What do Catalogue Assistants do?

A Catalogue Assistant will be employed by a music publisher, record label, music archive or any company that has a music resource that needs to be made available and easily accesible to users and clients. They may help to set up the management systems for the catalogue, maintain the records and keep them up to date, and help in promoting and publicising the catalogue. The catalogue may be for the general public, specific sectors of the general public such as music academics and researchers, or for the internal use of the company. Catalogues in the music industry may comprise of live music, sheet music, historical archives, music related books, musical instruments or anything related to the music business.

Most catalogues are available online, but they may also be printed. A Catalogue Assistant may be required to have knowledge of the music industry, or of the specific area the company operates in. For example a record label holding a specialist jazz catalogue may require, or prefer, a Catalogue Assistant with a knowledge of and enthusiasm for jazz. As well as managing the administration of the catalogue a Catalogue Assistant sometimes also has a sales or marketing role.

A Catalogue Assistant needs to very organised and have an eye for detail. They will need to be confident in their use of IT and may be expected to have experience of working with particular types of catalogue management software. They will need good administration and data entry skills. If they are working with printed catalogues an understanding of design and print processes will be important. At the assistant level training is usually provided in the more specialised aspects of the job, and an employer will mainly be looking for someone with sound basic skills and commitment.

Many Catalogue Assistants will work on-line using special catalogue manager software which allows users to edit existing albums, tracks and singles or add new ones to the system. They also include up-to-the-minute sales reporting and stock management. Online systems will be used for managing sales and stock control of most music products.

will be responsible for developing the catalogue strategy as well as delivering it on time & within budget. You will have strong marketing communications experience particularly with a print focus, ideally with an emphasis on the production of catalogues.

Responsibilities include:

*With the Communications Manager develop the catalogue strategy to maximise customer reach (both current & prospective)

*With the Communications Manager, monitor the retail environment for competitive activities.

*Agency management (print & creative)

*Budget management

*Excellent Project management.

You will have previous marketing communications experience (catalogue focused) from the Retail industry, be of Degree calibre ideally with an additional marketing qualification.