Publicity Director, Penguin Random House Children's

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 McManus, 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

Essential criteria:

• 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.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by Monday 27th July.

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.

Recruitment process

We anticipate a three-stage interview process which will likely include an interview task at second stage, and a final meeting with the Children’s Managing Director. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.

Please note that first in-person interviews are planned for the week commencing 3rd August. Please indicate in your cover letter if you will be unavailable that week, so that we can arrange an alternative time if needed.

Salary

Circa £75,000 annual salary dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Use of AI

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 so we can get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team.

While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your application reflects you.

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 [email protected].

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 that you will work from our London office a minimum of three days per week.