Production Manager

Lumina Datamatics; Puducherry; On-site; INR 600,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

Lumina Datamatics in Puducherry, India, is seeking a seasoned Production & Project Management professional to oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of books—from manuscript to final digital deliverables. You will manage timelines, resources, and ensure on-time, high-quality outputs while coordinating with clients and internal teams.

The role requires leadership of a multifaceted production team, seamless communication with clients, and a focus on QA and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience in end-to-end book production projects.
• Strong understanding of typesetting standards (print/digital).
• Proficient in InDesign and XML workflows.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end production lifecycle of books (manuscript to final PDF/EPUB/Web PDF/Archive).
• Create and manage project timelines, resource allocation, and capacity planning.
• Ensure on-time delivery of typeset pages per client specs and SLAs.
• Coordinate and follow up on multiple concurrent titles and projects.
• Manage client communications and provide regular status updates.
• Lead a team of Project Leads, Paginators, QC/QA, and Coordinators.
• Drive QA, process optimization, and compliance with standards.
• Support new client onboarding, estimates, and transitions.

Skills

Book production

InDesign

XML workflows

Project management

Stakeholder mgmt

Communication

Team leadership

Detail orientation

Forecasting risks

Tools

Adobe InDesign

XML workflows

Job description

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of book production lifecycle, typesetting standards (print/digital), and publishing workflows.
• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, XML workflows, and related tools.
• Project management skills
• coordination with internal stakeholders
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and team leadership.
• Strong attention to detail, multitasking, and deadline management.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to forecast risks and mitigate proactively.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Project & Production Management - Oversee the end-to-end production lifecycle of books (from manuscript to final PDF/EPUB/Web PDF/Archive). - Create and manage project timelines, resource allocation, and capacity planning. - Ensure on-time delivery of typeset pages, adhering to client specs and SLAs. - Coordinate and follow up on multiple concurrent titles and projects.
2. Client Communication & Relationship Management - Understand client specifications, expectations, and provide regular status updates. - Participate in client calls, resolve escalations, and build trust-based relationships.
3. Team Leadership & People Management - Lead, mentor, and guide a team of Project Leads, Paginators, QC/QA, and Coordinators. - Conduct performance reviews, identify skill gaps, and plan training. - Drive team motivation, ownership, and continuous improvement culture.
4. Quality Assurance - Establish and enforce QA protocols to ensure zero-defect delivery. - Review feedback from clients and internal QA to identify trends and root causes. - Drive quality improvement initiatives across the production team.
5. Workflow and Process Optimization - Review and refine workflows for template development, typesetting, XML handling, ePub output, and final deliverables. - Collaborate with automation and tech teams to integrate efficiency tools or platforms. - Evaluate vendor/supplier performance and streamline outsourced processes if applicable.
6. Compliance & Documentation - Ensure adherence to publisher policies, copyright, accessibility, and digital compliance standards. - Maintain accurate documentation on workflow, planner, and version histories for external and internal audit.
7. New Business & Transition Support - Support new client onboarding, effort estimates and pilot projects - Collaborate with transition teams during proposals, estimates, and capability discussions.