Position: Editor: Fiction
Report to: Publisher: Fiction
Division: Fiction
Location: Midrand │ Cape Town

Are you passionate about literature and have a knack for refining raw manuscripts into captivating stories? Do you have a deep appreciation for language nuances and an unquenchable thirst for stories that resonate across cultures? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

Penguin Random House South Africa is a renowned publishing house known for its commitment to fostering literary excellence and promoting diverse voices. With a rich history of bringing compelling narratives to readers worldwide, we are seeking an enthusiastic Editor to join our Fiction Department

Position Overview
As an Editor in our Fiction Department, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the literary landscape by working closely with authors, manuscripts, and book proposals in both Afrikaans and English. Your impeccable language skills and creative insights will contribute to bringing extraordinary stories to life.

Key responsibilities
• Collaborate with authors to refine and enhance their manuscripts, offering constructive feedback on plot, character development, pacing, and overall storytelling.
• Review and evaluate book proposals, identifying market trends and potential for commercial success.
• Edit manuscripts for grammar, syntax, punctuation, and consistency, ensuring the final product is polished and captivating.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the nuances of both Afrikaans and English, preserving the authenticity and flow of narratives during translation and editing.
• Liaise with copy editors and proofreaders to ensure the integrity of the original text is preserved while getting it print-ready.
• Establish good working relationships with members of the Fiction team and other departments.
• Collaborate with design and marketing teams to contribute to cover designs, blurbs, and promotional materials.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and reader preferences to contribute to the editorial direction of the department.
• Work methodically to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and ensure the editorial process runs smoothly.
• Utilise excellent organisational skills to keep track of manuscripts, revisions, and author communications.
• Prepare and deliver PowerPoint presentations about book proposals and ideas at concept meetings.

The ideal candidate has
• A bachelor’s degree in Languages (English or Afrikaans), Literature, Creative Writing, Publishing, or a related field. An honours or master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as an editor, preferably within the fiction genre.
• Working knowledge of software like Microsoft Word and Adobe Indesign.

Prospective Penguins must have the following skills
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Passion for language, literature, and the art of storytelling.
• Familiarity with contemporary market trends and a keen eye for identifying new, financially viable concepts.
• Excellent people skills, an exceptional knowledge of Afrikaans and English, and at least a relevant BA degree; and
• Computer literacy.

Skills and knowledge required
• Native or fully bilingual proficiency in both Afrikaans and English, with exceptional language competencies in both languages.
• Strong editorial skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback and edit for grammar, style, and content.
• A deep understanding of literary techniques, storytelling principles, and narrative structure.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with authors, colleagues, and other departments.
• Excellent organisational skills to ensure a structured and efficient workflow.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Proficiency in Excel, Indesign and Photoshop will be a plus.

Company culture & environment
• Our employees are all intelligent, dynamic, fun-loving, customer-focused problem-solvers, with the shared aim to be the best in the industry
• We are book lovers and love sharing this passion with others
• We offer an open and all-inclusive culture championing equity and diversity
• Our company is a supportive environment, particularly with a focus on the development of Psychological Safety
• We believe in leadership through transparency and the recognition of performance excellence
• We focus on fostering employee development through the tenets of creativity, entrepreneurship and empowerment.

If you meet the above criteria and have what it takes to become the newest member of our team, please send your CV and a covering letter, clearly stating your salary expectations, to
Jason Daniels – applications@penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Closing date: 31 March 2026

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be interviewed, and previously disadvantaged candidates will be given preference in line with the company’s equity target.
If you have not heard from us within six weeks, you should regard your application as unsuccessful.
Penguin Random House is under no obligation to fill this position.

Position: LUCA Publishing Coordinator
Report to: Publisher: LUCA
Division: Faith & Inspirational
Location: Midrand

Penguin Random House has an opportunity for a qualified and dynamic person to support the publisher and editorial team in an administrative and editorial capacity.

We are a leading book publisher looking for a creative and conscientious person with good communication and computer skills to join our team.

Key responsibilities
• Liaise with editorial and production teams regarding the printing and reprinting of publications.
• Update and manage reprints and new editions by implementing approved changes, incorporating print corrections where necessary, and distributing updated documents to various departments.
• Handle all administrative tasks related to both hard-copy and digital filing systems.
• Update and maintain relevant metadata and other information on internal digital platforms.
• Update title information sheets for reprints and prepare new title information sheets to support local trade presentations, using information provided by the editorial team.
• Complete copy lists for new publications and reprints in order to send copies to authors and other designated persons.
• Complete forms for SUB submissions and store required documents in relevant folders.
• Prepare contracts and summaries, scanning, filing, and carrying out relevant communication and distribution.
• Maintain the publication database.
• Maintain an electronic database of high-resolution covers, photos, and other editorial graphic elements.
• Provide the marketing and sales departments with relevant material supplied by the editorial team.
• General author care regarding enquiries, internal referrals, and related matters.
• Ongoing maintenance of the author database.
• Assist the publisher and editor(s) with the preparation of spreadsheets, reports, and presentation slides (PowerPoint) for relevant monthly/weekly meetings.
• Conduct market-related and other general research as requested.
• Complete and handle the dispatch of competition and other forms.
• Check, file, and ensure the timely submission to the relevant department of monthly invoices from freelance contributors as supplied by collaborators and the editorial team.
• General administrative support – correspondence, telephone and email enquiries, filing, collection and distribution of mail, etc.
• Assist with editorial tasks such as proofreading, project management, and corrections.

The ideal candidate has
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and must be fully bilingual in both Afrikaans and English.
• Excellent organisational skills, a drive for good service delivery, and a strong sense of purpose and responsibility.
• The ability to focus on more than one task at a time.
• An inherent sense of accuracy and precision, with a keen eye for detail.
• Matric, and a BA degree with a qualification in language, literature, communication studies and/or journalism.
• Experience in the publishing industry and a passion for books and faith.
• Excellent teamwork abilities in a cross-functional organisational structure within a fast-paced environment.
• A natural aptitude for organisation with the ability to work in a goal-oriented manner with deadlines in mind.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• A good understanding of language, project management, and dynamic time management.
• A good working knowledge of Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft applications such as Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint is important.
• Experience with InDesign and Photoshop is advantageous, but not essential.

If you meet the above criteria and have what it takes to become the newest member of our team, please send your CV and a covering letter, clearly stating your salary expectations, to
Jason Daniels – applications@penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Closing date: 31 March 2026

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be interviewed, and previously disadvantaged candidates will be given preference in line with the company’s equity target.
If you have not heard from us within six weeks, you should regard your application as unsuccessful.
Penguin Random House is under no obligation to fill this position.

Posisie: LUCA Uitgewerskoördineerder
Rapporteer aan: Uitgewer: LUCA | Geloof & Inspirasie afdeling
Afdeling: Geloof & Inspirasie
Ligging: Midrand

Penguin Random House het ‘n geleentheid vir ‘n gekwalifiseerde en dinamiese persoon om die uitgewer en redaksiespan te ondersteun in ‘n administratiewe en redaksionele hoedanigheid.
Ons is ‘n toonaangewende en dinamiese boekuitgewer wat op soek is na ‘n kreatiewe en pligsgetroue persoon met goeie kommunikasie- en rekenaarvaardighede om by ons span aan te sluit.

Sleutelverantwoordelikhede
• Skakel met redaksionele en produksiespanne t.o.v. die druk en herdruk van publikasies.
• Opdateer en hanteer herdrukke en nuwe uitgawes deur goedgekeurde veranderinge aan te bring, drukveranderinge te inkorporeer waar nodig, en opdateerde dokumente aan verskeie afdelings te versprei.
• Behartig alle administratiewe take wat verband hou met beide harde-kopie- en digitale liasseringstelsels.
• Opdateer en onderhou relevante metadata en ander inligting op interne digitale platforms.
• Opdateer herdrukke se titelinligtingstukke en berei nuwe titelinligtingstukke voor ter ondersteuning van plaaslike-handelvoorleggings met inligting verskaf deur die redaksiespan.
• Voltooi eksemplaarlyste vir nuwe publikasies en herdrukke om kopieë aan skrywers en ander aangewese persone te stuur.
• Voltooi vorms vir SUB-voorleggings en stoor vereiste dokumente in relevante vouers.
• Berei kontrakte en opsommings voor, skandeer, liasseer en hanteer relevante kommunikasie en verspreiding.
• Onderhou die publikasiedatabasis.
• Handhaaf ‘n elektroniese databasis van hoë-resolusie voorblaaie, foto’s en ander redaksionele grafiese elemente.
• Voorsien die bemarking- en verkoopafdelings van relevante materiaal soos verskaf deur die redaksiespan.
• Algemene skrywersorg t.o.v. navrae, interne verwysings, ens.
• Deurlopende instandhouding van die outeurdatabasis.
• Staan uitgewer en redakteur(e) by met die voorbereiding van sigblaaie, verslae en skyfies vir relevante maandelikse/weeklikse vergaderings.
• Markverwante en ander algemene navorsing soos versoek.
• Voltooi en hanteer die versending van kompetisie- en ander vorms.
• Kontroleer, liasseer en lewer tydig maandelikse fakture van vryskutwerkers aan die relevante afdeling, soos verskaf deur medewerkers en die redaksiespan.
• Algemene administratiewe ondersteuning – korrespondensie, telefoon- en e-posnavrae, liassering, invordering en verspreiding van pos, ens.
• Assisteer met redakteurtake soos proeflees, projekbestuur en korreksies.

Die ideale kandidaat het
• Uitsonderlike mondelinge en geskrewe kommunikasievaardighede en moet ten volle tweetalig wees in Afrikaans en Engels.
• Uitnemende organisasievaardighede, ‘n dryfkrag vir goeie dienslewering en ‘n sterk sin van doelgerigtheid en verantwoordelikheid.
• Die vermoë om op meer as een taak tegelyk te fokus.
• ‘n Inherente sin vir akkuraatheid en noukeurigheid, met ‘n oog vir detail.
• Matriek en ‘n BA-graad, met kwalifikasie in taal, letterkunde, kommunikasiekunde en/of joernalistiek.
• Ervaring in die uitgewersbedryf en ‘n passie vir boeke en geloof.
• Uitstekende spanwerkvermoëns in ‘n kruisfunksionele organisasie met ‘n hoë-tempo-atmosfeer.
• ‘n Natuurlike aanleg vir organisering en die vermoë om doelgeoriënteerd met sperdatums te werk.
• Die vermoë om onafhanklik en as deel van ‘n span te funksioneer.
• ‘n Goeie begrip van taal, projekbestuur en dinamiese tydsbestuur.
• ‘n Goeie werkende kennis van Adobe Acrobat en Microsoft-toepassings soos Word, Outlook, Excel en PowerPoint.
• Ondervinding met InDesign en Photoshop is voordelig, maar nie noodsaaklik nie.

Indien jy aan die bogenoemde kriteria voldoen en graag die nuutste lid van ons span wil word, stuur gerus jou CV en dekbrief wat jou salarisverwagtinge duidelik aandui, na
Jason Daniels – applications@penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Sluitingsdatum 31 Maart 2026

Let wel: Slegs kortlys-kandidate sal vir ‘n onderhoud genooi word, en voorheen-benadeelde kandidate sal voorkeur geniet in ooreenstemming met die maatskappy se ekwiteitsteiken.
As jy nie binne ses weke van ons gehoor het nie, kan jy jou aansoek as onsuksesvol beskou.
Penguin Random House is onder geen verpligting om hierdie pos te vul nie.

Position: Publisher: Children’s & Young Adult
Report to: Publishing Director
Division: Children’s & Young Adult
Location: Cape Town / Johannesburg

Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA), one of the largest trade publishers in the country, is looking for a dynamic, visionary, and commercially astute Publisher to lead and grow the Children’s & Young Adult publishing programme.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a publishing professional with excellent editorial skills in both Afrikaans and English, deep industry insight, creative flair, strong commercial acumen, and outstanding leadership capability to shape and expand a balanced, diverse, and profitable publishing list aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will possess a love for books, a passion for South African storytelling and inspirational content, strong interpersonal and communication skills, proven industry experience, and the ability to contribute towards current and future profit results by building excellent, competitive lists within the assigned divisions.

Key responsibilities
Publishing strategy
• Provide support to the Publishing Director in developing and implement a compelling vision and publishing strategy aligned with the company’s goals.
• Identification, commissioning, and acquisition of new and existing authors.
• Commission, acquire, and curate a balanced, diverse, and commercially viable list of titles.
• Investigate, evaluate, and follow through on appropriate new ideas and projects.
• Negotiate and secure author and publishing contracts.
• Investigate new markets, trends, and opportunities, and implement relevant strategies.
• Conduct accurate market analysis and use statistics to formulate strategy.
• Circulate an annual publishing list, long-term strategic plan, and accurate annual budget.
• Continually align the division’s offering with the company’s broader publishing strategy and commercial goals.
• Uphold editorial standards, creative values, and brand identity.

Financial performance
• Be accountable to the Publishing Director for divisional profitability and individual title P&Ls.
• Produce an agreed number of new titles each year to deadline to enable maximum sales.
• Drive real local sales growth through the continual addition of viable frontlist titles.
• Develop and grow a profitable backlist annually.
• Meet the agreed mix of titles and budgeted gross margin percentage.
• Keep overheads within the agreed budget.
• Compile costings, set budgets, and deliver on key commercial targets.
• Submit appropriate titles for foreign rights deals.
• Maintain profitable backlist management through timely reprints and stock control.
• Manage O/P, pulping, or remaindering decisions where necessary.
• Sell appropriate titles to inter-companies.

High quality of books
• Ensure titles are competitive in content, editing, design, and artwork relative to the target market.
• Demonstrate excellent editorial skills in both Afrikaans and English, including writing, manuscript development, editing, and proofreading.
• Proven success in acquiring, editing, and publishing commercially and/or critically successful titles.

Leadership & Collaboration
• Lead and manage a high-performing editorial team, ensuring efficiency, motivation, and professional growth.
• Guide projects from acquisition through to publication.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, sales, production, finance, and other departments.
• Contribute effectively to marketing strategy.
• Manage multiple projects efficiently within tight deadlines.

Working relationships with authors, the market, and Penguin Random House
• Provide exceptional author care and maintain strong relationships with authors, agents, and key stakeholders.
• Maintain strong networks within the Afrikaans and English literary and publishing communities.
• Circulate relevant market feedback within the company.
• Maintain a reputation for professionalism, efficiency, and ethical dealings.
• Handle complaints professionally.

The ideal candidate has
• A relevant university degree or tertiary qualification in publishing or related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years’ experience in trade publishing with a strong track record in commissioning and publishing.
• Strong commercial instinct and deep understanding of local book markets.
• Passion for South African storytelling and inspirational publishing.

Core Competencies required
• Ability to work independently while being team-oriented.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent editorial judgment and creative problem-solving ability.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making capability.

Skills and knowledge required
• Proficient in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and efficient in internal database systems (e.g., Libros, mailing databases).
• An excellent grasp of grammar, idiom and language in general, with a meticulous eye for detail.
• Strong writing skills.
• Familiarity with AI-powered tools and software relevant to publishing, including data analysis tools and workflow automation systems, with the ability to apply them responsibly and ethically within editorial and commercial contexts.
• Excellent negotiating and selling skills.
• Strong planning, presenting, research, and report-writing skills.
• Outstanding organisational skills.
• Exceptional written and spoken communication skills in both Afrikaans and English.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting and P&L management.

Personal Attributes required
• Enthusiastic, dedicated, resilient, and unflappable.
• Energetic, friendly, creative, flexible, and adaptable.
• Commercially driven yet creatively inspired.
• Passionate about books and publishing.
• Interest in digital marketing and social media trends within the book industry.

If you meet the above criteria and have what it takes to become the newest member of our team,
please send your CV and a covering letter to Jason Daniels – applications@penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Closing date: 20 March 2026

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and previously disadvantaged candidates will be given preference.

If you have not heard from us within six weeks, you should regard your application as unsuccessful.
Penguin Random House is under no obligation to fill this position.