Job Description

Del Rey Books, a premiere publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, is excited to hire an Editor to join our team.  

The Editor will acquire 8-10 titles per year with an emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The Editor will be responsible for articulating and executing a handcrafted vision for each title, from acquisition and creative development of the book to close collaboration with our design, art, production, and promotional teams on its publication. The Editor will serve as their authors’ main point of contact, providing dedicated author care, and also serve as their books’ in-house project manager and champion. We expect the Editor to have an imaginative and capacious sense of the aesthetic possibilities and potential audience for genre fiction, and to acquire fiction that is representative of the diversity of the speculative fiction community. 

An industry leader in speculative fiction, Del Rey is the proud home of the world’s most acclaimed storytellers in the genre, which include George R.R. Martin, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Pierce Brown, Naomi Novik, Cassandra Clare, Kiersten White, Danielle Jensen, Robert Jackson Bennett, SenLinYu, Heather Fawcett, and Max Brooks.  

Specific responsibilities include:   

• Actively solicit and evaluate potential acquisitions purposefully and strategically, with a clear publication vision and sense of target audiences for each project in mind 
• Cultivate relationships with a wide network of literary agents and authors 
• Work closely with authors and agents in creative development of manuscripts, from conceptualization to developmental and structural work to line edits 
• Collaborate with the Del Rey editorial team on evaluating submissions, contribute to shaping the imprint’s editorial strategy, and identify potential growth opportunities in the marketplace 
• Shepherd each book through the publication process, from acquisition to transmittal to publication including: writing copy, sales materials, and loglines, soliciting blurbs, identifying the book’s target audience and articulating envisioning the book’s messaging and packaging strategy, and serving as the liaison between the author and agent and our support and promotional teams.  
• Serve as the book’s chief project manager, conscientiously hitting deadlines while piloting the book to publication, and as the book’s primary advocate, both in and out of house. 

Please apply if you meet the following qualifications:   

• At least 5 years editorial experience, with prior experience acquiring projects  
• A record of establishing and growing a network of agent relationships  
• A passion for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction, and a knowledge of its subgenres and communities and a demonstrated understanding of fandom. 
• An immersion in pop culture and an enthusiasm for identifying and anticipating cultural trends.  
• An ability to articulate a clear, audience-focused publication strategy for each project and to make a persuasive case for its place on the list and in the marketplace. 
• A deep understanding of storytelling and a strong record of working closely with authors to shape manuscripts through multiple drafts on the conceptual, structural, and line level. 
• Experience in steering a manuscript from acquisition to publication while collaborating closely and effectively with marketers, publicists, art directors, designers, managing editors, and production managers. 
• Outstanding ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, with precision, persuasiveness, and passion. 
• Proven ability to meet deadlines, balance multiple priorities, and serve as a proactive project manager. 
• Commitment to nurturing strong relationships with agents and authors and providing best-in-class author care. 

The Del Rey/ RHW offices are located in New York City. The position is open to remote candidates who are based in the United States.

The salary for this position is $73,500. All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to Company results.       

Please apply by August 11th using our online application process, and please include your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements.  

Penguin Random House job postings include a good faith compensation range for each open position. The salary range listed is specific to each particular open position and takes into account various factors including the specifics of the individual role, and candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

Penguin Random House is the leading adult and children's publishing house in North America, the United Kingdom and many other regions around the world. In publishing the best books in every genre and subject for all ages, we are committed to quality, excellence in execution, and innovation throughout the entire publishing process: editorial, design, marketing, publicity, sales, production, and distribution. Our vibrant and diverse international community of nearly 300 publishing brands and imprints include Ballantine Bantam Dell, Berkley, Clarkson Potter, Crown, DK, Doubleday, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Little Golden Books, Knopf, Modern Library, Pantheon, Penguin Books, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Young Readers, Portfolio, Puffin, Putnam, Random House, Random House Children's Books, Riverhead, Ten Speed Press, Viking, and Vintage, among others. More information can be found at

Penguin Random House values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

Company: Penguin Random House LLC | Job ID: 281686

Job Tags

Full time, Temporary work, Flexible hours,

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