Senior Editor, Penguin Michael Joseph
We're looking for a Senior Editor to join our small but mighty non-fiction team, to work on our market-leading cookery and illustrated titles. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced illustrated editor with a passion for food and exceptional editorial instincts, looking to develop their career in this distinctive part of the market.
About Penguin Michael Joseph
Penguin Michael Joseph publishes some of the world’s most popular and commercially successful authors and brands, including Jamie Oliver, Marian Keyes, Dr Julie Smith, Claire Douglas, SenLin Yu and Dawn French. We specialise in women’s fiction, crime and thriller, fantasy, romance, cookery, memoir and lifestyle books. Many of our authors are now, or soon will be, household names here in the UK and around the world.
We seek out the very best authors in their field and bring their books to the widest possible audience. We take an author’s vision and turn it into a beautiful book people can’t help but talk about.
In a crowded market, our books shine.
You will oversee illustrated titles through every stage of the publishing process, from the point of acquisition, manuscript development and photography, through to production and publication.
Working closely with commissioning colleagues, you'll manage schedules, budgets and creative teams to deliver complex colour books on time, on budget and to the highest editorial and design standards. You'll build strong relationships with authors and agents, photographers, food stylists and designers, helping each project achieve its editorial and commercial potential.
You’ll help champion our cookery list within the division and wider business and be encouraged to contribute ideas and help spot emerging trends to support the commissioners in the acquisition of new titles. The role also offers the opportunity to develop commissioning responsibilities over time, making it a great next step for an ambitious editor looking to build towards a commissioning career.
This role would suit someone with substantial illustrated publishing experience and a passion for food who enjoys combining creative editorial work with project management and who has a strong understanding of the cookery market.
Managing cookery and illustrated titles through all stages of the publishing process
Editing manuscripts and preparing editorial feedback
Planning and overseeing multi-day photography shoots
Working with designers, photographers, stylists and production colleagues to create outstanding illustrated books
Managing layouts, schedules and budgets
Writing and refining jacket copy, metadata and sales materials
Liaising with freelancers and external suppliers, including negotiating fees and rates to keep costs within budget
Acting as a key point of contact for authors and agents throughout publication
Collaborating with Marketing, Publicity, Sales and Rights colleagues to maximise success
Contributing editorial expertise, market insight and publishing ideas to team discussions
Supporting the development and delivery of the team's cookery publishing strategy
Contributing to acquisition discussions and identifying future publishing opportunities
Significant editorial experience within trade publishing
Strong experience publishing illustrated non-fiction, ideally cookery books
Experience managing projects from acquisition through to publication
Excellent author care and relationship-management skills
Experience planning and overseeing complex photography shoots
Strong understanding of illustrated book production, including colour workflows, layouts and schedules
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Outstanding attention to detail and editorial judgement
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong commercial awareness and enthusiasm for the cookery market
The ability to collaborate effectively across departments
Confidence working autonomously and making decisions in a fast-paced environment
Experience commissioning or contributing to acquisitions
Established relationships within the food and cookery publishing community
Experience working with high-profile authors, chefs or experts
Knowledge of current trends and opportunities in cookery and lifestyle publishing
An eye for design and photography
Experience using Adobe InDesign and working closely with design teams
Experience mentoring or supporting junior editorial colleagues
Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Wednesday 24th June.
Our interview process is usually two to three stages and may include a mix of video and in-person interviews. We’ll share full details and support at each stage.
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.
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 [email protected]. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request.
£38,000 – £42,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
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’ll work from our London office a minimum of three days per week, including Mondays and Wednesdays. We will be happy to discuss this in more detail as part of the recruitment process.
