Production Designer (12 months FTC) - DK Creative Technical Operations

Penguin Random House; London; Hybrid; GBP 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Production Designer, where you'll bridge creativity and technology in the publishing industry. This pivotal role focuses on enhancing production efficiency through innovative technical solutions and expert problem-solving. You'll work closely with creative teams, championing new technologies and workflows to deliver market-leading content. If you're passionate about design and technology and thrive on solving complex challenges, this is the perfect opportunity for you to make a significant impact.

Benefits

25 days paid holiday

Generous pension scheme

Volunteering policy

Employee assistance programme

60% discount on company books

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Flex Fridays

Shopping discounts

Up to 30 days remote working from abroad

Qualifications

• Expert-level understanding of Adobe Creative Suite and automation features.
• Experience in print production processes and technical problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of projects, ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Provide technical consultation and troubleshoot complex issues.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Automation

Problem-solving

Communication Skills

Process Improvement

Tools

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Acrobat Pro

Python

Job description

We are seeking an innovative and technically skilled Production Designer to join our Creative Technical Operations team. This is a key role focused on enhancing DK's creative capabilities and production efficiency through expert technical problem-solving, process innovation, and direct support for complex projects.

You will act as a bridge between creative vision and technical execution, providing early consultation on project feasibility, identifying opportunities for technical optimisation, and implementing advanced solutions. You will champion new technologies and workflows (including automation, scripting, and new applications), troubleshoot complex technical challenges, and provide specialised support and training to creative teams. While possessing strong hands-on technical skills, your focus will be on strategic technical oversight, innovation, and enabling our creative teams to produce market-leading content efficiently.

This role is perfect for an individual passionate about the intersection of design, technology, and publishing, who thrives on solving complex problems and driving technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Ownership & Delivery: Take ownership of assigned projects by applying technical expertise and innovative approaches to ensure high-quality deliverables are met efficiently. Collaborate closely with Production on overall schedule adherence. Prepare files and send them to the archive team. Oversee file integrity, including sourcing project assets, throughout the creative process, reviewing templates and ensuring proper version control.
• Technical Consultation & Problem Solving: Engage early with creative teams to provide expert technical consultation on project feasibility, suggest optimal production approaches for complex ideas, and proactively identify/mitigate technical risks. Diagnose and resolve complex file, workflow, and technical production issues.
• Innovation & Process Improvement: Explore, evaluate, pilot, and implement new technologies (AI, automation, scripting, advanced software features) and innovative technical workflows to enhance efficiency, quality, and creative possibilities. Identify opportunities for technical optimisation in complex creative execution.
• Specialised Technical Execution & Oversight: Take selective hands-on ownership of technically demanding tasks or special projects requiring advanced skills or non-standard approaches. Oversee the technical quality and integrity of complex files and outputs.
• Technical Standards & Quality Assurance: Ensure adherence to advanced technical standards. Focus on the intrinsic technical quality, robustness, and optimal build of complex files. Contribute to technical aspects of freelancer/packager onboarding and quality assurance. Ensure bibliographic systems are kept up-to-date.
• Future-Proofing: Contribute to the strategic roadmap for core production tools and workflows. Identify future needs and evaluate potential upgrades or replacements.

About You:

Essential:

• Expert-level understanding and demonstrable competence in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro) and their advanced features/potential for automation.
• Deep, practical knowledge of print production processes, pre-press requirements, colour management, file structures, and potential technical pitfalls.
• Experience with or a strong aptitude for exploring and implementing automation, scripting, AI tools, or other advanced technologies within a design/production context.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose complex technical issues and develop effective solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and train/support creative colleagues effectively.
• Experience in process analysis and improvement, particularly related to technical workflows.
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple complex tasks and projects.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to assess the cost/benefit of technical solutions.

Desirable:

• Proven experience in a role involving significant technical expertise and problem-solving within print production, ideally within publishing.
• Experience specifically within illustrated book publishing.
• Experience with workflow automation tools or scripting languages (Extendscript, Python) relevant to design software (e.g., Adobe CC).
• Experience developing or delivering technical training.
• A portfolio or demonstrable experience showcasing technical innovation, complex problem-solving, and high-level technical skills related to design or print production.

Salary: £30,500

Closing date for applications: Thursday 22nd May 2025

We have a range of benefits to reflect our commitment to our people, some of which are:

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee assistance programme
• 60% discount on company books
• Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Flex Fridays (1pm Finish)
• Shopping discounts
• Up to 30 days remote working from abroad

DK is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the varied communities that read our books across the world. We encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or social background. DK is proud to announce that we have adopted The Halo Code.

DK is a member of the disability confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.

DK supports flexible working and has introduced a new ‘smart-working’ policy with a hybrid approach of working weekly from home and in DK’s office.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade, but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews or undertaking internships. For more information, visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org