Production Controller, Licensing - DK Production

Bertelsmann; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Volunteer policy

Employee assistance programme

70% staff discount on books

Cycle to work scheme

Flex Fridays (1pm Finish)

Remote up to 30 days from abroad

Job summary

Dorling Kindersley Limited is seeking a Production Controller for licensing as part of the DK+ production team in London. The role focuses on reprints, co-editions, and frontlist titles, ensuring timely delivery within budget and meeting quality and safety standards.

The ideal candidate will negotiate margins, manage schedules, and coordinate with internal teams across Production, Creative, Sales, Inventory, and editors. Strong communication and problem-solving under pressure are essential.

Qualifications

• Recent Production Controller experience in book publishing.
• Solid understanding of mono and four colour print processes, cover finishes, printing technology, paper, binding styles and FSC materials.
• Proven experience in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.
• Strong commercial acumen, relationship management, and negotiation.
• Excellent organisation, communication, and problem-solving under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage creation, costing, scheduling, and delivery for reprints, co-editions, and frontlist titles.
• Assist with coordinating LEGO reprints, and brick ordering.
• Maintain product safety technical files and act as an FSC Superuser.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal teams to hit deadlines.
• Negotiate margins where possible, and maintain records in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.

Job description

Production Controller, Licensing - DK Production

Company: Dorling Kindersley Limited

Work Location: London, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, United Kingdom

Work Location Type: hybrid

Job Description

We are seeking a detail-oriented, commercially-minded Production Controller to support our growing DK+ list.

DK+ produces a diverse range of licensed books and branded products globally. Managing a portfolio focused on reprints, co-editions, and select frontlist titles, you will ensure products are delivered on time, to budget, and to required quality and safety standards.

As the team continues to develop new products with complex schedules, finishes and licensing requirements, this role will help ensure that reprints and ongoing production activity are managed efficiently and accurately. It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Production Controller to broaden their skills and gain experience of working on licensed titles.

As a Production Controller, you will join a collaborative team with deep expertise in licensing and print production, with opportunities to work across other lists within the business too. Working closely with Production, Creative, Sales, Inventory, Production Editorial , and co-edition partners, you will ensure products are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality and safety standards.

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator who can build strong relationships, negotiate to tight margins, and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone resilient who remains calm, focused, and clear-headed under pressure, with a supportive approach to sharing knowledge and assisting colleagues. You will understand the commercial significance of the role and enjoy the challenge of negotiating creatively to tight margins, in line with DK’s departmental strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage creation, costing, scheduling, and delivery for reprints, co‑editions, and frontlist titles.
• Assist with coordinating LEGO reprints, and brick ordering.
• Maintain product safety technical files and act as an FSC Superuser.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and hit deadlines.
• Negotiate margins where possible, and maintain records in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.
• Recent Production Controller experience in book publishing.
• Solid understanding of mono and four colour print processes, cover finishes, printing technology, paper, binding styles and FSC materials.
• Proven experience in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.
• Strong commercial acumen, relationship management, and negotiation.
• Excellent organisation, communication, and problem-solving under pressure.
• Previous experience managing product safety testing and maintaining safety technical files.
• Experience working on co‑editions.

If you are a collaborative Production Controller who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in key details, we would love to hear from you.

Salary: starting at £36,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Additional Information

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee assistance programme
• 70 % discount on company books
• Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Flex Fridays (1pm Finish*)
• Up to 30 days remote working from abroad*
• *Subject to certain criteria being met.

And we plant a tree for every new employee to our business

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. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in our Pimlico office. As this is non-negotiable, please ensure you are within a reasonable commuting distance of London before applying.

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

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The retention period for your data is determined by the statutory time limits applicable in the respective country, beginning upon completion of the recruitment process. You can find these here .

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