Editorial Assistant, Portfolio Sentinel Hybrid

Editorial Assistant, Portfolio Sentinel (Hybrid)

Penguin Random House has an exciting job opening for an Editorial Assistant to support the imprints Portfolio, Sentinel, and Thesis. The Assistant will provide administrative and editorial support to the Editor‑In‑Chief.

You are a highly organized, ambitious self‑starter and confident writer who is looking for an entry point into nonfiction publishing. You are insatiably curious, enjoy learning new things, meeting new people, and you can work out of the midtown NYC office one to three days a week as needed.

We are a tight‑knit collaborative group that publishes a range of nonfiction focusing primarily on business and self‑development. Recent authors include Ryan Holiday, Scott Galloway, Cal Newport, Annie Duke, Shane Parrish, Katherine Morgan Schafler, Jennifer Breheny Wallace, Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, Arthur Brooks, and Will Guidara. Our flagship imprint, Portfolio, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and most of our publishing falls under our tagline “nonfiction for ambitious people.”

• Support the Editor‑In‑Chief in running the editorial department; help manage her calendar, deliverables, and materials in a fast‑paced, high‑information environment
• Keep track of contracts, deadlines, manuscripts, jackets, and other parts of the publication process
• Shepherd manuscripts through production, from styling to transmittal to trafficking copyedits and proofs back and forth with the author
• Assist authors in navigating the publishing process; provide proactive, friendly, knowledgeable help to them on manuscript formatting, art formats, permissions, and notes
• Act as primary editorial contact for backlist authors and revised/anniversary editions (under supervision)
• Collect data and maintain imprint databases on acquisitions, sales, contact information, and freelancers
• Organize imprint events and happenings, including weekly editorial meetings and preparations for seasonal sales meetings and strategy sessions
• Schedule meetings and meals; handle expenses; make travel arrangements as necessary
• Read and quickly share feedback on manuscripts in progress; under supervision, line edit manuscripts and/or curate book excerpts and pull quotes
• Draft both author‑facing and consumer‑facing materials such as emails, blurb requests, flap copy, TI sheets, editorial memos, and letters
• Perform other support tasks as needed

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow‑up skills
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple assignments in a deadline‑driven environment
• Ability to master complex systems quickly
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Ability to take initiative and problem‑solve creatively
• Ability to manage multiple short‑ and long‑term projects simultaneously
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Google Docs
• Prior office experience within book publishing is a plus, but not required to succeed as an Editorial Assistant

This role is hybrid, requiring two to three days a week in the NYC office.

The salary for this position is $51,000. All positions are currently eligible for an annual profit award or bonus, subject to company results.

Please apply by February 19th, 2026 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 our FAQs page.

Penguin Random House values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.