Production Manager | Independent Publisher | London | Permanent
Are you an experienced Production Manager who enjoys getting hands-on with the technical side of print production? Read on if you’re looking for a role combining pre-press expertise with team, supplier and workflow management.
Our partner: Our partner is an established independent publisher with a long history of publishing both fiction and non-fiction titles across a number of genres and formats.
Responsibilities:
- Manage the day-to-day production of books, magazines and point-of-sale materials, working directly with Adobe InDesign files and PDFs to ensure they are technically ready for print.
- Identify, diagnose and resolve pre-press issues involving fonts, colour profiles, PDF compliance and other print-ready file requirements before they reach suppliers.
- Review proofs and specifications, spotting potential production issues early and maintaining consistently high standards across both colour and mono production.
- Prioritise multiple projects and work closely with an international supplier base on production requirements, specifications, schedules and delivery, troubleshooting issues to keep projects moving.
- Manage and support a small Production team, helping to prioritise workloads while providing technical guidance on complex pre-press and file-related issues.
Experience and skills that will deliver success in this role: The right candidate will be an experienced production professional with considerable hands-on pre-press expertise. You’ll be comfortable working directly with files, solving technical problems and taking ownership when something needs fixing, while also bringing the organisation and communication skills needed to manage a busy workload, suppliers and a small team.
Essential:
- Strong practical pre-press and print production experience, with advanced working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Adobe Acrobat.
- Confidence inspecting and troubleshooting InDesign files and PDFs, with a strong understanding of fonts, colour profiles, PDF compliance and print-ready file preparation.
- Good knowledge of commercial print processes, including practical experience of both colour and mono production and strong proof-checking skills.
- Experience managing multiple production projects and priorities simultaneously, alongside working with external print and production suppliers.
- Experience managing or supervising a small team, with the confidence to provide technical guidance and find practical solutions to production problems.
Desirable:
- Experience gained within publishing.
- Experience working with an international print and production supplier base.
The opportunity: This is a strong opportunity for a Production Manager or senior production professional who genuinely enjoys the technical detail of publishing production. You’ll work across a varied, high-volume programme where you can stay close to the files and print process while also taking responsibility for workflow, suppliers and a small team. It offers a good balance between hands-on problem-solving and broader production management.
What’s on offer:
- Salary: Up to £50k
- Working pattern: Hybrid pattern, minimum 2 days a week in London office
- Reports to: Head of Production
Applications: Click the button below.
If applying via email, please use the following as the subject line: Production Manager | JobID: ZR_385_JOB
Don't delay in applying if this is the job for you! We're not working to a fixed closing date, so we're keen to hear from you as soon as possible.
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