Contracts Assistant, Crown Publishing Group and Sourcebooks (Hybrid)

at  Penguin Random House LLC

The contracts department at Penguin Random House seeks a Contracts Assistant to join the Crown Publishing Group and Sourcebooks contracts team. The Contracts Assistant is an integral part of the drafting, negotiating, and complete execution of contracts while partnering with many different areas of the company. The Assistant will work closely with the Associate Director while liaising with editorial, legal, royalties & accounting, and the various contracts teams and partnering closely with agents, authors, and publishing entities to finalize the acquisition of rights for assigned imprints/groups.
The Contracts Department represents an unrivaled roster of award-winning and celebrated titles across an editorial breadth that includes notable children’s board books, picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade books, break-out young adult fiction and non-fiction, adult fiction, narrative history, science, memoirs, study aids, self-help, personal development and topics of particular interest to women, as well as practical and prescriptive books and impactful titles on themes like teamwork, success, and leadership. We support the acquisition of rights process for all titles at Penguin Random House.
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, meticulous self-starter who can manage a diverse set of responsibilities efficiently and effectively and is comfortable asking for help when needed. Once you’ve proven an independent ability to draft and negotiate, while also remembering to step back, consider the big picture, and adjust your strategy when needed, you’ll assume greater responsibilities over time.
Please apply by October 3, 2024 and include your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements for consideration. Before applying for any role at Penguin Random House, we recommend you review our applicant resources page and our FAQs page.

REQUIREMENTS:

• A self-starter with impeccable attention to detail when drafting and reviewing contracts
• Must possess a proactive and independent approach to work, including a strong ability to problem-solve autonomously
• Ability to apply organizational methods and strategies to meet deadlines and manage a busy inbox in Outlook
• Timely follow-up skills with the contracts team, authors, agents, and other departments and the ability to prioritize and complete multiple projects in a rapidly changing, details-focused environment
• A curious mind that enjoys research projects
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Adobe (PDF), and Excel and an avid interest and ability to learn new applications
• A history or interest in journalism, communications, literature, or a related publishing field is a plus, but not required to succeed in this role.

THE ROLE:

• Works with the Crown Publishing Group and Sourcebooks and drafts and negotiates author and writer-for-hire contracts, contract amendments, and handles rights reversions.
• Manages contracts inquiries from other departments such as Editorial, Subsidiary Rights (a team that sells translation and other rights), and Royalties.
• Routes contracts and amendments to appropriate parties for signature.
• Conducts contract research.
• Scans files and performs database maintenance.
• Liaises with Royalties to ensure data for payments or changes to payment due dates is accurate.
• Coordinates with team and internal resources to optimize the efficiency of processes and workflow.
• Supports additional project work for the group as needed.