Publishing Production Editor

Persona Staff; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Persona Staff is seeking a meticulous production coordinator to oversee the publishing workflow for multiple journals. You will manage the end-to-end production schedule, coordinate copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading with vendors, and ensure changes align with the Journal and House Styles.

Strong English, publishing experience, and familiarity with HTML/XML/ePUB are essential. You will also verify final formats (PDF/XML/HTML/EPUB) and manage invoicing, while monitoring production metrics

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field.
• Experience in publishing or a publisher internship.
• Proficiency in English is essential and scholarly publishing interest.
• Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Familiarity with HTML, XML and ePUB.
• Knowledge of Open Access publishing principles.

Responsibilities

• Own the production schedule across multiple journals from acceptance to publication.
• Coordinate copyediting, typesetting, proofreading with vendors and maintain clear communication.
• Collate changes onto a single proof and verify against style sheets before approval.
• Quality-check copy editors and proofreaders against house standards and British English conventions.
• Confirm final publishing formats: PDF, XML, HTML, EPUB and ensure accuracy.
• Process invoices and purchase orders accurately and on time.
• Monitor production metrics and publish final manuscripts online accurately.

Skills

English proficiency

MS Office

HTML/XML/ePUB familiarity

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree (any field)

Master’s degree (any field)

Tools

Open Access publishing principles

Job description

Responsibilities

• Own the production schedule across multiple journals, tracking every article from acceptance to publication and keeping it on time.
• Coordinate copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading vendors, keeping communication clear, organised, and moving.
• Collate all author and editor changes onto a single proof, verifying each against the Journal Style Sheet and House Style before approval, and checking every implemented change for accuracy.
• Quality-check the work of copy editors and proofreaders against our house standards and British English conventions.
• Confirm and check final publishing formats: PDF, XML, HTML, and EPUB.
• Process invoices and purchase orders accurately and on time.
• Monitor production metrics (e.g. page usage) and publish final manuscripts online, accurately and accessibly.

Desired Attributes

• Are meticulous, systematic, and deadline-driven, and genuinely enjoy structured, detail-heavy work.
• Can hold others (authors, editors, vendors) to a schedule firmly and diplomatically.
• Have excellent written English and a sharp eye for grammar, spelling, and consistency (British English a plus).
• Work independently and manage your own time under tight, recurring deadlines.

Qualification and Competencies

• A Bachelorâs or masterâs degree in any field.
• Experience in publishing or a publisher internship.
• A demonstrated proficiency in the English language and an interest in scholarly publishing are essential.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Familiarity with HTML, XML and ePUB
• Familiarity with Open Access publishing principles.