Junior Cover Designer, Dutton (Hybrid)

Penguin Random House seeks a creative and collaborative Junior Designer to join our Dutton art department.   A focused imprint with a huge audience, Dutton is part of the largest English-language publisher in the world. Dutton’s deeply discussable titles have become bestsellers, been national book club picks, and won the National Book Award. Publicity—and marketing—driven, its list of sixty books per year is half nonfiction and half fiction. Dutton’s imprints include Plume and Tiny Reparations Books.

Current and past authors include: Abi Daré (The Girl With the Loading Voice), Fiona Davis (The Stolen Queen), Hank Green (A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing), Jason Mott (Hell of a Book), Ana Reyes (The House in the Pines), Riley Sager (The House Across the Lake), Adriana Trigiani (The View from Lake Como), Annie Jacobsen (Nuclear War), Jon Karl (Tired of Winning), Nick Offerman (Where the Deer and the Antelope Play), Joe Posnanski (Why We Love Baseball), Jeff Tweedy (World Within a Song), Chris Wallace (Countdown, 1960), and Carl Zimmer (Life’s Edge).

The Junior Designer will assist and work with the Art Director and Associate Art Directors on all tasks relating to the design and production of hardcover and paperback titles across three imprints: Dutton, Plume and Tiny Reparations Books. This is an excellent opportunity to work on a variety of high-quality fiction and non-fiction titles by bestselling and award-winning authors.  

Specific responsibilities include:   

• Conceptualize and design front covers for hardcover and paperback titles  
• Design and typeset hardcover jacket and paperback cover mechanicals (spine, flaps, back ads)  
• Route, track, and maintain frontlist and backlist mechanicals through all stages (initial build, text corrections, color corrections, preflight, and final preparation and delivery of press-ready digital files to Production)   
• Ensure front cover assets are uploaded in a timely manner  
• Prepare presentations of front cover comps for review in weekly packaging meetings  
• Research and license art, illustration, and photography  
• Liaise with freelance artists (initiate purchase orders, communicate deadlines, adhere to budgets, and manage digital files)  
• Design, route, and deliver marketing, publicity, and/or other miscellaneous materials as requested or necessary (galleys, mockups, etc.) 

Please apply if you meet the following qualifications:   

• Bachelor’s degree in art/design preferred  
• Previous design experience in a publishing art department a plus  
• Print design experience preferred  
• Conceptual thinker with demonstrated proficiency with typography and design  
• Lettering and illustration experience and ability a plus   
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills  
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively  
• Proven ability to create and revise designs under tight deadlines  
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy  
• Strong ability to understand assignments, ask questions, problem solve, and work independently  
• Strong desire to learn on the job and collaborate with peers  
• Basic knowledge of preparing files for print production; some knowledge of color correction principles a plus  
• Must be proficient in the Apple Macintosh operating system and Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat); knowledge of Adobe After Effects a plus  
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel  

Apply using our online application system and please include a cover letter and link to your portfolio along with your resume.   

The Penguin Random House national headquarters is located in New York City. This is a hybrid position, requiring approximately 1 – 2 days per week at our 1745 Broadway location. 

The salary or salary range for this position is $56,000. All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to Company results.     Applications for this role will be accepted through October 8 or until the role is filled. We encourage you to apply early, as we review applications on a rolling basis. Before applying for any role at Penguin Random House, we recommend you review our applicant resources page and our