Penguin Random House UK
Senior Managing Editor, Transworld
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Senior Managing Editor
About Transworld
Home to bestselling and award-winning authors across fiction and non-fiction, Transworld publishes an incredibly varied range of books – from the biggest commercial brands, including Dan Brown and Lee Child, and landmark, conversation-starting non-fiction such as Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, to literary bestsellers and exciting new voices such as Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash.
The role
As Senior Managing Editor, you’ll join an experienced Managing Editorial team and manage fiction and non-fiction titles from manuscript through to final files, including high-profile authors and complex non-fiction projects.
Alongside managing your own titles, you’ll provide editorial expertise and support across the department, deputising for the Managing Editorial Director when required. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute ideas about how the team’s systems, processes and ways of working can continue to develop.
Key responsibilities:
- Manage fiction and non-fiction titles from manuscript to final files, working closely with authors, editors, designers, freelancers and Production colleagues.
- Deputise for the Managing Editorial Director when required and help handle complex editorial matters.
- Ensure copy-editing and proofreading are carried out to a consistently high standard.
- Help develop and improve departmental and group progress-monitoring systems.
- Assist with the appointing, management and support of freelance copy-editors and proofreaders.
- Help maintain and update house styles and editorial guidelines.
- Contribute to weekly progress and production meetings and proofread marketing and publicity materials as required.
- Share your experience and expertise with colleagues, including supporting less experienced members of the team.
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What you’ll bring
You’ll be an accomplished managing editor with excellent editorial judgement, strong attention to detail and the ability to handle complex projects. Collaborative and highly organised, you’ll bring plenty of initiative and enjoy being part of an experienced team where you can share your expertise.
Essential criteria:
- Strong experience managing a varied list of fiction and non-fiction titles, including complex projects, and balancing multiple books at different stages.
- Excellent desk-editing and copy-editing skills, with exceptional attention to detail and a strong command of grammar, spelling and proofreading.
- Strong editorial judgement and the ability to work autonomously, manage authors and resolve complex queries.
- Excellent organisation and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities efficiently.
- Strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
- A collaborative approach and the ability to contribute effectively as a senior member of the team.
- Confidence using Word and other Microsoft systems, alongside an aptitude for learning and working with different digital tools.
Preferred criteria:
- In-house managing editorial experience within publishing.
- Experience using systems and data to monitor publishing workflows, such as Excel or Power BI.
- Experience supporting less experienced colleagues.
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 Thursday 22nd October. The cover letter should be uploaded as an additional document.
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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.
Salary
Circa £50,000 dependent 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 work three days a week in our Embassy Gardens office.
AI
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!
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.
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