to detail and accuracy.
      • Excellent communication, both spoken and written, in the English language is essential, as well as being able to understand contracts in European languages.
      • A proficiency in basic arithmetic and Excel.
      • Friendly, approachable and able to remain calm under pressure as well as maintaining positive relationships internally and externally at all levels.
      • Motivated and keen to deliver a fast, but accurate, turnaround of work.
      • Willing to learn and continually improve and develop business processes and personal skills.
      • Able to efficiently prioritise workload.
      • Experience in the publishing industry is advantageous but not essential; the priority is a high degree of contracts drafting and negotiating experience.
      • Experience using Virtusales Biblio suite for contracts is an advantage.
      • Demonstrable understanding of contracts law would be a bonus, but not essential.
      • An understanding of and engagement with Verso’s publishing programme would be beneficial.

      BENEFITS

      • 30 Days Annual Leave, plus office closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
      • Life Assurance and Employee Assistance Programme

      DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

      We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.  Candidates with diverse backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.

      Please submit a covering letter and CV by email to opportunities@verso.co.uk by Monday September 11th 2023, 9am GMT, with the subject: CONTRACTS EXECUTIVE.

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