End-to-End Production Lead - Children's Books (Contract)

Macmillan Publishers; New York (NY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group is seeking an experienced Production Manager for a contract position to oversee approximately 45 paperback conversions per year. You will own the full print production lifecycle for children's books—from estimates and schedules through PO, proofs, and final delivery—working with printers and suppliers to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and on-time delivery.

The role involves managing budgets, timelines, proofs, and vendor relationships, with

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of 4c and 1c book production experience, children's books preferred
• Strong knowledge of 4-color printing processes, prepress, and digital file preparation
• Understanding of publishing business and production impact on success
• Able to prioritize and stay organized

Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire lifecycle: composition, prepress, printing, binding, final delivery
• Manage paperback conversions for 1-color and 4-color titles
• Route PDFs for text and covers; oversee color and text corrections
• Review digital and physical proofs and address issues
• Ensure products meet safety and testing requirements
• Manage title budgets, purchase orders, and invoices
• Track production schedules and deadlines across stages
• Negotiate pricing and monitor vendor performance
• Collaborate with editorial, design, and teams to solve production challenges
• Provide regular updates on production status and progress

Skills

Book production

4-color printing

Prepress

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Tools

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Biblio

RSuite

Google Workspace

Job description

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group is seeking an experienced Production Manager for a contract position to oversee approximately 45 paperback conversions per year. You will own the full print production lifecycle for children's books—from estimates and schedules through PO, proofs, and final delivery—working with printers and suppliers to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and on-time delivery.

The role involves managing budgets, timelines, proofs, and vendor relationships, with