Bertelsmann

Editorial Assistant - Viking, Penguin Books, Penguin Life, Penguin Classics (Open to Remote)


PayCompetitive
LocationNew York/New York
Employment typeFull-Time

This job is now closed

  • Job Description

      Req#: 263009

      Penguin Random House has an exciting job opening for an Editorial Assistant for the following imprints: Viking, Penguin Books, Penguin Life, and Penguin Classics. The Assistant will provide administrative and editorial support to the Publisher of Penguin Books and an Executive Editor, and will work on a bestselling, prize-winning array of fiction, narrative nonfiction, translated literature, wellness/inspiration, and literary classics. We are looking for a detail-oriented self-starter who reads voraciously across a diverse and eclectic range of categories and has a strong knowledge of the literary canon and a keen interest in writing from around the world.

      The editorial assistant will work closely with two hiring editors responsible for acquiring and publishing such titles as The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi, The Night Singer by Johanna Mo, Golden Ax by Rio Cortez, The New China Playbook by Keyu Jin, Ikigai by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno, Forest Bathing by Qing Li, and new editions of classics by such authors as Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Rudolfo Anaya, Miguel Ángel Asturias, Machado de Assis, Mikhail Bulgakov, Yevgeny Zamyatin, George S. Schuyler, W. E. B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Younghill Kang, Wu Cheng’en, Osamu Dazai, Carlo Collodi, and Angela Carter .

      The Role:

      • Providing administrative support to the Publisher and an Executive Editor
      • Reading and evaluating submissions, writing reader reports, researching comparative titles, drafting rejection letters, managing blurb/endorsement campaigns, preparing manuscripts for production, anticipating project deadlines, routing and tracking P&Ls and contracts, preparing and fulfilling mailings, submitting check requests, processing expense reports, and scheduling meetings
      • Communicating with authors, agents, and a variety of internal departments, including Marketing, Publicity, Sales, Production, Contracts, Permissions, Subsidiary Rights, and Art
      • Writing and editing internal sales materials, online copy, cover copy, publicity releases, and reading group guides
      • Participating in weekly editorial meetings

      The Essentials:

      • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
      • Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-up skills
      • 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
      • Familiarity with social media
      • Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel
      • Reading knowledge of a foreign language a plus

      The salary for this position is $48,000. All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to Company results.

      Please apply by August 18, 2023 at 11:59 pm EDT for consideration, and include a cover letter with your résumé.

      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 http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/.

      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: 263009

  • About the company

      Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds.