Senior Production Manager

Wayside Publishing is a progressive developer of world language programs, resources, and materials for middle and high schools across the United States. We partner with educators to craft transformative texts and digital tools that engage students and foster successful communication and understanding across cultures.

What You’ll Do

As a Senior Production Manager, you will have a comprehensive oversight role, managing both print and digital production processes, supervising the Print and Digital Production Managers, and leading the team of Production Editors. Your responsibilities include contributing to strategic planning, ensuring effective resource allocation, maintaining quality standards, and driving process improvements to deliver superior educational materials in a timely manner. This includes overseeing the production process of our print and platform publications from manuscript to final product, ensuring efficient workflows, high-quality outputs, and meeting or exceeding delivery dates. You will work closely with the Print and Digital Production Managers and Production Editors as well as cross-functional teams, including, Content, Technology, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and external vendors (i.e., printer and technology companies,) to ensure seamless execution of projects while adhering to budgets and deadlines. The ideal candidate should possess excellent project management skills, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of the publishing industry for print and digital with great emphasis on the digital component.

• Manages the end-to-end production process for all print and digital publications, including textbooks, ancillaries, readers, and digital content for learning platforms.
• Manages a team of digital and print production staff and production editors, providing support, mentorship, guidance, training, and performance evaluations.
• Works closely with senior leadership and the VP of Product to develop and implement strategic plans rot the production department.
• Handles escalated issues and resolves production-related challenges. Analyzes and troubleshoots problems, collaborates with cross-functional teams, and proposes solutions to minimize disruptions and maintain project schedules.
• Works with the editorial team to create the design for the products, which includes guidelines for font, layout, spacing, headings, and other design elements.
• Collaborates with the editorial team to develop and maintain a standardized stylesheet for the materials being published and takes responsibility for managing and updating the stylesheet as needed, communicating any changes or revisions to the production team.
• Ensures that the established stylesheet is effectively implemented across all print and digital materials.
• Coordinates with Content Project Managers, Print and Digital Production Manager, and Production Editors, to establish project specifications, schedules, and budgets.
• Oversees the workflow and coordination between the Print Production Manager and Digital Production Manager, ensuring seamless collaboration and integration between the print and digital production processes.
• Oversees the pre-press and printing process, ensuring accurate proofing, color management, and adherence to quality standards and ADA specifications.
• Ensures all digital production materials are ADA-compliant.
• Collaborates with internal teams and external vendors to negotiate contracts, monitor vendor performance, secure competitive pricing, ensure final delivery of high-quality products/jobs, and maintain strong relationships.
• Identifies new vendors and evaluates potential partnerships to improve production capabilities. 
• Ensures that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with established guidelines.
• Monitors production schedules, identifying potential bottlenecks or delays, and implementing proactive solutions.
• Establishes and enforces quality control processes and conducts regular quality checks to ensure adherence to design, layout, and production best practices for production workflows.
• Stays updated on industry trends and technological advancements, recommending process improvements, and implementing best practices, especially for digital production.
• Foster a collaborative and positive work environment, promoting effective communication and teamwork.
• Provides support to Marketing in the creation of collaterals and other needed materials. 
• Other duties as assigned.

About You 

We value diversity and accept people from all backgrounds, united around their ability to build relationships, communicate, problem-solve, and ultimately work as a team to achieve goals. Some of the qualities needed to be successful here include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Publishing, Graphic Design, Communications, or a related field. A master’s degree is a plus.
• Knowledge of both print and digital production is highly desired.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in print and digital publishing production management, preferably within an educational publishing environment.
• Strong knowledge of print and digital production processes, including knowledge in content creation for learning platforms.
• Proficiency in project management software, such as Asana, Trello, or Basecamp, to track project timelines and deliverables.
• Familiarity with design software and content management tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), and Pim core.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Exceptional attention to detail. Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively with cross-functional teams, including authors, editors, designers, and vendors.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to proactively identify issues and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide clear instructions and feedback.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 
• Experience in K-12 publishing (print and digital) educational materials.
• Knowledge and familiarity with the technology used in language education.
• Knowledge of online learning environments and other technology used in education.
• Strong project management and organizational skills are necessary to oversee multiple teams, projects, and deadlines. This includes effectively planning, prioritizing, and managing resources to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality content.
• The ability to analyze data and metrics to make data-driven decisions.
• The ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders, team members, external partners, and other departments, such as marketing, professional learning, software engineering, etc. to ensure a cohesive approach to content creation and distribution.
• Excellent organizational and technical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and multi-tasking skills.
• Proficiency in English, fluency in a second language, and or PMP certification is a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation: base salary plus achievement-based incentive program, uncapped potential.
• Health insurance with options for dental, vision, life insurance, and more
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution