Job Description

Editorial Assistant - Michael Joseph
The Editorial Assistant is responsible for the smooth running of the imprint team by completing editorial tasks, related administration and providing support to the Publishers, primarily working across the flourishing romance and fantasy lists within Penguin Michael Joseph, but with scope to help across the fiction department.
The Role
Key responsibilities:
Administration

• General office administration e.g. sorting post, photocopying, filing, arranging couriers and transport
• Dealing with complaints (e.g. typos, missing pages, correspondence to customers)
• Sending reviews, bound proofs and finished copies / foreign editions to author and / or agent
• Liaising with agents regarding administrative matters
• Coding invoices, arranging author payments and invoices with Royalties and Purchase Ledger departments
• Providing support at author signings and events as requested
• Monitoring and issuing take-down notices for infringing material posted online
• Taking minutes for department meetings and circulating as directed

Editorial

• Managing the internal book process under supervision, from acquisition to publication, to ensure that deadlines are met - including overseeing and managing spreadsheets and sales reports using Excel and Biblio
• Submitting departmental titles to relevant prize submissions and liaising with the team on deadlines
• Sending TCM Bookscan sales figures to designated authors and agents
• Acting as a point of contact for authors, to answer questions where possible and passing other queries on to manager. The Editorial Assistant is expected to provide excellent author care at all times
• Taking on some day-to-day responsibility for a particular author or series
• Writing cover copy / editorial notes alongside the lead editor
• Attending new project meetings and taking part in discussions around potential new books
• Entering Biblio data for new titles, and making changes to copy or other data when changes occur (schedule, any metadata), keeping all title data up-to-date, complete and high quality at all times

What you'll bring
Essential criteria:

• Demonstrable interest in Publishing and/or Editorial team and/or Michael Joseph division
• Proven written ability showcased through your application
• Experience/knowledge of MS Office Excel/Word/Outlook
• Demonstrable understanding of managing multiple stakeholders at varying seniorities
• Demonstrable communication skills

• Highly organised with the ability to multitask and handle competing priorities
• Exceptional personal organisation and time management skills
• Attention to detail
• The ability to work autonomously using initiative
• Dedication to being creative and innovative
• A love for romance and fantasy is essential for this role

Disability Confident
If you have opted into our disability confident scheme, above is 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 9th December 2025.

• 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.
• We anticipate a three-stage interview process which will include a virtual first-stage interview, an in-person second stage interview including a task, and a final in-person interview with the Director. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.

Salary
27,500 plus benefits.
What you can expect from us
Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.
Our benefits include:

• Financial - discounted shopping, season ticket loan, rental deposit loan
• Wellbeing - healthcare cash plan, employee assistance, gym loan
• Lifestyle - taste card, tech scheme, free and discounted books

For our full benefits list please visit:
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 the office a minimum of three days per week, with a maximum of two days per week working remotely.
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.
The recruitment process
You can read about our recruitment process at
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 . Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.
Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.
Company: The Random House Group Limited | Job ID: 284813

Skills Required