Assistant Editor, Manga

Job Description

Penguin Random House Publisher Services is seeking an Assistant Manga Editor to support editorial production on behalf of client publisher Square Enix Manga and Books, which publishes such notable titles as The Apothecary Diaries, Soul Eater, and Final Fantasy. Under the supervision of the Editorial Director, the Assistant Manga Editor will work closely with the Manga Editors and freelance creative teams to execute editorial tasks for up to thirty books a year. The successful candidate will possess excellent editing and writing skills, strong time-management and organizational abilities, and a passion for manga, anime, and/or video games.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Assists Editorial staff with all tasks involved in the localization and production of manga for English-language readers.
• Executes editorial duties to ensure quality, accuracy and consistency, including translation script edits; design layout reviews and commentary; lettered page proof and printer proof reviews and corrections.
• Hires, schedules, and tracks deadlines for teams of freelance translators, letterers, and rewriters to produce each work.
• Writes copy for covers, frontmatter, and backmatter, and works closely with in-house Design staff and freelance designers on production of same.
• Produces title information sheets—including promotional copy, key selling points, target audiences, and BISAC categories—and other sales material as required for each seasonal list.
• Coordinates with the Managing Editor to ensure that title metadata is complete and correct.
• Prepares and submits cover and interior page drafts to Japanese licensor for approval.
• Prepares and submits final file packages to Production Manager for print book production.
• Prepares and submits final file packages to Japanese licensor for digital book production.
• Works with Editorial Director to review title candidates for acquisition.
• Carries out administrative tasks such as filling out work orders, processing freelancer invoices for payment, maintaining assets and task tracking spreadsheets, and collating routing materials.

Please apply if you meet the following qualifications:

• Excellent English-language writing skills; must be able to provide samples
• Aptitude in written Japanese sufficient to evaluate potential titles and correct basic translation errors (minimum equivalent to JLPT N5 level)
• Previous professional editorial experience a plus
• Ability to manage time, prioritize deadlines, and balance multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong organization skills and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate clearly and interact professionally with both internal staff and external partners, frequently in a cross-cultural context
• Strong interest in anime, manga, or video games
• Strong interest in learning about all aspects of book publishing
• Proficiency at Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop) or ability to learn
• Proficiency at Microsoft Office 365 Suite (specifically Word, Outlook, and Teams) or ability to learn

**The salary for this position is $56,000.00. All positions are currently eligible for an annual profit award or bonus, subject to company results.   **

Applications for this role will be accepted through October 27, 2025 or until the role is filled. We encourage you to apply early, as we review applications on a rolling basis. Please include your resume and cover letter for consideration. Before applying for any role at Penguin Random House, we recommend you review our applicant resources page and our FAQs page.

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 http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/.

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.