Bindery Production Manager

Harrison Scott Associates; South Kiscadale; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company in Scotland is seeking an individual to manage and optimise bindery and finishing operations for book and journal production. Responsibilities include overseeing the workflow, ensuring quality output, and leading a motivated team in a safe working environment. The ideal candidate will champion continuous improvement initiatives and adhere to quality and safety standards. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact production efficiency and quality control.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the bindery department.
• Ensure the bindery workflow aligns with litho and digital operations.
• Plan bindery capacity to meet production schedules.
• Champion quality control standards for finished books.
• Manage and develop the team, ensuring a safe and productive environment.
• Organise purchasing and manage inventory of bindery supplies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the bindery.

Job description

Purpose of Role:

To initially manage and optimise the bindery & finishing operations for the company’s book and journal production, ensuring high quality output, efficient workflow, safe working environment and timely delivery in line with litho and print on demand and short‑run capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the bindery department: equipment set‑up, staffing, scheduling, maintenance, and output quality.
• Ensure the bindery workflow is aligned with the litho, digital and print‑on‑demand operations so that books and journals move seamlessly from print to bindery to dispatch.
• Plan bindery capacity to meet production schedules, anticipate bottlenecks, and adjust staffing or equipment usage accordingly.
• Maintain and improve process efficiencies: monitor throughput, reduce downtime, monitor scrap/rejects, and update processes.
• Champion quality control: ensure finished books meet company standards for binding type (case bound, limp books, sewn books, etc), appearance, functionality and finish.
• Manage the team: supervise, train, develop staff; conduct performance reviews; ensure a motivated, safe and productive workforce. Liaise with other prepress, print, account handlers and trade customers to ensure bindery requirements are clearly understood and met.
• Collaborate with external maintenance resources and utilise any personal engineering skill (if any) to ensure bindery machines are properly maintained, calibrated, and any breakdowns are swiftly resolved.
• Monitor compliance with relevant certifications and standards: e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC® accreditation, in line with sustainability credentials.
• Ensure safe working practices are always followed; champion health & safety (including COSHH, machine guarding, manual handling, housekeeping).
• Organise purchasing and inventory to ensure bindery supplies and consumables (threads, covers, adhesives, boards, etc) are managed cost‑effectively.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives: identify opportunities (new equipment, lean methods, automation, print‑on‑demand workflow improvements) and deliver projects. Prepare or request regular production reports from internal systems to achieve this.