Job Title: Production Manager

Department: Production

Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract, full-time

Are you a book Production Manager with lots of experience working on trade mono and colour books and plenty of line management? We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Production Manager for our Picador division for a 12-month fixed term contract starting in Feb 2027.

Your Team

You will be working within the Production team, which sits within our wider Publishing Operations department. We are a collaborative and fast-paced team responsible for managing the physical manufacturing and logistics of our books. We work closely with colleagues across all areas of the company—including Publishers, Editorial, and Sales—as well as external suppliers to ensure our books are produced to the highest standard, on schedule, and within budget.

Your Role

As Production Manager, you will report directly to the Production Director. You will be the key point of contact for external suppliers and internal departments on all matters relating to Picador’s production. You will work closely with our publishing teams, champion best practice, and line manage more junior members of the team and support their development.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Production Lead for our Picador Division: Take operational leadership of this list, dealing with all stages of the books’ lifecycle from acquisition to delivery, consulting with editorial, art, and other teams to ensure things happen as they should.
• Line Management & Team Development: Line manage production staff and work alongside the Senior Production Manager to manage team workloads and foster the professional growth of colleagues.
• Coordinate with Suppliers: Negotiate schedules, specifications, and prices with external suppliers in conjunction with other members of the team, ensuring all materials, orders, and communications are clear, accurate, complete, and on time.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Liaise with Editorial, Design, Sales, and other teams to establish best practices and ensure smooth delivery of projects and timely completion of key tasks.
• Team Leadership & Meetings: Contribute to Adult Production team meetings alongside fellow managers, maintaining good operational efficiency and clear communication.
• Drive Workflow & System Improvements: Consult on central production systems, process developments, and workflow enhancements across Adult Production.

Essential Experience, Abilities, and Knowledge You’ll Need to Succeed

• Trade List Experience: Proven experience running a trade publishing list of significant size within a busy publishing environment.
• Line Management & People Skills: Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with experience in training, mentoring, and developing less experienced team members.
• Clear & Proactive Communication: Exceptional written and spoken communication skills, with the ability to negotiate, share information reliably, and build positive professional relationships with external suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Technical & Database Specialisation: Experience of relevant production software, including Acrobat and Adobe CC, with specialized expertise in Biblio.
• Problem-Solving & Detail Orientation: A proactive, solution-oriented approach to tasks, with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail when managing records and schedules.
• Print Process Knowledge: A strong understanding of and curiosity about print processes and reprographics.
• Inclusion and Representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve.
• Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment.
• Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives.
• Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.