Senior Production Editor

Location: Salary: $60,434 - $79,000 Division: Group Operations Department: Publishing and Content Operations We are the world’s largest university press. We have both a worldwide reach and a personal understanding of local needs, partnering on the ground to adapt publications and resources to meet the individual needs of communities, societies, and countries. We partner with researchers, educators, and technology partners to stay ahead of the changing ways people around the world are accessing and sharing knowledge. With a presence in more than 50 countries and millions of customers around the world, an idea launched at OUP can have a global impact. More about OUP Advancing Knowledge and Learning ABOUT THE ROLE Responsible for supporting a fast-paced and diversified Academic publishing program within Content Operations, this position oversees and supports production of content from delivery to publication in print and digital formats such that products of appropriate quality are available to the market at the right time, cost, and quality. The team also provides specialism in books requiring a high level of author care and attention to detail across a diverse range of Higher Education, academic, scholarly, and trade titles, including classics, history, law, linguistics, literature, religion, and science. Key Accountabilities include: 1) Use project management skills in managing the production process on titles requiring high levels of care and attention to detail and oversee the work of third-party supplier project managers in: a. Coordinating the schedules for print and digital products. b. Commissioning, briefing, and managing the production processes (e.g., freelancer copyediting, indexing) and quality control for each project. c. Setting the budget for each product. 2) Communicate with authors, project partners, and stakeholders, and oversee the communication of third-party supplier project managers with all project stakeholders (e.g., authors, Editorial, Design) to ensure: a. Accurate information is given in a timely, proactive, and professional manner such that requirements are clear and understood. b. Expectations are managed in line with cost, quality, and schedule considerations. c. Project status is clearly stated. 3) Support and advise third-party supplier project managers on the analysis and resolution of manifold issues as they arise in the production process such that: a. Efficient, cost-effective solutions are implemented. b. Authors/other stakeholders report a positive experience and maintain confidence in the OUP production process. c. Quality is maintained. 4) Facilitate continuous improvement by mentoring and coaching third-party supplier project managers such that they have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage content of all complexity levels, ensuring that lessons learned are given as constructive and actionable feedback. 5) Proactively contribute to or initiate the analysis and resolution of problems relating from, or causing, supplier performance issues in conjunction with pre-press suppliers and OUP stakeholders such that a satisfactory outcome is achieved, and the recurrence of problems is averted. 6) Generate, engage with, and implement business process improvements and transformations such that Content Operations’ workflows continue to adapt to changing publishing requirements and add value to the business. 7) Support the line manager so that the department workload is successfully managed, and stakeholders report a good experience of working with Content Operations; act on the manager’s behalf in their absence or on request. 8) Co-ordinate design and artwork processes and engage with third-party suppliers to ensure that cover artwork, text design, and in-text images meet appropriate budget, schedule, and quality standards. 9) Update and maintain tracking tools and systems as events occur, and support third-party suppliers in maintaining systems, so that accurate project information is available at all times, cost variances are avoided, and colleagues can confidently manage projects in the post-holder’s absence. 10) Support colleagues in the production process, answering queries, coordinating and delivering training on CO workflow tasks, and advising on prioritization and problem-solving, so that skills are shared among the team and schedule, cost, and quality targets are met. ABOUT YOU Ability to empathize, support, and collaborate with others on problem resolution and to step back and entrust others with implementation Flexibility, creativity, and initiative in problem solving along with an ability to get the root cause and facilitate path to success Excellent prioritization and organization skills, including ability to manage a busy workload with strict and often conflicting deadlines in a fast-paced project management environment Ability to build relationships, influence, and negotiate with key stakeholders (up to manager level), including authors, often through difficult situations requiring skills in advocacy and diplomacy Significant experience and understanding of print and digital production processes and workflow, including experience of managing third-party suppliers Good experience and understanding of copy-editing, proofreading, and indexing processes, including experience of managing freelance editorial personnel desirable Precision in written and verbal communication along with good attention to detail Good numeracy with the ability to create a budget desirable Understanding of digital authoring technologies and delivery platforms, and/or manufacturing processes desirable Good IT skills, including standard Microsoft Office package, and ability to learn new technologies desirable BENEFITS We care about work/life balance at OUP. We offer 15 days’ vacation time that rises with service, 10 sick days, plus floating holidays, personal days, company holidays, and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect of working hours and the use of technology to support regular remote working, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies. We care for you and your dependents by offering health, dental, and vision insurance plans to our full-time employees. Each plan has multiple levels of coverage to fit your needs and has a high level of contribution made by OUP. In addition, we offer Employee Assistant Programs for all full-time employees, regardless of whether you elect in health insurance. We also offer life insurance and disability insurance. We help make your money go further by providing a non-elective contribution on your behalf to your retirement plan of 7% of your salary and a matching contribution to the retirement plan of 50% on the first 6% of employee contributions on based earnings. This role is part of the OUP USA News Guild Bargaining Unit. Position Location: This role can be hybrid, based out of New York, NY or Cary, NC (2 days a week in office) or remote in the United States. GJC Level: I5 (for internal purposes only) Salary: $60,434 - $79,000 dependent on skills and experience We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all. We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all. Job Category: Support & Operations Nearest Major Market: Manhattan Nearest Secondary Market: New York City