Job Description

Penguin Random House has a job opening for an editorial assistant for the following imprints: Portfolio, Sentinel, and Thesis. The assistant will provide administrative and editorial support to the editor-in-chief and work on an array of nonfiction.

Across three imprints, Portfolio, Sentinel, and Thesis, we publish a wide range of practical and idea-driven nonfiction in the business, politics, self-help, and social sciences categories. Past and current authors include Simon Sinek, Ryan Holiday, Seth Godin, Oprah Winfrey, Arthur Brooks, Jordan Peterson, Amy Coney Barrett, Ryan Holiday, Sharon McMahon, Vivian Tu, John McWhorter, Katherine Morgan Schafler, Jennifer Brehenny Wallace, Shane Parrish, Greg Zuckerman, Morgan Housel, Coleman Hughes, Annie Duke, John Doerr, Scott Galloway, Indra Nooyi, Julia Galef, Abigail Shrier, Katy Milkman, Nick Bilton, General Stanley McChrystal, and Peggy Noonan.

For our assistants, we offer training, support, mentorship, and access to a community of editors, authors, and agents. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a fast-paced, dynamic, friendly environment that prioritizes growth and learning.

About You: You are an ambitious self-starter and persuasive communicator who is looking for an entry point to trade nonfiction publishing. You can write in a range of styles and tones. You read widely and regularly work through difficult texts. You like meeting new people and working with others to solve creative challenges. You have questions about the world, try to formulate answers to those questions, and have “strong opinions, loosely held .” You love a good spreadsheet (or at least know how to make one) and feel satisfied when systems run smoothly. We love hiring people with backgrounds in service jobs, teaching, and any work that required them to handle a massive number of details while providing empathetic support to customers.

Please apply by January 19, 2025 and include your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements for consideration. Before applying for any role at Penguin Random House, we recommend you review our  applicant resources page and look over our open-to-remote guidelines on our  FAQs page.

Responsibilities:

• Supports the Editor-in-Chief in publishing operations.
• Collaborates closely with colleagues in marketing, publicity, rights, production, and design to ensure books are published to the highest standard.
• Keeps track of contracts, deadlines, manuscripts, jackets, and other parts of the publication process.
• Shepherds manuscripts through production, from styling to transmittal to trafficking materials back and forth with the author.
• Schedules meetings and meals; handles expense reports.
• Collects data and maintains imprint databases on acquisitions, sales, contact information, and freelancers.
• Organizes major imprint happenings, including preparations for seasonal sales meetings and strategy sessions.
• Reads and shares feedback on manuscripts in progress; line edit manuscripts and/or excerpts as needed.
• Drafts critical materials such as blurb requests, flap copy, TI sheets, editorial memos, and letters.
• With supervision, takes sole editorial ownership of 1-3 titles a year.
• Evaluates submissions and is prepared to discuss them within 48 hours of receipt.
• Performs support tasks as needed.

Requirements:

• Excellent project management, verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-up skills
• Confidence and comfort talking to authors, agents, and colleagues, especially on the phone/Zoom
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple assignments in a deadline-driven environment
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Ability to take initiative and problem-solve creatively
• Ability to manage multiple short- and long-term projects simultaneously
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Google Docs; eagerness to experiment with new technology is appreciated!
• Interest in nonfiction books
• Prior experience within book publishing a plus, but not required

The salary for this position is $51,000.00. All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to company results.   

Penguin Random House job postings include a good faith compensation range for each open position. The salary range listed is specific to each particular open position and takes into account various factors including the specifics of the individual role, and candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

Penguin Random House is the leading adult and children's publishing house in North America, the United Kingdom and many other regions around the world. In publishing the best books in every genre and subject for all ages, we are committed to quality, excellence in execution, and innovation throughout the entire publishing process: editorial, design, marketing, publicity, sales, production, and distribution. Our vibrant and diverse international community of nearly 300 publishing brands and imprints include Ballantine Bantam Dell, Berkley, Clarkson Potter, Crown, DK, Doubleday, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Little Golden Books, Knopf, Modern Library, Pantheon, Penguin Books, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Young Readers, Portfolio, Puffin, Putnam, Random House, Random House Children's Books, Riverhead, Ten Speed Press, Viking, and Vintage, among others. More information can be found at < "">

Penguin Random House values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Company: Penguin Random House LLC

Country: United States of America 

State/Region: New York 

City: New York 

Postal Code: 10019 

Job ID: 276807

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Freelance, Seasonal work, Remote job, Flexible hours,

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