Editorial Assistant

Looking to jump into the world of editorial? Come and work with us! The 12 month FTC vacancy is cover for my upcoming parental leave, very happy to answer any questions ☺️

Posted by: Charis Lowe-White

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About Penguin

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone. 

Editorial Assistant – Children’s (Puffin)

Are you a highly organised, detail-oriented and creative individual ready to support a large, friendly and dynamic team? Do you have excellent communication skills and the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment? Do you have a love of children’s books and a desire to be part of the team shaping the Puffin books of the future? We’re looking for two dedicated and proactive Editorial Assistants to join our team, one on a permanent basis and one on a twelve-month fixed-term contract.

About the team

Changing lives through words – this is what we do. By entertaining and educating, we aim to publish for every child everywhere, and take young people on an incredible journey from their first independent reading experiences right through to their teen years and beyond. From Jeff Kinney to Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman to Jennifer Lynn Barnes, our fiction team works with some of the biggest names and brightest new authors and illustrators to bring stories to life.

The role

This role is varied, and you can expect no two days to be same. Reporting into one of the Publishers or Editorial Directors, you will be responsible for supporting the team in our work across a range of fiction titles .

Key responsibilities:

• Provide efficient and organised administrative support to the Puffin 6+ editorial team
• Prepare agendas and take accurate minutes for editorial meetings
• Manage diaries, meeting arrangements and room bookings
• Send proofs and contractual copies to authors, agents and internal teams
• Assist with reprints and help maintain up-to-date publishing schedules
• Maintain accurate departmental systems and data, including updating schedules on online platforms and managing information within Biblio
• Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders across Design, Production, Rights, Sales, Marketing and PR
• Communicate clearly and professionally with authors, illustrators and literary agents
• Read and report on submissions, and support the management of unsolicited manuscripts and enquiries
• Contribute to team meetings and creative discussions
• Support pitches for new projects and assist with drafting copy for sales and marketing materials
• Develop editorial skills through hands-on involvement at all stages of the publishing process

What you’ll bring

Essential criteria:

• Highly organized, with excellent time-management skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical, accurate approach to work
• Proactive and enthusiastic, with the confidence to take initiative and a positive, can-do attitude
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships
• Comfortable working collaboratively as part of a team, as well as independently
• Able to adapt quickly in a busy and varied role
• A genuine passion for children’s books and an interest in children’s publishing
• Eagerness to learn, contribute ideas and develop editorial skills
• Keenness to immerse yourself in the books the Puffin team publishes

Disability Confident

If you have opted into our disability confident scheme, the above are the essential criteria you must meet to be considered for our interview scheme. Please note, there may be occasions where the volume of applicants means we can’t take all eligible candidates to interview.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 21st May 2026. As part of your cover letter, please provide an answer, in no more than 150 words, to the following question: What is your favourite childhood book and why?

• 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.
• Please note we are looking for someone to join the team as soon as possible, but we are also happy to accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right candidate.
• We anticipate a three-stage interview process which will include a virtual first-stage interview and in-person second stage interview. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.

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.

Salary

£29,000 plus 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 the successful candidate to work from our London office a minimum of three days per week (including Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and offer the remaining two days to be worked remotely.

Benefits

• Income Protection
• Health assessment
• Gym flex
• Life event leave
• Dental insurance
• Cycle scheme