Assistant Editor, Random House (Hybrid)

Random House, an imprint at Penguin Random House, seeks an Assistant Editor to join its team. The assistant editor will provide administrative and editorial support to Random House’s Publisher, working on a broad list of literary fiction and non-fiction. 

 

Daily responsibilities include all-around project support, involvement in all stages of the publishing process, and editorial work on a wide range of projects. The position acts as a liaison between authors, agents, and different departments within Penguin Random House. The candidate will help provide editorial support, evaluate submissions, draft copy, and keep books on schedule as they make their way toward publication. Other responsibilities include transmitting manuscripts, routing contract requests, and following up on requests from our publishing departments.

 

We are looking for a detail-oriented, meticulous self-starter with very strong writing skills and an ear for language, an ability to distill complex ideas and communicate clearly, and a passion for literary fiction and narrative non-fiction.

 

Please apply by August 24, 2024 and include your resume and cover letter for consideration. Before applying for any role at Penguin Random House, we recommend you review our applicant resources page and look over our open-to-remote guidelines on our FAQs page.

 

The Role:

• Assist in all stages of the publication process, from acquisition to on-sale and beyond, via the editing, copyediting, design, production processes, and liaising with our sales and marketing departments.
• Draft clean promotional copy including TIs, online retail copy, and flap copy for supervisor’s approval.
• Provide editorial support on a number of projects, from big picture assessments to line by line edits.
• Help with campaigns for endorsement quotes on various titles, including trafficking mailings (electronic and print), and drafting pitch letters.
• Submit books for relevant literary prizes.
• Prepare and process forms related to all parts of the publishing process, including  P&L statements and contract information sheets for acquisitions, and carrying out contract requests.
• Evaluate manuscripts and write reader reports.
• Provide general administrative support including: scheduling and preparing for department meetings; managing expense reports; ordering comp copies for all authors at publication; and handling galley and finished book mailings.

 

The Essentials:

• Exemplary writing and communication skills.
• Prior editorial experience, whether at a book publisher, literary agency, magazine or journal.
• Exceptional attention to detail, the ability to manage many projects at once, and strong follow-up skills.
• Deep curiosity and a wide range of interests, across fiction and nonfiction.
• Strong Outlook and calendar management skills.
• A team player with the ability to build internal & external relationships with departments, authors, and internal stakeholders. A collaborative spirit is essential.
• Ability to meet deadlines, take initiative, and problem-solve creatively.

 

The salary for this position is $53,000. All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to Company results.

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.