Managing Editorial Coordinator – Penguin General

Job description

Are you curious to learn more about the practicalities of how a book gets published? Would you like the opportunity to work on a wide range of imprints and genres, including fiction, non-fiction, mono and illustrated titles? Penguin General has an exciting opportunity for an Editorial Coordinator to join Penguin General’s busy managing editorial team. This wide-ranging role is pivotal within the division, with responsibility for overseeing the progress of offsets, reprints and backlist titles as well as providing general editorial assistance to the rest of the team.

Key responsibilities:
• Oversee the progress of offsets, reprints, and backlist titles
• Provide general editorial assistance to the copy-editorial team
• Ensure titles are delivered according to schedule, budget, and high standards
• Check proofs, book freelancers, coordinate mailings, and update systems
• Prepare paperback material for production
• Gain insight into the practicalities of book publishing and the critical path
• Assist senior members and the wider team on their titles

We’d love it if you had…

Essential criteria:
• Be organized and systematic with excellent administrative skills
• Possess impeccable grammar and spelling
• Show exceptional attention to detail
• Have the capacity to cope with a demanding and changing workload
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills
• Be able to work independently and take initiative, yet at the same time liaise well and on a regular basis with other departments
• Have the ability to prioritize tasks and work calmly when under pressure
• Be capable of working to deadlines and managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Be a problem solver with the ability to anticipate problems and resolve them at speed

Preferred criteria:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the processes through which a text passes from typescript to bound copy
• Have experience of copy-editing and proofreading work
• Have experience of working on a range of books – this could be fiction and non-fiction, mono and illustrated, original and offset titles, in a consumer environment

Employer details

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. 

Penguin General is one of the eight publishing divisions that make up Penguin Random House UK. There are five imprints at Penguin General: Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Life, Viking and Sandycove. The latter is based in Dublin. Our broad family of authors ranges from world-class prize winners to emerging talent, including Zadie Smith, Richard Osman, Barack and Michelle Obama, Ben Macintyre, Dolly Alderton, Arundhati Roy, John le Carré, Meera Sodha, Stanley Tucci, Antony Beevor, Hanif Kureishi, Jonathan Coe, India Knight, Emily Henry and Leigh Bardugo. General is made up of extremely talented colleagues, who set a high bar in terms of quality of output, and who take pride in their work and strive for both individual and collective success. We advocate a ‘learning mindset’: being curious and humble about what we don’t know in order to grow. We strive to create a working culture that is progressive, energising and fun, where difference is valued. Colleagues are treated with respect, stretched to learn and develop their skills, and can turn up to work as their authentic professional selves.