Senior Commissioning Editor, Penguin ; Penguin General

Senior Commissioning Editor, Penguin Life

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Commissioning Editor to join the Penguin Life team at Penguin General, home of bestselling authors such as Dr Rangan Chatterjee, James Nestor, Ellie Middleton and Haemin Sunim. We're looking for an ambitious and proactive acquirer with an eye for the biggest books in health, wellbeing, popular psychology, modern philosophy and inspiration.

Penguin Life is a home for books that span all areas of our lives, from relationships to career, psychology to cookery, productivity to parenting, health to leadership, smart thinking to spirituality. What unites all of our books is that they offer new information and practical steps to embrace behavioural change. Our authors are experts and thought leaders, mission‑driven pioneers who lead with integrity and purpose.

Penguin Life's books, and authors, can be relied on as trustworthy guides in the often-overwhelming world of personal development.

Reporting to the Editorial Director and joining a team of seven, this role will be responsible for publishing around eight new non‑fiction titles a year with a particular focus on enduring trends in health and lifestyle publishing, ideally with international potential that will sell for years to come. In this role you will:

• Generate books for publishing by staying on top of trends and proactively seeking out new opportunities.
• Manage the complete publishing cycle of your books, liaising with key departments across the business, authors, agents and other external partners.
• Engage in market research across multiple platforms and territories, sharing information and using it to inform acquisitions.
• Network to create and maintain strong relationships with authors, agents and other partners in the UK and internationally.
• Be a strong team player and an advocate for your books and the Penguin Life list.

Essential criteria:
We are looking for a creative, highly motivated individual with talent and high potential. You will be knowledgeable about the market, full of ideas and confident in collaborating in‑house and out from start to finish of each book. The ability to work effectively under pressure while keeping to schedule is essential, as are strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

You'll be an excellent communicator, able to write persuasive cover copy and make convincing verbal pitches, as well as create and maintain matchless author relationships. You will also actively engage with Penguin Random House's diversity and inclusion goals.

• Engaged with the outside world and brings a commercial mind‑set.
• Interested in acquiring in areas of health, wellbeing, popular psychology, modern philosophy and inspiration.
• Strong internal and external relationship management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of people and to influence others.
• Experience with authors, agents and international buy‑ins.
• A good mix of strong creative and analytical skills.
• A confident negotiator.
• Scrupulous attention to detail and organisational skills.
• A strong team player with interpersonal sensitivity.

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 6th of February 2026. The cover letter offers an opportunity to show how your experience and interests align with the role requirements and is a crucial part of our assessment process. Include a pitch for an author who you think would sit well on the Penguin Life list.

The salary range for this Senior Commissioning Editor role is £45,000 to £48,000. An offer will be made in line with how your skills and experience align to the role.

For our full benefits list please visit: https://jobs

Hybrid working. While our offices are places for you to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, having flexibility about where you work is just as important for doing your best work and for your wellbeing. Regular meetings and activities that you will need to attend in person at our offices in London are required, but outside of these moments you can choose to work remotely.

We are happy to discuss this arranging further with you during the recruitment process.

Company: The Random House Group Limited |
Job : 285764