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Assistant Managing Editor, Cornerstone
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Job Description
We're looking for an Assistant Managing Editor to play a key role in delivering our publishing programme across the Del Rey and Inklore imprints, while supporting the wider Cornerstone editorial team.
About Cornerstone
Cornerstone is a division within the iconic publisher Penguin Random House UK. Cornerstone is home to seven imprints: Century, Cornerstone Press, Del Rey, Evermore, Hutchinson Heinemann, Inklore, and #Merky Books, each with its own specific focus and remit. Every Cornerstone book also goes on to become a Penguin paperback.
Within publishing, Cornerstone has an enviable track record of bestsellers, prize winners and culture-shaping books, working with many of the world’s most interesting voices, often throughout their entire career. Our books span genres, categories and marketplaces globally and include James Clear, Katy Hessel, Chris van Tulleken, Robert Harris, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lyse Doucet, Ava Reid, William Rayfet Hunter and Lisa Jewell.
The role
Working closely with Editorial, Production and Design, you'll own a busy portfolio of titles, coordinating books through the publishing process from manuscript to finished copy. You'll oversee offset editions from our US publishing partners, manage reprints and reissues, and help ensure every project is delivered accurately and on schedule.
This role suits someone who enjoys working at pace, takes pride in accuracy and is confident managing changing priorities. You'll build strong relationships across the business, use sound judgement to keep projects moving, and play an important part in delivering exceptional books.
Key responsibilities:
- Managing the editorial process for a portfolio of titles
- Coordinating offset editions from our US publishing partners
- Overseeing reprints and new editions of backlist titles
- Proofreading and checking manuscripts, proofs, jackets, covers and marketing materials
- Working closely with Editorial, Production, Design, freelancers and external publishing partners to keep projects on track
- Managing multiple publishing schedules and reprioritising work as deadlines change
- Coding invoices and carrying out other editorial and administrative tasks to support the day-to-day running of the Managing Editorial department
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What you’ll bring
Cornerstone is a goal-orientated division with a clear commitment to high performance at every level. We embrace the following qualities. If this way of working resonates with you, you are likely to succeed as part of our team.
- You bring bold curiosity, question the status quo and take smart, commercially driven risks.
- You deliver with pace, resilience and a growth mindset, while collaborating to achieve high impact.
- You build strong, inclusive relationships with authors, agents and colleagues, and contribute to a culture of openness and belonging.
Essential criteria:
- Proven experience within book publishing at Editorial Assistant level or above
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines
- Strong proofreading skills, with exceptional attention to detail
- The ability to prioritise effectively and exercise sound judgement when priorities change
- Excellent communication skills and confidence working with colleagues, freelancers and external publishing partners
- A proactive, collaborative approach, with the confidence to take ownership of your work
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- A genuine enthusiasm for books and publishing
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Sunday 26th July.
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.
Please note we are looking for someone to join the team as soon as possible, but we are also happy to accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right candidate.
Interview process
We expect that this interview process will consist of a combination of virtual and in-person interviews. We will also ask you to complete a short task. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.
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.
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If you would like to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme for this recruitment process, please include the following code at the start of your cover letter: [Recr – TTL 351]
Please do not provide any additional information beyond the code in your cover letter. We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk.
Use of AI tools
Here at Penguin, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. When you apply for a position, we want to encourage you to showcase your unique voice. Throughout our recruitment process, please share your own thoughts, experiences, and skills. This helps us get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team. We celebrate creativity and diverse perspectives, so please be yourself! While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you.
Salary
£30,000 - £32,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role plus bonus and benefits.
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 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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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