We’re seeking a detail oriented and self-motivated Contracts Associate to join our team supporting the following Macmillan imprints: St. Martin’s Publishing Group, Tor Publishing Group, Flatiron Books, Celadon Books, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio. The Contracts Associate will draft and negotiate a high volume of contracts and a variety of associated documents for trade books; enter and maintain contract data and contract archives; route documents for signature in DocuSign; request contract signature payments; track and interpret agreements; and perform research projects as needed.
What You'll Do:
- Draft a variety of book acquisition agreements and related documents (e.g., author contracts, contract amendments, reversions, terminations)
- Negotiate agreements to signature with authors and their representatives, collaborating in-house with editors, legal counsel, royalties staff, and business managers
- Manage signature and payment processing in DocuSign
- Enter key contract information into Biblio database
- Track contract status and archive signed agreements
- Interpret contract details (rights, territories, author approvals)
- Provide general department support and handle special projects as needed
What You'll Bring:
- Experience drafting and negotiating trade book publishing agreements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a diplomatic approach
- A proactive, flexible mindset and a knack for creative problem-solving
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage high volumes of work across multiple priorities simultaneously
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and G-Suite
- Familiarity with electronic signature tools such as DocuSign and publishing data entry systems
- Background in book publishing, with exposure to business and legal issues
- 2-4 years of experience in book publishing contracts; in-house experience is a plus
- No college degree required
The salary range for this role is $60,000 - $65,000.
This position is classified as remote but is tied to our New York, NY office located at 120 Broadway. Employment is subject to New York State tax withholding under applicable regulations.
Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.
U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur.
Macmillan is proud to be an equal opportunity employer consistently striving to foster a culture where everyone belongs. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities. Qualified applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status and background or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We prohibit discrimination of any kind and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Experience drafting and negotiating trade book publishing agreements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a diplomatic approach
- Proactive, flexible mindset and creative problem-solving
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage high volumes of work across multiple priorities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and G-Suite
- Familiarity with DocuSign and publishing data entry systems (e.g., Biblio)
- Background in book publishing with exposure to business and legal issues
- 2-4 years of experience in book publishing contracts
- In-house publishing contracts experience
What We Do
We deeply believe in the power of books to connect people, amplify diverse voices, create meaningful change, and make a lasting impact in the world. Macmillan Publishers is a leading publishing company and home to some of the world's most cherished authors and creators. We are firmly committed to our employees, authors, and core values — and strive to build a culture that is inclusive of diverse voices and perspectives throughout all levels of the company. Our U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. Macmillan Publishers is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to reflecting a broad representation of differences — race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, age, family status, economic background and status, geographical background and status, and perspective — in our workplace.
