Agency Proofreader

Job Description

Serve as the final checkpoint and quality steward across all Penquin communication, ensuring copy is error-free, consistent, brand-aligned, and ready for client and internal presentation. Uphold professionalism of copy output from campaigns to pitch decks and marketing material across media.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional proofreading, editing, or copywriting experience (agency environment preferred)
• Strong command of English and Afrikaans language, including grammar, punctuation, style, and usage
• Understanding of South African slang is a bonus
• Meticulous attention to detail and natural instinct for quality
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including listening deeply and speaking clearly
• Ability to work under tight deadlines without compromising accuracy
• Familiarity with AP, Chicago, or other style guides, adaptable to client-specific guidelines
• Bonus points for editing capabilities in other languages or visual layout sensibility
• Integrity-first mindset: consistent, ethical, trustworthy even when unsupervised
• Structured creativity balancing rule adherence and poetic license
• Supportive collaboration, giving and receiving feedback respectfully
• Calm under pressure, managing urgency with grace while prioritising quality
• Growth-oriented, learning from every brief and feedback, helping others improve

Responsibilities

• Proofread and edit all agency copy including advertising, social content, web content, brochures, and OOH campaigns
• Check grammar, punctuation, spelling, tone, brand voice, and alignment with client guidelines
• Ensure consistent style and usage across all formats and platforms
• Review and quality-check internal and client-facing presentations, proposals, and pitch decks
• Collaborate with strategists, creatives, and account managers to ensure language clarity, structure, and professionalism
• Assist with checking storyboard text and video subtitles
• Work closely with creative, accounts, media, digital, production, and strategy teams to embed quality assurance in every process step
• Act as the 'last pair of eyes' before internal or external material is released
• Uphold and apply Penquin’s tone of voice and those of diverse clients
• Proactively spot inconsistencies or red flags in tone, message, or formatting