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Publisher (new imprint), Children's

Penguin Random House UK

ExecutiveFull Time£60k - £70k
Location
London, UK (Hybrid)
Posted
June 10, 2026
Expires
June 28, 2026

Job Description

Role overview

This is a rare opportunity to help build a new children's and YA imprint from the ground up. Joining at the very start of an ambitious new venture, you'll combine creativity, commercial instinct, and publishing expertise to shape a list, a team, and a publishing brand with real impact.

About

the team

Under the leadership of Publishing & Creative Director Rachel Denwood, Penguin Random House Children's is launching a new imprint: a vibrant publishing home for authors and illustrators with big ambitions for young readers. We believe children need more choice, more variety, and more opportunities to discover books they love. This new imprint has been created to publish standout books across children's and YA publishing, connecting exceptional creative talent with the widest possible readership. This will be a small, highly ambitious team with a start-up mindset. You can expect a collaborative, hands-on environment where ideas move quickly, creativity is valued, and everyone plays a meaningful role in shaping the future of the list.

The role

You'll be a key strategic partner in building and growing the list. This is not a typical Publisher role. We're looking for someone who combines outstanding editorial judgment with strong commercial instinct and entrepreneurial energy. You'll be equally comfortable discussing strategy, budgets, and acquisitions as you are generating ideas, editing manuscripts, developing authors and illustrators, and championing books across the business. The role offers unusual breadth, with opportunities to work across children's and YA publishing, from highly illustrated books through to fiction and YA. We're looking for someone who is curious, adaptable, and excited by the challenge of building something new.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with the Publishing & Creative Director to shape and deliver the imprint's publishing strategy and growth plans
  • Acquire, commission, and publish exceptional books across children's and YA publishing
  • Build and develop relationships with authors, illustrators, and agents, attracting outstanding talent to the list
  • Negotiate acquisitions and contracts in line with creative and commercial objectives
  • Edit and publish your own list of titles to the highest standards
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues across design, publicity, marketing, sales, and rights to maximize the success of every project
  • Identify market opportunities and trends, using insight and instinct to inform publishing decisions
  • Champion the imprint and its books across the business
  • Contribute to the development of new intellectual property and publishing opportunities
  • Help shape the future growth, culture, and success of the imprint as it develops

Essential

criteria

  • Significant children's editorial publishing experience with deep knowledge of the children's and YA market, readerships, and competitors
  • A strong track record of acquiring and publishing commercially successful books and series, including bestsellers
  • Excellent editorial judgment and commissioning instincts, with a reputation for spotting, acquiring, and developing exceptional talent
  • Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong relationships internally and externally
  • A strong understanding of how to grow readerships and connect books with the widest possible audience of young readers
  • The ability to balance creative ambition with commercial decision-making
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
  • The confidence to work autonomously while thriving in a collaborative team environment
  • An entrepreneurial mindset, original ideas, and the enthusiasm to help build something new

Preferred

criteria

  • Experience working across different categories, formats, and age groups within children's publishing
  • Strong commercial awareness and experience working with budgets, financial targets, and acquisitions
  • Experience contributing to publishing strategy and long-term list development
  • Significant negotiating experience and the confidence to make difficult decisions when required

Application Information

  • Apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by Sunday 28th June at 11:59pm.
  • A cover letter is crucial for our assessment process and offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements.
  • Typically, the cover letter should be no more than one or two pages in length.
  • Read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/

Compensation and Benefits

  • £60,000 - £70,000 dependent on skills and experience, plus bonus and benefits.

Hybrid working

  • For this role, we expect that you will typically be in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Use of AI tools

  • We encourage you to showcase your unique voice and share your own thoughts, experiences, and skills throughout the recruitment process.
  • While AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you.

Disability Confident Committed

  • 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.
  • Please tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHC[email protected]. You only need to share what you are comfortable with for us to support your request.