Press officer, Penguin Random House Children's

Closing date for applications: 12th January 2025

Salary: Circa £30,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Are you a PR pro who loves children's books?

We are the UK’s no.1 children’s publisher, home to Puffin and Ladybird, and some of the most recognised entertainment brands, authors and illustrators, including: Peppa Pig, Bluey, Peter Rabbit, The Snowman, Eric Carle, Roald Dahl, Jeff Kinney, Adam Kay, Tom Fletcher, Robin Stevens, Nadia Shireen, Ed Vere and Jacqueline Wilson. We also launch talented new rising stars, including Nathan Bryon, Dapo Adeola, Nazneen Pathak, Tamzin Merchant, and Manjeet Mann. Our Penguin YA list includes Malorie Blackman, Karen McManus, Phillip Pullman and Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Our award-winning Children’s PR team is seeking an enthusiastic and extremely well-organised Press Officer to work across its outstanding portfolio of books and brands. You will have proven PR experience and will be used to running and managing your own press campaigns. You don’t need to have prior children’s book experience, but we are looking for relevant experience and knowledge of reaching children’s consumers and children’s media landscape.  

What you'll do

As Press Officer, you’ll be responsible for planning and implementing PR campaigns with direction from more senior members of staff and the role will cover the following areas:

• Developing publicity plans (this may be with the support of more senior colleagues) and implementing campaigns.
• Promoting books and authors through social media and digital channels, print and broadcast to ensure coverage and generate sales.
• Manage all aspects of author events including event creation, schedule management and social media content across our channels. Such events may include: book festivals, schools events, stock signings and bookshop window painting.  
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with key influencers in the industry  
• Responding to and fulfilling routine requests from trade and consumer media for information, author features, review copies etc.  
• Building relationships with authors and providing the highest level of author care at all times.  
• Creating and writing press materials, contribution to written acquisition pitches. 
• Keeping up to date with the UK media spectrum to be aware of coverage of PRH Children’s titles and of publishing news. 
• Liaising regularly with other internal departments, such as marketing, sales, editorial, in order to plan, implement and review campaigns.  
• Undertaking general administrative tasks as required to facilitate the smooth running of the department, ranging from maintaining databases, submitting books for awards to financial tasks such as raising purchase orders.  

What you’ll bring

 You don’t need to have worked in publishing before to be considered for this role, but a passion to work with children’s brands is essential. Perhaps you’ve worked in entertainment or media PR previously, or in a PR agency – whatever your PR background, we’d like to hear from you if you:

• Love reading and have a keen interest in the UK children’s book market.  
• Have an avid interest in the media landscape.
• Are interested in digital platforms and follow social influencers.  
• Are a creative individual who isn’t afraid to think outside of the box.  
• Have strong personal organisation and time management skills.  
• Are a team player but can work autonomously using initiative.  

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Sunday 12th January 2025.

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 between 1 to 2 pages in length.

Please note we are looking for someone to join the team as soon as possible, but we are also happy to accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right candidate. We expect interviews to take place from w/c 20th January.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries. 

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.