Production Editor - Children's - Temporary

Sourcebooks; Naperville (IL); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Sourcebooks is seeking a Temporary Production Editor to uphold quality control standards for the children’s managing and production editorial team. The role ensures books and digital materials are produced on schedule and to high quality standards.

The candidate will manage day-to-day execution of projects, coordinating editorial production from manuscript through final files while collaborating with internal teams and freelancers to keep projects moving efficiently.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of editorial production experience.
• Strong understanding of production from manuscript to final files.
• Proven project management skills with multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage book projects through all stages, ensuring schedules, scope and quality.
• Oversee copyediting, proofreading, page production, and final file prep for print/digital.
• Coordinate with editorial, manufacturing, and freelance partners for seamless execution.
• Assign projects to freelance copyeditors and proofreaders with Freelance Resource Manager.
• Monitor production schedules, identify risks, and resolve issues to stay on track.
• Review page proofs and corrections for accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Prepare and approve final print and ARC files meeting quality specs.
• Track production metrics and identify workflow improvements.
• Serve as primary contact for production questions after manuscript handoff.
• Contribute to workflow docs, process improvements, and cross-functional projects.
• Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining high standards.

Skills

Editorial production

Project management

Copyediting

Attention to detail

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Smartsheet

Job description

Sourcebooks is seeking a Temporary Production Editor to uphold quality control standards for the children’s managing and production editorial team. The Production Editor plays a critical role in ensuring books and digital materials are produced on schedule and to the highest quality standards.

This position manages the day-to-day execution of assigned projects, coordinating editorial production from manuscript through final files while collaborating with internal teams and external freelancers to keep projects moving efficiently. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented project manager with strong editorial expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to solve production challenges in a fast-paced publishing environment.

The pay range for this role is $26.44 - $30.00/hourly. We determine starting pay based on a thorough evaluation of job-related factors, including geographic location, market conditions, relevant experience, training, and education. This process ensures a fair and competitive salary that aligns with both the company and the candidate’s qualifications.

The location for this position can be hybrid or remote in New York or Naperville, Illinois or remote based in any of the following states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

What you’ll do:

• Manage assigned book projects through all stages of editorial production, ensuring schedules, scope, and quality expectations are met.
• Oversee copyediting, proofreading, page production, and final file preparation for print and digital formats.
• Coordinate with editorial, managing editorial, manufacturing, and freelance partners to ensure seamless project execution.
• Assign projects to freelance copyeditors and proofreaders in partnership with the Freelance Resource Manager.
• Monitor production schedules, identify risks, and proactively resolve issues to keep projects on track.
• Review page proofs and editorial corrections for accuracy, consistency, and completeness prior to final approval.
• Prepare and approve final print and Advance Reader Copy (ARC) files, ensuring they meet quality and technical specifications.
• Track production metrics and identify opportunities to improve workflows and operational efficiency.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for production-related questions after manuscript handoff.
• Contribute to workflow documentation, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration initiatives.
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities while maintaining high editorial and production standards.

What you bring:

• 5+ years of editorial production experience in a publishing environment.
• Strong understanding of the publishing production process from manuscript through final print and digital files.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent copyediting and proofreading skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Experience with project management tools and publishing systems, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Smartsheet, or similar platforms.
• Outstanding organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to build productive relationships with freelancers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning and process improvement.
• Experience in children’s books or highly illustrated full-color projects a plus.

Why Sourcebooks?

Sourcebooks is a thriving entrepreneurial publisher driven by our mission to change lives through books. The fifth-largest publisher in the U.S. by print units sold, we bring extraordinary authors to readers in dynamic, data-driven ways, leading to hundreds of national and international bestsellers. Our insight-driven approach has earned us recognition from Fast Company as a Most Innovative Company, a Best Workplace for Innovators, a Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek, a Best Workplace by Inc., and Publishers Weekly’s nod as "the most successful self-made publisher operating in the 21st century." Story by story, book by book, we have changed more than 300 million lives. Join us as we change 300 million more!

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription Drug Insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care, Dependent Care, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, 401(k), Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, and generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.