Job Title: Senior Production Editor
Reports to: Publishing General Manger
Department: Editorial
Employment Type: Full-Time
Overview
The Senior Production Editor is a key leadership role within our educational publishing company, responsible for overseeing the entire production process, ensuring quality, and managing various aspects of talent acquisition and design collaboration.
Responsibilities:
Production Oversight:
- Manage end-to-end production processes for educational materials, ensuring adherence to quality standards and project timelines.
- Collaborate with editorial and design teams to seamlessly transition projects from development to production.
Team Leadership and Management:
- Lead and manage a team of production editors, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the production editing team, ensuring optimal efficiency and productivity.
Workflow Optimization:
- Streamline production workflows, identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements while maintaining quality standards.
- Collaborate with the team to implement best practices and innovative solutions.
Quality Control:
- Conduct thorough reviews at each stage of production, including layout, formatting, and printing, to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- Address production-related issues in collaboration with the editorial team and implement necessary corrections.
- Set and uphold rigorous standards for quality in manuscript reviews, proofreading, and design evaluations.
- Work closely with production editors to ensure that all stages of the production process meet the company's quality benchmarks.
Collaborative Editing:
- Collaborate with the production editing team to provide guidance, support, and feedback on manuscript edits, proofs, and design elements.
- Ensure a consistent and high standard of work across all projects and publications.
Performance Management:
- Conduct regular performance assessments for production editors, providing constructive feedback and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Implement training initiatives to enhance the team's skills and capability.
Collaboration with External Parties:
- Liaise with external suppliers and vendors to coordinate production schedules, print runs, and deliveries.
- Work closely with the Editorial Project Manager to align production schedules with overall project timelines.
File Management:
- Oversee the organization and management of digital files, ensuring proper version control and accessibility for internal and external teams.
- Collaborate with the Editorial Project Manager to control the flow of files through shared documents and FTP.
Team Support:
- Provide guidance and support to the Production Editing Team in executing tasks related to proofreading and copyediting.
- Collaborate with the Editorial Project Manager to prioritize and allocate resources effectively.
Communication:
- Communicate with relevant parties to address production-related queries and ensure a smooth workflow.
- Provide regular updates to the Publishing General Manager on the status of ongoing productions, highlighting any potential issues or delays.
Talent Acquisition and Onboarding:
- Collaborate with the Publishing General Manager in the recruitment process for production editors, including conducting interviews and assessing candidates.
- Lead onboarding processes for new production editors, ensuring a smooth integration into the team and familiarization with company processes.
Tracker Creation:
- Develop and maintain comprehensive trackers for various elements, including credits, glossary, and artwork, to streamline production processes and ensure accurate documentation.
Front and End Matter Development:
- Oversee the creation and review of relevant front and end matter for educational products, ensuring alignment with industry standards, company guidelines, and project specifications.
Collaboration with Design Department:
- Liaise closely with the design department to communicate project requirements, provide input, and ensure the creation of prototypes aligns with the company's design standards.
- Review and approve design proofs, offering constructive feedback to achieve the desired quality and consistency.
Prototyping:
- Work collaboratively with the design team to create prototypes for educational materials, ensuring that design elements meet project objectives and align with the overall vision.
Standards Adherence:
- Monitor and enforce adherence to company standards in design and production processes, providing guidance to the design and production teams as needed.
Continuous Improvement:
- Actively participate in regular reviews and assessments of production and design workflows, proposing and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency and quality.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including editorial, design, and project management, to ensure a holistic and cohesive approach to the production of educational materials.
Training and Development:
- Provide training and development opportunities for the production editing team, ensuring continuous growth and skill enhancement in line with industry trends.
Market Knowledge:
- Stay informed about industry trends, printing technologies, and production best practices.
- Contribute insights and recommendations for continuous improvement in production processes.
Skills and Experience:
This role requires a strategic thinker with a keen eye for detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to lead and inspire a production editing team while actively contributing to the company's commitment to excellence in educational publishing.
Key skills and experience include:
- 5+ years of experience in production editing within the educational publishing industry.
- Strong project management skills with a proven track record of successfully delivering projects on time.
- Excellent attention to detail and a thorough understanding of quality control in print and digital materials.
- Excellent communication and writing skills (American-English language usage)
- Proficiency in Adobe Acrobat DC, MS Word, MS Excel, and other relevant software tools.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Familiarity with educational publishing standards and best practices
- Ability to engage and motivate teams.
If you possess the necessary skills and experience, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
We look forward to hearing from you!