Senior Manager, Trade & Partner Communications, Penguin Ventures
Penguin Ventures is the consumer products and experience team of Penguin Random House Children’s UK. We manage and exploit our portfolio of iconic literary brands and characters: Peter Rabbit, The Snowman, Spot, Flower Fairies and more, across product,experienceand digital. We find new ways to tell the world’s favourite stories by creating strategic partnerships in licensing, retail, promotions, experiential, theatrical, exhibitions; in location-based experiences; and across the digital landscape.
The role
This Communications role is focused on telling the Penguin Ventures storyoffthe page by creating and delivering a clear, strategic, year-round narrative for Penguin Ventures and its licensing programme. It requires a blend of PR and marketing skills to communicate creatively and effectively across key channels including trade media, licensing awards, commercial advertising,Ventures experiences, and licensee trade communications and marketing.
Key responsibilities:
Ventures Trade Media
- Ensure Penguin Ventures and its licensing programmemaintainsa strategic consistent profile across the licensing trade.
- Develop and deliver a strategic programme of trade announcements/stories that reflect wider licensing activity
- Write press releases,quotesand messaging; manage feedback/approvals with the wider PRH comms team
- Drive awareness of brand activity to support partner retention and new business development
- Secure profile opportunities for Ventures execs at key industry moments
- Build andmaintainrelationships with trade press, show organisers and awards stakeholders
- Trade shows (BLE, Licensing Expo): lead comms planning and delivery (advance editorial, show dailies, photography, stand activity/costume characters, coverage collation)
- Awards shows/sponsorships: support messaging and comms within sponsorship packages
- Own the Ad-Ventures licensee newsletter, coordinating inputs from Ventures/brand teams to deliver engaging partner updates
- Review ad hoc opportunities from trade press/global agents and assess fit against overall comms strategy
Licensing Awards
- Manage industry awards submissions end-to-end:identifyentries with the team, coordinate licensee input, produce copy and imagery, manage timelines,approvalsand final submissions.
Commercial Advertising Programme
- Support editorial and industry moments through paid trade placements.
- Identifyand book print/online ad opportunities with key trade press partners
- Align advertising activity with trade shows and editorial moments to maximise visibility
- Coordinate creative and messaging with the Ventures Creative Director
- Deliver all print/digital assets on time and to specification
Ventures Experiences
- Amplify the experiences business andidentifyopportunities that drive trade and consumer coverage.
- Spot opportunities to integrate key licensees and deliver joined-up storytelling
- Consider audience experience, influencer angles and wider PRH tie-ins (including books)
- Ensure activity supports the overarching brand narrative for key properties
- Provide comms support to Ventures colleagues and attend meetings/calls where needed to mitigate reputational risk
Licensee Trade Comms & Marketing
- Build direct relationships with licensees to support brandPR and coordinated marketing activity.
- Manage social/marketing approvals with licensees
- Coordinate seasonal opportunities (e.g., Christmas gift guides) to promote licenseeproductsand publishingin consumer media
- Developgifted influencer activityand product integration to secure authentic, unsponsored coverage, co-ordinated withOwnedBrand Marketing andSocial Media Manager
- Support influencer events through product placement, theming/stylingand goody bags
Consumer BrandPR
- Deliver consumer-first, brand-led integrated PR/marketing across key annual brands.
- Partnerwithand supportOwned Brand Marketing andPRcommstodeliverintegratedcampaigns (e.g., Peter Rabbit, Spot, The Snowman)
- Supportand drivecollaboration across PRH Children’s(Ventures, BMPR, editorial, sales, rights) to ensure joined-up delivery and messaging
What you’ll bring
Apassion anddeep experience indriving noise across thelicensing industry.We’relooking forsomeone withlongstandingrelationships, a drivenindividualwhocan ownandimplementthe annual strategyin order tocementPenguinVentures as the No1heritageliterary consumerproducts and experienceteam in the industry.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Strong experience in trade PR, communications or marketing within licensing and/or consumer products, with a clear understanding of key industry media and stakeholders.
- Proven ability to develop and deliver strategic, year-round communications plans aligned to commercial and brandobjectives.
- Excellent copywriting and editing skills, including creating press releases, awardsubmissionsand marketing copy, and managing approvals.
- Demonstrable experience managing multiple stakeholders (internal teams, licensees,agenciesand media partners) and navigating complex approval processes.
- Solid understanding of licensing, brandpartnershipsand/or experiential marketing, and how trade communicationssupportscommercial growth.
Qualities
- Strategic thinker who can connect day-to-day comms activity to broader business and brand goals.
- Proactive and opportunity-led, with strong judgement on which trade/PR moments to pursue and how to maximise them.
- Confident relationship builder, able to work effectively with senior stakeholders and external partners.
- Creative and solutions-oriented, bringing fresh ideas to trade comms,eventsand campaigns.
- Highly organised and resilient, comfortable managing multiple priorities,deadlinesand ad hoc requests in a fast-paced environment.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident Committedorganisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the “What you’ll bring” section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview. We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortablewith,for us to support your request.
Application instructions
Please apply with your CVand cover letteroutlining why you are the right candidate for the roleby 11:59pm on15thJuly 2026.
Use of AI tools
Here at Penguin, we believe in the power of authenticity and human creativity. When you apply for a position, we want to encourage you toshowcaseyour 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 werecogniseAI tools can be helpful, we recommend using them thoughtfully to ensure your responsesreflect you.
Circa £42,000 for 3 days per week plus bonus and benefits.
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 twice a week currently on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Other in office days arerequiredas well regular visits to licensees and retailers.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…