Wonderful Recruitment & Development
Production Manager
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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.
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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.
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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
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Alternatively, send your CV to Dan at dan@wonderfulideasproject.com
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.
We understand what it's like when you don't get a response to your application. Although we work hard to acknowledge everybody, many of our roles have a large number of applicants and we can't always respond to all of you.
At Wonderful, we are dedicated to promoting diversity in all its forms. We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment that promotes equal opportunities for wonderful people. We actively encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply and warmly welcome all individuals with exceptional abilities, irrespective of their background.
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