We are seeking a talented and experienced Recruitment Manager to cover a 12-month period of parental leave.


In this pivotal role, you’ll lead on the recruitment of our most senior and key positions, expertly partnering with a wide range of stakeholders to play both a strategic and hands on role so that we hire the best talent inclusively.


You’ll also lead a small team, focused on linking outstanding publishing talent with the right opportunity, working closely to improve and align activities so that we offer a great experience to hiring managers and candidates alike.


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 Role


As the Recruitment Manager at Penguin for our most senior and critical roles, your external perspective on industry trends, combined with your market awareness and ability to build strong candidate relationships, will mean you’re able to confidently market map and create talent pipelines aligned to the commercial priorities of the teams you’ll work alongside.


Combined with your exceptional partnering skills, and sound knowledge of the business, you’ll act as an advisor to a wide range of stakeholders, including Publishing Managing Directors and their senior teams, fostering strong, and collaborative relationships. You’ll take a strategic, innovative, and proactive approach to your partnerships, flexing your style to get the best from your partners, working in partnership to find new and effective ways to shape and implement our talent acquisition strategies.


In this role, you'll also manage and mentor a publishing recruitment team of three, setting the team up for success so that recruitment in this critical area runs smoothly. You’ll work with your team to hone their partnering skills - both with the business and within the team.


Candidate profile


Essential criteria

• Significant in-house experience as a senior recruiter.
• Proven experience in recruiting within creative industries and working with creative stakeholders.
• Proficient in various sourcing techniques, building market maps and engaging with passive talent.
• Experience managing and mentoring others.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build and maintain trust at all levels, especially with senior leaders.
• Strong commercial mindset, prioritising business need.
• Proven experience of diversity and inclusion with a history of embedding these principles into recruitment activities.
• High level of discretion and professionalism in handling confidential information.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Collaborative team player with a curious mindset, consistently seeking to enhance recruitment processes.
• Analytical mindset with the capability to interpret data to inform recruitment strategies.

Application Instructions


Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by midnight on Wednesday 30th October.


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 between 500 and 1000 words.
What you can expect from us


Salary: Circa £70k depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Competitive benefits package: Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.


Our benefits include:

• Financial – income protection, life assurance, childcare allowance
• Wellbeing - healthcare cash plan, critical illness cover, health checks
• Lifestyle – enhanced parental leave, tech scheme

For our full benefits list please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/what-we-offer/


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. This role is based at our Embassy Gardens office in Nine Elms and there are activities and meetings that you will need to support in-person, typically two days per week. We are happy to discuss hybrid working arrangements with you during your recruitment process.

The recruitment process: You can read about our recruitment process at https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/how-we-hire/


As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we're part of the offer an interview scheme. This is where disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can opt in to get to the next recruitment stage. There may be some situations where volume of applicants means we can't take all eligible candidates to interview.


We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareers UK@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.


Company: The Random House Group Limited
Country: United Kingdom
State/Region: London
City: London
Postal Code: SW11 7AY
Job ID: 274627