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- Tasks: Lead the design strategy for impactful book covers and materials at Transworld.
- Company: Join Penguin Random House UK, the largest publisher in the UK, known for great storytelling.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, competitive salary, and a vibrant office culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that transforms authors into bestsellers and shapes the literary landscape.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading design teams and creating commercial book covers is essential.
- Other info: Apply with your CV and cover letter by 25th May to showcase your creativity.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 84000 £ per year.
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Penguin Random House UK provided pay range
This range is provided by Penguin Random House UK. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
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Direct message the job poster from Penguin Random House UK
Recruitment Manager (interim) at Penguin Random House UK.
Transworld are looking to appoint a creative and forward-thinking Art Director to lead our Design department. Reporting to the Managing Director, this role will be part of the Transworld leadership team and take full strategic and operational responsibility for our design portfolio.
About our team
At Transworld, we love great storytelling.
We publish the UK’s very best and most-loved fiction and non-fiction. Our authors are master storytellers, commercial giants, and game-changing experts who challenge readers to open their hearts and minds. A Transworld book demands to be discussed, shared, and loved.
We bring our boundless energy, commercial might, and creative teamwork to everything we do. This collective spirit turns authors into brand names, builds debuts into bestsellers, and makes us hugely successful year in, year out. We have been awarded Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards four times and are proud to have published a great many of our authors since the start of their writing careers.
The role
You will oversee and guide the design strategy for all Transworld books, ensuring the delivery of impactful and market-leading book jackets and related materials to the highest standards. You will provide leadership to a high-performing Design department, motivating and mobilising them to do their best work, as well as having oversight of our freelance designers. You will also have the opportunity to bring your creativity and imagination to your own list of titles.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the design of the division – oversee work of internal and external designers, ensuring a consistently high quality of work for all titles and other design work passing through the department
- Participate fully as a Head of Department in the strategic direction of the company
- Identify and develop concepts and initiate ideas for new approaches and styles
- Take ownership for your own titles, creating industry leading and genre defining designs, within established budgets & guidelines
- Commission and art direct work from illustrators and photographers
- Lead meetings representing the design department (e.g. cover meetings)
- Structure the department & schedule to allow timely quality delivery of books and visual material
- Allocate books to the team members and/or freelance designers according to schedule and skillset
- Continuously improve the efficiency of the schedule
- Ensure accurate & efficient management of budget lines under own control e.g. per title/ freelance budget.
- Plan workloads, supervising overall quality of the team as well as recruiting and training new team members
- Ensure the design team continue to develop professionally & contribute to the best of their ability
What you’ll bring
- Able to bring insight and imagination to how our authors’ works are translated to impactful and commercial book covers
- Experience of setting and executing a strategic vision for a design department
- Experience of leading a high-performing team of designers with the ability to motivate and develop
- Able to manage multiple creative projects and plan effectively to meet deadlines
- Experience of pushing boundaries and being forward thinking in your own design work
- Able to build effective working relationships with internal partners
- Experience of effectively working within the constraints of a budget
Preferred criteria:
- Specific experience of creative design for book covers and related materials
Application instructions
Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Sunday 25th May.
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.
Circa £75,000 – £95,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
What you can expect from us
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 that you will be in the office a minimum of two days per week.
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.
The recruitment process
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. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.
We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.
Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Job function
Art/Creative and Design
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Industries
Book and Periodical Publishing
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Art Director, Transworld employer: Penguin Random House UK
Contact Detail:
Penguin Random House UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director, Transworld
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Transworld's recent publications and design styles. Understanding their aesthetic will help you align your creative vision with theirs, making it easier to demonstrate how you can contribute to their design portfolio.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Transworld or Penguin Random House. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare a portfolio that showcases not only your best work but also projects that reflect your ability to lead and innovate in design. Highlight any experience you have in managing teams or projects, as this is crucial for the Art Director role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on industry trends and emerging design techniques. Being able to discuss how these trends can be applied to book cover design will show your forward-thinking approach and passion for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director, Transworld
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in creative design, particularly for book covers and related materials. Emphasise your leadership skills and any strategic vision you've executed in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is crucial. Use it to showcase how your experience aligns with the role's requirements. Be specific about your creative vision and how you can contribute to Transworld's design strategy.
Showcase Your Portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio that demonstrates your best work in design. Highlight projects that reflect your ability to create impactful and commercial book covers, as this will be key for the Art Director role.
Follow Application Instructions: Pay close attention to the application instructions provided by Penguin Random House UK. Ensure you submit your application before the deadline and include all required documents, including your CV and cover letter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Penguin Random House UK
✨Showcase Your Creative Vision
As an Art Director, your creativity is key. Prepare a portfolio that not only highlights your best work but also demonstrates your unique design philosophy and how it aligns with Transworld's storytelling ethos.
✨Understand the Brand
Familiarise yourself with Transworld's published titles and their design styles. Be ready to discuss how you can enhance their brand identity through innovative cover designs and marketing materials.
✨Prepare for Leadership Questions
Expect questions about your experience in leading design teams. Think of examples where you've motivated your team, managed projects under tight deadlines, and fostered a collaborative environment.
✨Discuss Budget Management
Since budget management is crucial for this role, be prepared to talk about your experience in managing budgets for design projects. Highlight any strategies you've used to maximise resources while maintaining quality.
