Senior Production Controller (Gift Lab)

– Full time, permanent contract

– Salary: £38,000 to £40,000 depending on experience

– Hybrid working potential, based in Central London

– Closing date: 11 June 2023

We’re looking for a talented, innovative Senior Production Controller to handle all aspects of the print-production of Thames & Hudson’s new Gift range including jigsaws, board games, card packs and other gift items. You’ll be working in collaboration with other members of the Gift Lab team on product development and prototyping, managing the origination and proofing of artwork, print buying, print management and quality control, so your previous production experience of gift products will be invaluable.

The Role

– Working within a departmental and team-based environment with the aim of delivering  projects on time, within budget and to the required high-quality standard.

– In consultation with the Head of Production, sourcing and selecting suppliers for all aspects of the manufacturing process including some responsibility for print buying.

– Working closely and creatively with members of the T&H Gift team and designers to come up with innovative products and finding solutions to production challenges.

– Monitoring and recording all costs relating to the production of your allocated titles and reporting on these costs as required. This involves price negotiation with suppliers (in consultation with the Head of Production as appropriate), obtaining printer quotations, raising internal estimates, issuing purchase orders to suppliers and reconciling suppliers’ invoices.

– Handling all aspects of repro and print production management for your allocated titles; communicating directly with repro and print suppliers. Repro tasks include the handling and assessment of artwork files (using InDesign and Photoshop); briefing repro suppliers; checking and marking-up physical and digital proofs (in collaboration with editors, designers and other contributors as appropriate). Print management requires working with the printer on all aspects of the project; including initial briefs (including the preparation of 3D renderings), ordering and assessing prototypes, writing up specifications, obtaining printer quotations, order placement, issuing purchase orders, scheduling, dummy ordering, file delivery, plotter proof approval, checking and approval of printed material and sample copies.

– Maintaining a high level of quality control throughout all stages of the production process, through careful checking of artwork files, repro proofs and printers’ approval materials (in consultation with the Head of Production as appropriate).

– Working closely with the International Rights department on the production of foreign language co-editions of your allocated titles. Tasks include raising estimates for co-edition printings, file management (receiving, checking and forwarding co-edition files to the printer), co-ordinating the checking and approval of plotter proofs, printed material and sample copies.

– Keeping up-to-date with technical developments within the industry and applying them to your working practices as appropriate.

– Working pro-actively and creatively to improve the environmental footprint and sustainability of the list as a whole.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

– Previous production experience of gift products.

– Technical understanding of the pre-press and printing processes involved in the production of gift products and other related materials.

– Excellent communication and personal organisational/management skills.

– Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.

– An awareness and understanding of the gift, games and jigsaw markets.

– A degree of planning and scheduling skills.

– Self-motivated with the drive to deliver results.

– Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

– Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, with experience of using a Mac.

– Ability to work on own initiative, but also to know when to ask for advice/assistance whilst supporting other members of the team when necessary.

– Numeracy to understand suppliers’ quotations, prepare production estimates, check suppliers’ invoices and reconcile final costs against budgets.

– Highly focused and enthusiastic.

– Reliable, methodical and conscientious, even under pressure.

– Flexible, open-minded and adaptable.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

At Thames & Hudson, we believe that employing a diverse workforce is essential to succeed and selection decisions are based on applicants’ experience and skills. We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief.

To apply, please send your CV with a cover letter to  Sophie Castle at recruitment@thameshudson.co.uk. Use the cover letter to address how you meet the requirements listed in Knowledge, Skills and Experience above. The deadline for applications is Sunday 11 June 2023

Some of the benefits of working with us:

Apart from working with a highly talented and creative bunch of people, we offer:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Profit share scheme
• Interest-free loan for rent deposit or season travel ticket
• Discounts off our lovely T&H books and co-editions
• Generous pension contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free entry into hundreds of museums and galleries, nationwide

And more!