Bertelsmann
Assistant Editor, General (6-month-FTC)
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Job Description
Are you passionate about literature, culture and politics? This is a rare opportunity for a highly organised and proactive Assistant Editor to join Hamish Hamilton for six months to cover a sabbatical.
About the team
Hamish Hamilton is one of Britain’s most distinguished literary lists. Now an integral part of Penguin Random House, we provide a home for an exciting and eclectic group of authors, united by the distinctiveness and excellence of their writing.
Founded in 1931, our mission remains to publish the finest literary fiction and non-fiction from around the world, with a focus on writing that is original, essential, remarkable and lasting.
Publishing around twenty new titles a year, both fiction and non-fiction, and all points in between, Hamish Hamilton’s authors include Pat Barker, Alain de Botton, Noam Chomsky, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Angela Y. Davis, Kiran Desai, Avni Doshi, Ekow Eshun, Bernardine Evaristo, Jonathan Safran Foer, Eduardo Halfon, Han Kang, Mohsin Hamid, Marlon James, Olivia Laing, Darian Leader, Deborah Levy, Robert Macfarlane, Sophie Mackintosh, Saree and Ussama Makdisi, Javier Marías, Jackie Morris, Paul Murray, Emilie Pine, Adam Phillips, Arundhati Roy, W. G. Sebald, Ali Smith, Zadie Smith, Susan Sontag, Linn Ullmann, Isabel Waidner and Lina Wolff.
We value curiosity and are looking for people who notice the world, ask questions, and bring fresh perspectives to what we do. If you’re endlessly curious and love discovering and sharing new ideas, you’ll feel at home here.
The role
In this role you will work with HH Publishing Director Simon Prosser and Editorial Director Hermione Thompson as part of a small but dynamic team within Penguin General. Reporting to the Publishing Director, the Assistant Editor will be responsible for a wide range of editorial and administrative tasks which include:
Key responsibilities:
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- Managing the internal book process under supervision, from acquisition to publication, to ensure that deadlines are met
- Populating computer systems, including processing invoices and expenses
- Organising mailings for bound proofs, creating spiralbound proofs, sending out contractual author copies, submitting books for prizes and translation grants and overseeing tip-in signings
- Reading submissions and sharing verbal and written feedback
- Writing persuasive cover copy and keeping all title data up-to-date
- Clearing permissions and overseeing legal reads
- Organising the creation of inset and integrated materials
- Arranging travel and accommodation
- Acting as a point of contact for authors and agents, as well as in-house colleagues
What you’ll bring
You will be proactive, highly organised and efficient, have a fantastic eye for detail and be reliable and calm under pressure. The role of an Assistant Editor is varied and fast-paced, so you’ll need exceptional and time management skills to juggle many priorities and projects at once. You’ll also be working closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the business as well as authors and agents, so you’ll need to have the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people. And, of course, you will have a genuine passion for books, ideas and politics.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV and cover letter (both in pdf format) outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 4th of October 2026. The cover letter should be uploaded as an additional document.
Salary
£31,000 - £34,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
Use of AI tools
Here at Penguin General, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. Throughout our recruitment process, please share your thoughts, experiences and skills in your own voice
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Disability Confident
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 PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request.
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 that you will be in the office 3 days a week, or more if you choose. The required days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Additional Information
Disclosure requirements pertaining to the collection of your personal data:
Responsible for processing the information provided in your application is the company specified in the job advertisement, with its registered office as indicated. The company processes your data for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b GDPR / Section 26 (1) sentence 1 BDSG. The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here. You can contact the company’s Data Protection Officer at the above-mentioned postal address.
Further information on data protection and your rights can be found here.
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