Senior Production Controller

Department:  Production

Reporting to: Production Director

Contract:       Full time (35 hours per week) and permanent contract

Salary:           Competitive depending on experience

Job Summary

Yale University Press London is looking for a Senior Production Controller with a minimum of 2 years’ book production experience to be responsible for the complete production process from pre-press to delivery of printed books for the four-colour titles that we produce across all our publishing. The successful candidate will have a first-class eye for colour and detail and a strong understanding of four-colour repro and good technical knowledge of printing, binding, and finishing techniques.

Purpose of Job

Reporting to the Production Director, the postholder will be required to prepare materials for repro, manage the repro process, take responsibility for the print production process, including proof checking, and manage the shipping from bindery to the UK and US warehouses. Estimating and scheduling are also key responsibilities in this role.

About Us

Originally founded in New Haven Connecticut in 1908, Yale University Press has a unique position as the only American university press with a full-scale publishing operation in Europe, publishing serious non-fiction and fiction in translation, that contributes to a global understanding of human affairs. Our diverse and prize-winning list includes numerous prestigious museum and gallery partnerships, the Pevsner architectural guides series, and books by globally respected authors including Carmen Bambach, John Carey, Terry Eagleton, Nicholas Kenyon, Yasmin Khan, Geoffrey Parker, Thomas Piketty, Griselda Pollock, David Rieff, Zeynep Tufekci and Can Xue.

Equal Opportunities

Yale University Press London is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We actively value, promote and seek diversity.

Core Duties

• Provide financial profiles for book production and ensure all budgets are met
• Control all aspects of repro from preparation of materials to signing off on final digital proofs and print pdfs
• Manage print production from preparation of detailed print orders and shipping instructions to sign off on plotter proofs, printed F&Gs and advance copies
• Full responsibility for the reprint management of four-colour titles
• Oversee the shipping process to ensure on-time, cost-effective and frictionless delivery to UK and US warehouses
• Liaise with internal (both London and New Haven) colleagues and external stakeholders (authors, designers, curators, photographers, picture researchers, repro houses, printers, shippers) on all aspects of book production
• Review and update schedules on a live basis
• Attend meetings to discuss progress of projects, agree budgets, processes, and schedules
• Production and shipping liaison for Distribution partners

Additional Duties undertaken

• Maintain company systems where necessary
• First pass on invoice sign-off
• Optimise black and white images for optimal print production
• Layouting of image sections in non four-colour books (occasional)
• Jacket and cover layout manipulation (occasional)
• efile checking (occasional)

Person Specification – Key knowledge & skills

Essential:

• Keen interest in book production at a leading art and trade publisher
• 2 years’ experience in colour book production and colour correction, with a solid understanding of four-colour repro and printing and good knowledge of a wide range of finishing and binding styles
• Experience of working on mono books
• Excellent InDesign and Acrobat skills
• Solid experience in Photoshop and good knowledge of image editing and what is necessary to ensure optimal print reproduction (both mono and colour)
• Literacy in Excel and other general computing applications
• Meticulous eye for detail in preparing files for print and checking the accuracy of proofs; a high degree of accuracy also required in the various ancillary tasks
• Proven ability to organise, multi-task, prioritise and keep to tight deadlines and to deliver products to budget and exacting quality standards
• Understanding of production budgets and experience in pro-actively seeking cost efficiencies in all areas
• External vendor management
• Problem solver and initiative-taker; flexible and collaborative worker
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commercial nous

Desirable:

• Experience of working on art, architecture, photography books
• Practical knowledge of typography, particularly regarding typeset pages of text
• Experience in manipulating book jacket and cover artworks
• Experience of working directly with designers and typesetters
• Keen understanding of the commercial environment and marketplace for non-fiction books

What we can offer

Yale University Press London offers a generous package of benefits which includes:

• Generous salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Hybrid working model
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time roles)
• Life assurance and income protection
• Private healthcare cover
• Employee Assistance Programme (24-hour helpline)
• Regular Yale social events
• Annual Book Allowance
• Season ticket loans and Cycle to work scheme
• Accommodation deposit loan 
• Workplace mortgage advice
• Virtual GP
• Access to Thrive and My Heathy Advantage mobile apps. 

The Location

Yale University Press London are based in Bloomsbury WC1, with convenient access to the Northern, Elizabeth and Central lines as well as many bus routes.

Please send your CV and supporting covering letter (including availability, notice period details and current salary) to: vacancy16@yaleup.co.uk ensuring you include “Senior Production Controller” in the email subject line.

Closing date 14th October 2022

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