Company Description

Job Description

Are you an experienced managing editorial professional who enjoys solving problems, bringing order to complex projects and making sure every detail is right?

This is a rare opportunity to join Penguin General as an Editorial Manager, working across a varied portfolio of books from manuscript through to publication, as part of a close-knit and supportive team.

About the team

Penguin General is home to Viking, Hamish Hamilton, Fig Tree, Penguin Life and Sandycove, publishing an exceptionally broad range of fiction and non-fiction. We aim to publish books that can be picked up and enjoyed by everyone, united by an intelligent curiosity about the world and a love of great storytelling.

Our authors include Richard Osman, Emily Henry, Arundhati Roy, Marlon James, Han Kang, Robert Macfarlane, Elif Shafak, Ben Macintyre, Dolly Alderton, Zadie Smith, Ali Smith, Stanley Tucci and Meera Sodha, as well as major international voices including Michelle Obama and Barack Obama.

We value curiosity and are looking for people who notice the world, ask questions, and bring fresh perspectives to what we do. If you’re endlessly curious and love discovering and sharing new ideas, you’ll feel at home here.

The role

You’ll join our small and collaborative Managing Editorial team, overseeing titles across Penguin General and ensuring books are delivered to schedule, budget and our editorial standards. It’s a role with real breadth and the chance to work with talented colleagues across the division and an incredibly varied list.

You’ll have plenty of autonomy while collaborating closely with authors, editors, freelancers and colleagues across the division. You’ll need to anticipate challenges, use your judgement and find solutions when things don’t go to plan.

This is a specialist managing editorial role with its own career path, rather than a route into commissioning editorial.

Key responsibilities:

• Overseeing books from manuscript through copy-editing and proofreading to final files.

• Working with editors and authors to understand the needs of each book, provide excellent author care and keep the editorial process on track.

• Commissioning and briefing copy-editors, proofreaders, indexers and other freelance specialists.

• Reviewing copy-edits and proofs, resolving editorial queries and checking covers, marketing copy and other materials as required.

• Collaborating with Production, Design and other teams to resolve issues and deliver books to schedule, budget and Penguin General’s standards.

• Maintaining accurate editorial systems and contributing to relevant projects and working groups across Penguin General.

What you’ll bring

This isn’t an early career managing editorial role. You’ll have the knowledge and hands-on expertise to take responsibility from the outset.

You’ll be precise and methodical, with strong editorial judgement and a positive, resourceful approach. You’ll also be someone who builds trusted relationships and inspires confidence in authors, freelancers and colleagues.

Essential criteria:

• Extensive copy-editing and proofreading experience within an in-house book publishing environment, with impeccable grammar and spelling and an excellent eye for detail.

• A thorough understanding of the journey from manuscript to finished book, including schedules and editorial costs.

• A good understanding of other publishing functions, particularly Production, Design and Communications.

• Experience managing a varied workload across fiction and non-fiction.

• The ability to prioritise, make sound decisions and respond confidently to unexpected challenges.

• Experience commissioning and managing freelance editorial professionals.

• Strong communication, relationship-building and influencing skills.

Preferred criteria:

• Experience across original and offset titles, mono and illustrated/colour books and ebooks.

• Some knowledge of copyright and libel considerations.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter (both in PDF format) outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Wednesday 21st October. The cover letter should be uploaded as an additional document.

Please ensure you include a cover letter, as it is a crucial part of our assessment process. The cover letter offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements. Typically, we expect the cover letter to be no more than one or two pages in length.

Salary

Circa £40,000, depending on how your skills and experience align with the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Hybrid working

While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work in the office for part of each week, and are happy to discuss this in more detail as part of the recruitment process.

AI

Here at Penguin, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. When you apply for a position, we want to encourage you to showcase your unique voice. Throughout our recruitment process, please share your own thoughts, experiences, and skills. This helps us get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team.

We celebrate creativity and diverse perspectives, so please be yourself! While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing [email protected]. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request.

Additional Information

Disclosure requirements pertaining to the collection of your personal data:

Responsible for processing the information provided in your application is the company specified in the job advertisement, with its registered office as indicated. The company processes your data for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b GDPR / Section 26 (1) sentence 1 BDSG.

The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here.

You can contact the company’s Data Protection Officer at the above-mentioned postal address.

Further information on data protection and your rights can be found here.

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