About the Role
Penguin General are looking for a Designer to join the team on a 12-month fixed-term contract, covering an internal secondment. We are looking for a candidate to start in early December this 2026.
Responsibilities
•Designing distinctive and commercially effective book covers across a range of genres and styles.
•Developing strong creative concepts in response to individual briefs.
•Taking projects from initial ideas and pitches through to finished artwork and print.
•Commissioning and collaborating with illustrators, photographers, designers and other creative partners.
•Building strong working relationships with colleagues across Editorial, Sales and Communications.
•Communicating creative ideas clearly and confidently with colleagues, authors and agents.
•Managing multiple projects, deadlines and priorities effectively.
•Keeping up to date with developments in design, publishing and wider visual culture, and bringing fresh ideas and inspiration to your work.
Requirements
•Proven track record of designing and commissioning outstanding book covers.
•Adept at developing strong relationships with Editorial, Sales and Communications teams.
•Ability to manage multiple projects at once, whilst also collaborating with team members.
•Confidence in communicating with authors and agents.
•Strong commissioning experience in illustration, photography and design.
•In-depth knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign and Photoshop.
Application Instructions
Please apply with your CV, portfolio and a cover letter outlining why you are a suitable candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Sunday 1st November. Please include your portfolio as a pdf attachment in the 'additional documents' section. Due to application volumes, only applications that include a pdf attachment can be considered. You are also welcome to include a link to your online portfolio, Instagram or Behance page as part of your CV or cover letter, if you would like to.
About Penguin General
Penguin General is home to Viking, Hamish Hamilton, Fig Tree, Penguin Life and Sandycove. With roots stretching back to the original Penguin Books and Allen Lane's founding vision, we publish an extraordinary breadth of fiction and non-fiction, driven by curiosity about the world and a passion for great storytelling. We look for books that stand out, connect and endure — carefully chosen books by exceptional authors, published with ambition, imagination and care, for readers of all kinds. Our authors include Richard Osman, Emily Henry, Arundhati Roy, Marlon James, Han Kang, Robert Macfarlane, Elif Shafak, Ben Macintyre, Dolly Alderton, Zadie Smith, Ali Smith, Stanley Tucci and Meera Sodha, as well as major international voices including Michelle Obama and Barack Obama.
This is a brilliant opportunity for a designer who enjoys variety and wants to work across a broad range of books. We are looking for somebody with a creative eye, who is curious and bursting with fresh ideas that you are eager to bring to life. You'll be someone who puts creativity first and thinks about design broadly - both within and outside of book covers. The role is open to a designer with an interest in any part of the market – from literary fiction through to narrative non-fiction – creativity and excellence in your field is the only requirement.
Compensation & Working Arrangements
£32,000 - £37,000, dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.
For this role, you are expected to work three days per week from the London office, usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
