Editorial Assistant, Penguin Children’s (Puffin)

Job description

Are you a super-organised team player and a confident communicator? Do you want to be part of a team that works on some of the biggest children’s brands and picture books in the industry? We have a new opportunity for an Editorial Assistant to join our Puffin Picture Books team on a permanent basis.

From classic brands such as Beatrix Potter, Spot and The Very Hungry Caterpillar to picture-book creators including Tom Fletcher, Nadia Shireen, Nathan Bryon, Dapo Adeola, Rachel Morrisroe and Nick Sharratt, the Puffin picture books team works with some of the biggest names and brightest new talents to bring stories to life that change and shape lives.

In this exciting and varied role, you’ll provide administrative support to a large team of 12 people and you’ll liaise with colleagues, authors, agents and internal departments on a daily basis. You’ll be responsible for a wide range of tasks including managing diaries and processing expenses, maintaining departmental systems, preparing agendas and taking minutes in meetings, and responding to author and agent enquiries. You’ll also collaborate with other departmental Assistants to ensure the smooth running of divisional updates and meetings.

There will be the opportunity to get involved in Editorial tasks, too. We’d love for you to come to work willing to share your ideas and thoughts on our projects and eager to review and evaluate new submissions. Great ideas come from everyone in the business!

As part of your cover letter, please answer the following question: We’re looking for someone with a passion for picture books. Tell us about a picture book which has impressed you and explain why it stood out (no more than 200 words).

We’d love it if you had…

Day to day, you won’t be supporting across the whole Children’s list; the Picture Books team works with illustrated titles aimed at pre-school aged children so this is a specialised area, and we’re looking for someone who is passionate about our instantly recognisable books and brands for this age group.

This role will suit someone who:
- Has excellent communication skills, with the ability to manage upwards
- Is highly efficient, organised and proactive, with the ability to prioritise a demanding workload
- Has a meticulous eye for detail and for spotting (and solving) problems before they arise

You absolutely don’t need to have worked in Publishing before. We’re looking for someone who is eager to learn and approaches their work positively and proactively.

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.