Are you highly organised, confident working with data, and ready to develop your metadata expertise? Do you have excellent attention to detail, strong Excel skills and a methodical approach to your work?

We're looking for a Bibliographic Metadata Assistant to join our Bibliographic Metadata Operations team on a seven-month fixed term contract, starting on 1 September 2026.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Bibliographic Metadata Operations, this is a varied and collaborative role supporting the day-to-day delivery of high-quality bibliographic metadata across Penguin Random House's publishing programme. Working with our two divisional teams, Commercial & Audio and Literary & Children's, you'll assist with a broad range of metadata maintenance and operational activities, helping to ensure our title information remains accurate, complete and discoverable throughout the publication lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assisting the Commercial & Audio and Literary & Children's bibliographic metadata teams with setting up, maintaining and updating title information in the BiblioSuite publishing system for print, audio and eBook titles.
• Supporting publication scheduling activities by processing metadata changes, updating publication dates and maintaining related title information accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Monitoring metadata completeness and carrying out routine data validation, metadata cleansing and classification reviews in line with established processes and as directed.
• Managing and responding to queries received through the team's shared bibliographic inbox, including routine metadata and ISBN-related requests, resolving straightforward queries and escalating more complex issues where appropriate.
• Running regular operational and exception reports, identifying discrepancies and supporting the ongoing accuracy and quality of bibliographic data.
• Learning to apply the Thema and BISAC subject classification schemes to titles, developing knowledge and confidence through training and guidance from the team.
• Building effective working relationships with colleagues across Editorial, Production, Inventory, Sales, Marketing, Contracts and other business areas, communicating clearly and professionally.
• Providing administrative and operational support to the Head of Bibliographic Metadata Operations and both divisional teams, assisting with a range of metadata activities and ad hoc tasks as directed.

What you'll bring

Essential Criteria:

• Strong organisational skills with a methodical approach to managing structured data accurately and consistently.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to follow established processes and maintain high levels of accuracy.
• Able to manage multiple priorities effectively and take ownership of routine tasks.
• Intermediate (or above) Microsoft Excel skills, including working with structured datasets, filtering, sorting, using formulas and producing reports.
• Confident using Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and collaboration tools, to communicate effectively and organise work.
• Clear and confident communication skills, with the confidence to ask questions, seek clarification and escalate issues when appropriate.
• A proactive, curious approach to learning, with a willingness to develop knowledge of bibliographic metadata, publishing systems and industry standards.
• A collaborative, reliable team player who is committed to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality work.

Preferred criteria:

• Previous experience working in publishing, bibliographic metadata, or a related field.

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. 

If you would like to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme for this recruitment process, please include the following code at the start of your cover letter: [Recr – TTL 351]

Please do not provide any additional information beyond the code in your cover letter. We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing [email protected].

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on 22nd July 2026.

• 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 no more than one or two pages in length.
• Please note we are looking for someone to join the team as soon as possible, but we are also happy to accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right candidate.
• We anticipate a two-stage interview process which will include a virtual first-stage interview and in-person second stage interview. We are happy to discuss this further with you throughout the recruitment process.

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

£29,000 plus 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 the successful candidate to work from our London-based office a minimum of two days per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and offer the remaining three days to be worked remotely.

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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