Job Description

Rights Executive, Illustrated

Are you motivated to build on your experience and take an exciting step into selling rights and supporting global publications?  We are seeking a Rights Executive to join the team selling rights in illustrated books across Penguin Random House to support our business in North America and Germany.

About the team

The Penguin Random House Group Rights department makes our books go global. Within this department, the Adult Illustrated Rights team represents an amazing roster of author talent from Jamie Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi to Charlie Mackesy and Vivi Tinta. We work on illustrated titles across seven adult publishing divisions: Ebury, Michael Joseph, Vintage, Penguin Press, Cornerstone and Transworld.

The role

The Rights Executive will work in collaboration with the team Rights Director to extend sales, author care and customer service in North America and Germany. They will proactively track and manage North American and German deals, provide administrative support to the Rights Director and be responsible for achieving strong sales on allocated titles.

They will need to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working closely with customers, agents and authors as well as colleagues from Editorial, Production, Marketing and Publicity.

Through this work, the Rights Executive will help to implement the rights vision, direction and goals for the publishing group, maximising sales and customer opportunities in North America and Germany in consultation with and in support of the Rights Director.

Essential criteria:

• Experience in rights/licensing sales or in a commercial publishing environment, with a genuine passion for selling books.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with internal and external stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to work, an individual with initiative and accountability
• A confident ambassador for books, translating personal excitement into generating enthusiasm in customers and colleagues
• A willing, flexible project manager with strong administrative and organisation skills and the ability to adapt to change and handle competing priorities 
• An appetite for learning and applying feedback
• A collaborative team player, naturally inclined to share information, contribute to team projects and support colleagues

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. 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 with, for us to support your request.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 15th of July 2026.

• We anticipate a two-stage interview process which will include a 1st stage – In-person interview from week of the 27th of July and a 2nd stage In-person interview from week of 3rd of August.  We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.

Use of AI tools

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. This helps us get a true sense of who you are and what you might bring to our team.

We celebrate creativity and diverse perspectives, so please be yourself! While we recognise AI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responses reflect you.

Salary

Circa £31,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

 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 be in the office 3 days a week.

Additional Information

Disclosure requirements pertaining to the collection of your personal data:

Responsible for processing the information provided in your application is the company specified in the job advertisement, with its registered office as indicated. The company processes your data for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b GDPR / Section 26 (1) sentence 1 BDSG.

The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here.

You can contact the company’s Data Protection Officer at the above-mentioned postal address. 

Further information on data protection and your rights can be found here.

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