We are looking for a Head of Audio Content to join Penguin Random House Audio on a 12-month parental leave cover contract, leading our distinctive BBC Audio publishing programme.

At Penguin Random House Audio, we’re the UK’s leading audiobook publisher, dedicated to creating exceptional listening experiences for audiences everywhere. Working with some of the world’s most exciting authors, narrators and creative talent, we publish bestselling and award-winning audio across every genre.

BBC Audio is a distinctive and important part of our publishing. Working in partnership with the BBC, we bring outstanding BBC content to listeners around the world, publishing across an extensive catalogue of radio drama, comedy, factual programming, children's content and much more. Alongside developing new releases, we explore the extraordinary breadth of BBC Radio output and its archive, finding creative and commercially compelling ways to bring both familiar favourites and hidden gems to new audiences.

The role

Reporting to the Publishing Director, the Head of Audio Content is responsible for the commissioning and delivery of BBC Audio publishing, combining strong editorial judgement and commercial awareness with excellent relationship management.

You will identify publishing opportunities across current BBC Radio output and the BBC archive, developing publishing ideas and curated collections that connect brilliant content with audiences.

You will work closely with key contacts across the BBC, as well as colleagues in sales, marketing and the wider PRH Audio team, to build a commercially successful and distinctive publishing programme.

You will also line manage one member of the editorial team, providing clear direction, support and development while maintaining high editorial and delivery standards across the list.

Key responsibilities

• Shape and deliver a distinctive BBC Audio publishing programme, developing and commissioning compelling titles, collections and publishing strands across current BBC output and its extensive archive, with a clear understanding of audience and commercial opportunity.
• Build strong relationships with key BBC stakeholders, working collaboratively to identify opportunities and bring projects successfully to publication.
• Line manage and support one editorial colleague, setting clear priorities and supporting their development.
• Use sales performance, market trends, audience insight and financial information to inform commissioning decisions, identify opportunities for growth and ensure publishing supports our financial goals.
• Work collaboratively across PRH Audio, including with sales and marketing colleagues, to ensure publishing is effectively positioned and reaches the widest possible audience.
• Oversee the extensive BBC Audio catalogue through re-publishing, re-jacketing and metadata optimisation, identifying opportunities to regenerate titles and maximise long-term catalogue performance.
• Oversee the delivery of the BBC Audio programme, ensuring projects are well managed, commercially viable and delivered on time and to a high standard.

What you’ll bring

You’ll be an experienced and imaginative editor or content professional with strong commercial instincts and a passion for audio. You’ll be curious about audiences and content, with the ability to spot opportunities within a large and varied catalogue and turn them into compelling publishing.

You’ll be a confident relationship-builder who enjoys working collaboratively with internal and external partners, and you’ll be comfortable providing clear direction and support to a direct report.

Essential criteria

• Strong editorial, commissioning or content experience, with the ability to identify and develop creative and commercially compelling publishing opportunities.
• Excellent project-management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage a varied programme and competing priorities.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, with the ability to use performance, market and audience information to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with confidence working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Line-management experience, with the ability to support and develop others.
• An understanding of the audio market and an interest in the breadth of content produced by the BBC.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter (both in PDF format) outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Wednesday 21st October. The cover letter should be uploaded as an additional document.

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.

Salary

Circa £45,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and 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 that you would be in the office approximately two days a week.

AI

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.

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. 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 [email protected]. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable with, for us to support your request.