Publicity Assistant - Children's

About Penguin We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.  Publicity Assistant – Children’s Want to join an award-winning PR team who work with leading children’s brands and the world’s best authors? Are you great with people, highly organised and full of initiative? Our award-winning Children’s PR team is seeking an enthusiastic and extremely well-organised Publicity Assistant to work across its outstanding portfolio of books and brands. Each day is guaranteed to be varied: from scheduling meetings and liaising with other departments and media to assisting publicists with their campaigns and events. In this exciting role, you’ll gain invaluable PR experience, a wide understanding of the publishing process and you’ll get the opportunity to work closely with a variety of departments. You will learn first-hand how we approach and execute PR campaigns, drive demand, run events and create magic. We pride ourselves on innovation and put our readers at the heart of everything we do. About the team Our marketing and PR teams are organised into three audience-focussed hubs (across Pre-School, Primary and YA), publishing everything from picture books to young fiction and graphic novels, non-fiction and books for young adults. 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, Katie Kirby, Adam Kay, Tom Fletcher, Robin Stevens, Nadia Shireen and Jacqueline Wilson. We also launch talented new voices , including Selina Brown, Huw Aaron and Dr Sheila Kanani . Our Penguin YA list includes bestselling authors such as Malorie Blackman, Karen McManus, Phillip Pullman, Jenny Han and Jennifer Lynn Barnes, as well as rising stars such as Bea Fitzgerald and Laura Steven The role Key responsibilities: General administration including scheduling meetings, booking venues and assisting publicists with their campaigns and events Managing and updating budget sheets, raising and coding purchase orders or invoices Maintaining databases and updating systems Acting as a point of contact for the department, fielding phone calls from the Press and answering queries from the public Providing internal support for freelancer PRs Working with relevant publicist to create detailed mailing lists and overseeing mail-out May also handle PR for smaller, review driven titles and are likely to draft press releases and write copy for these and other titles What you’ll bring Essential criteria: Have strong personal organisation and time management skills Have an ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Have a curiosity to learn and to think, see and do things differently Have an avid interest in the broad media and consumer landscape Are engaged in building online communities and approaching PR from a digital-first perspective Love reading and have a keen interest in the UK children’s book market, particularly across middle grade and YA Disability Confident If you have opted into our disability confident scheme, the above are the essential criteria you must meet to be considered for our interview scheme. Please note, there may be occasions where the volume of applicants means we can’t take all eligible candidates to interview. Application instructions Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 23 March 2026. 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 no more than one or two 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 anticipate a two-stage interview process which will include a virtual first-stage interview and in-person second stage interview. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process. 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. Salary £29,000 plus benefits. Hybrid working 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 the successful candidate to work from our London-based office a minimum of three days per week and offer the remaining two days to be worked remotely. Benefits Income Protection Health assessment Gym flex Life event leave Dental insurance Cycle scheme Please note that we do not accept any CVs via agencies, and any sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.