Senior Publishing Project Manager, Custom & Proprietary

Sourcebooks; Naperville (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Sourcebooks is seeking a highly collaborative Managing Editor to oversee scheduling and coordination across Custom and Proprietary titles. This role sits at the center of Editorial, Marketing, Sales, Design, and Manufacturing—building realistic project plans and surfacing risks early.

The right candidate will turn ambiguity into executable plans, thrive in a fast-paced publishing environment, and use data and cross‑functional partnership to move complex projects forward with clarity and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in editorial production or project management.
• Proven track record managing complex schedules across teams.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with curiosity.
• Experience with Smartsheet, Filemaker, or Basecamp.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Adaptability and collaborative work style.
• Familiarity with Agile methods preferred.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of schedule creation for Custom/Proprietary projects from testing to delivery.
• Define project scope, milestones, and production needs with cross-functional partners.
• Act as primary liaison to keep stakeholders aligned on schedules and risks.
• Map publishing seasons and track manuscript milestones using Smartsheet.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing to protect on-sale dates.
• Communicate deadlines and risks clearly and convene stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Track data accuracy across tracking systems.
• Identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improved execution.
• Explore best practices and new workflows to improve processes.

Skills

Editorial production

Scheduling management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Agile project management

Team coordination

Tools

Smartsheet

Filemaker

Basecamp

Job description

Sourcebooks is seeking a highly collaborative Managing Editor to oversee scheduling and coordination across Custom and Proprietary titles. This role sits at the center of Editorial, Marketing, Sales, Design, and Manufacturing—building realistic project plans and surfacing risks early.

The right candidate will turn ambiguity into executable plans, thrive in a fast-paced publishing environment, and use data and cross‑functional partnership to move complex projects forward with clarity and