Production Controller
Department: Operations and Production
Reports to: Operations Manager
Location: Sweet Cherry Publishing, Units 1-4, Tolwell Road, Leicester, LE4 1BR
The Role:
In this role, you will be an integral member of Sweet Cherry’s growing operations team.
You will predominantly be working with the Publisher, Managing Editor, Art Director, Head of Sales and Operations Manager and printers/suppliers to manage the smooth running of our book production process.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Developing good relationships with suppliers, negotiating with existing suppliers, finding new suppliers and managing supplier timescales
- Managing the production of books being printed in Europe/Far East/India, including costing, file supply/approvals and maintaining schedules
- Maintaining/implementing accurate records and data within the production system
- Sending files for e-book production and sharing them with the e-books team
- Checking plotters from the printer alongside the Art Director and Managing Editor
- Ordering dummies from the printer and support the sales/fairs team with mock-up products
- Writing specs for all new products and finding new formats
- Responsible for managing supplier compliance and ensuring that books are delivered on time
- Travelling to book fairs to maintain printing relationships (if required)
- Assisting the Operations Manager with logistics, shipping, quotes and monitoring shipments
- Liaise with the Operations, Design and Editorial teams to manage workflow and schedules
Essential Skills/Experience:
- Excellent project management and organisation skills
- Friendliness and approachability
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Knowledge and experience of book production with both mono and full-colour printing of children’s fiction
- The ability to work with Adobe Acrobat and InDesign and Biblio/Stison (or similar)
- A good understanding of both trade and co-edition printing
- Strong interest in print production and manufacturing
- Ability to work on multiple projects and their different deadlines at the same time
- Experience of product safety is desirable
- Excellent IT skills
- A positive can-do attitude and willingness to learn and adapt quickly
Working Hours: 40 hours per week (flexible) Monday to Friday.
Core office hours: 9.30am – 4.30pm. (30 minute or 1 hour lunch unpaid)
Holiday: 20 days plus bank holidays
Starting salary: Flexible, based on experience
To apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to recruitment@sweetcherrypublishing.com