Production & Composition Assistant

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Production & Composition Assistant on the UT Main Campus. This role supports art evaluation, book composition, and printing workflows to ensure high-quality publishing outputs.

You will work with InDesign for typesetting, coordinate project schedules, assist in budgeting, and supervise student staff, contributing to a busy academic publishing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; proficient in Photoshop, InDesign, Word and Excel.
• Excellent eye for detail and commitment to producing high-quality books.
• Highly organized, able to manage multiple ongoing projects, and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Art Evaluations: Log and organize images in Filemaker database. Rename all image files using UT Press naming conventions, making adjustments/corrections to art, optimizing images for printing, and any other issues pertaining to art programs.
• Book Composition and Typesetting: Use InDesign to typeset books from manuscript to first pages; present sample pages; typeset books based on press templates; input page corrections; typeset new material for revised or updated editions; adapt jacket mechanicals to paperback reprints; and make corrections to covers and interiors as needed.
• General Responsibilities: Process invoices, create purchase orders, and contribute to production plans; pack and ship materials; update business cards and office stationery; participate in the training and supervision of student employees and/or fellows; contribute to related department functions as assigned by supervisor.
• Project Management: Create cast-offs to estimate the final page count on books after typesetting; monitor and update schedules in FileMaker database; send books out for typesetting based on press templates; present sample page designs; and communicate with authors, designers, vendors, and printers as needed in coordination with other staff. Archive files and submit invoices when projects are complete.
• Managing approximately 25 e-books annually. Including sending materials to conversion vendors and quality-checking results. Archiving materials on Box. Processing approximately 65 print-on-demand titles per year.

Skills

Attention to detail

Highly organized

Self-motivated

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Photoshop

InDesign

Word

Excel

Job description

Purpose To assist in the supervision of acquisition, design, production, promotion, sales, or distribution of books, journals, or publishing rights. Responsible for assisting in the supervision of various phases of publishing in a variety of problem-solving situations. Orders design, layout, composition, printing, binding, advertising, shipping, storage, sales representation, data processing, or other required services. Schedules-works in-process. Prepares budgets, cost estimates, statistical analyses, staff reports and other documents. Develops bid specifications, promotional campaigns, advertising materials, contracts, agreements, policy statements, operating procedures, formulations of objectives, and other necessary items. Works to secure or facilitate commitments for the sale or purchase of books, journals, or publishing rights. Performs related duties as required.

Job Posting Title Production & Composition Assistant
Hiring Department UT Press
Position Open To All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours 40
FLSA Status Non-Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date Oct 05, 2026
Position Duration Expected to Continue
Location UT MAIN CAMPUS

Responsibilities

• Art Evaluations: Log and organize images in Filemaker database. Rename all image files using UT Press naming conventions, making adjustments/corrections to art, optimizing images for printing, and any other issues pertaining to art programs. The art evaluation process includes collaboration across all departments as well as with the author.
• Book Composition and Typesetting: Use InDesign to typeset books from manuscript to first pages; present sample pages; typeset books based on press templates; input page corrections; typeset new material for revised or updated editions; adapt jacket mechanicals to paperback reprints; and make corrections to covers and interiors as needed.
• General Responsibilities: Process invoices, create purchase orders, and contribute to production plans; pack and ship materials; update business cards and office stationery; participate in the training and supervision of student employees and/or fellows; contribute to related department functions as assigned by supervisor.
• Project Management: Create cast-offs to estimate the final page count on books after typesetting; monitor and update schedules in FileMaker database; send books out for typesetting based on press templates; present sample page designs; and communicate with authors, designers, vendors, and printers as needed in coordination with other staff. Archive files and submit invoices when projects are complete.
• Managing approximately 25 e-books annually. Including sending materials to conversion vendors and quality-checking results. Archiving materials on Box. Processing approximately 65 print-on-demand titles per year.

Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree. Proficient in Photoshop, InDesign, Word, and Excel. An excellent eye for detail and commitment to producing the highest quality books. Highly organized with the ability to work on multiple on-going projects. Self-motivated and proactive with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work independently and within a group. Ability to lift a heavy carton of books. Candidates will be asked to perform a software test in InDesign and Photoshop during the course of the interview. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications Experience with FileMaker Pro and database management. Three or more years of publishing or related field of experience. An interest in exploring, developing, and optimizing workflows, as well as adapting to new technologies and workflows as necessary.

Salary Range $43,000

Working Conditions

• Typical Office Environment

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.