At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting publicity campaigns for beloved children's books and authors.
- Company: Join the UK's top children's publisher, home to iconic brands like Peppa Pig and Roald Dahl.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £75,000 plus bonuses and benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for creativity and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's publishing and shape cultural conversations.
- Qualifications: Senior publicity experience with strong team management and digital skills.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 £ per year.
- Publicity Director, Penguin Random House Children's
- Full-time
- Legal
- Entity: The Random House Group Limited
We’re looking for a dynamic, connected and experienced Publicity Director to lead publicity campaigns across Penguin Random House Children’s.
We’re looking for a senior publicist with experience leading high-profile, integrated campaigns across multiple launches at once, alongside strong people management and stakeholder skills.
You may already be operating at Head of Publicity level or similar, either within publishing, media, entertainment or an agency environment.
About PRH Children’s and the PR team
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 voices, including Selina Brown, Huw Aaron and Dr Sheila Kanani.
Our Penguin YA list includes bestselling authors such as Malorie Blackman, Karen Mc Manus, Phillip Pullman, Jenny Han and Jennifer Lynn Barnes, as well as rising stars such as Bea Fitzgerald, Lauren Hamilton-Murray and Laura Steven.
The Publicity team delivers campaigns across a wide range of genres and audiences, combining traditional media expertise with digital-first thinking, integrated brand strategy and audience insight.
The role
Reporting to the PR and Communications Director, this is a key leadership role, responsible for delivering standout, audience-first publicity campaigns that build cultural conversation, reach readers and drive sales.
You’ll help shape the division’s publicity strategy while strengthening campaign excellence across the team.
Alongside overseeing campaigns, you’ll personally lead selected high-profile launches for major authors and brands and play an important role in helping evolve the team’s approach to changing media and audience behaviours.
Key responsibilities
- Lead divisional publicity campaigns across books, authors and brands.
- Oversee a large portfolio of simultaneous campaigns, ensuring excellent prioritisation and execution.
- Drive digital-first and audience-led thinking across the publicity team.
- Coach, support and develop publicists and managers across the department.
- Personally lead selected high-profile campaigns for major authors, illustrators and brands.
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with media, authors, agents and key stakeholders.
- Support issues and crisis management where required.
- Work collaboratively with Editorial, Marketing, Sales, Rights and Penguin Ventures to deliver integrated campaigns.
- What you’ll bring
- Significant senior publicity experience within the creative industries delivering successful integrated campaigns across multiple launches simultaneously.
- Experience managing or mentoring teams and developing high-performing publicists.
- Strong understanding of digital and social media, with experience delivering audience-first campaigns.
- Excellent campaign management and prioritisation skills across a complex portfolio.
- Strong PR instincts with a proven ability to identify compelling stories and media opportunities.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships, including authors, agents and senior internal teams.
- Calm judgement and resilience under pressure, including experience navigating sensitive or high-profile situations.
- Strong communication and influencing skills with a collaborative leadership style.
- Strong media contacts across print, broadcast, digital and social platforms.
- Awareness of emerging media trends, creator culture and changing audience behaviours.
- Preferred criteria
- Experience working within children’s publishing or with children’s, family or Young Adult audiences.
- Proven team management experience within publishing, media, entertainment or an agency environment.
- Experience contributing to crisis or reputational management.
Benefits
Circa £75,000 annual salary dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
Disability Confident
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.
We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareers UK@penguinrandomhouse. co. uk.
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We think this is how you could land Publicity Director, Penguin Random House Children's
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We think you need these skills to ace Publicity Director, Penguin Random House Children's
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Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Bertelsmann-Jobs.
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In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
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