Senior Production Editor

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Production Editor to production-edit approximately 35 to 40 books a year, or 15 to 25 books at a time. This role manages the production editorial process from assessing manuscripts for copyediting needs to hiring and managing freelancers, proofreading and indexing page proofs, and checking all stages of text, photo inserts, and jackets/covers throughout the bookmaking process. Responsibilities include quality control and compliance with departmental procedures. Proficiency with digital copyediting and routing, as well as knowledge of workflow systems, is required.

Responsibilities

• Handle production editorial work for original fiction and nonfiction titles from manuscript to bound book, as well as paperback conversions.
• Electronically style manuscripts for design and composition.
• Hire freelance copyeditors, proofreaders, and indexers, and review their work through all passes.
• Clean and prepare copyedited, author-reviewed manuscripts for design and typesetting.
• Collate changes from authors and freelancers in page proofs and resolve queries ahead of transmittal.
• Copyedit jacket/cover copy and ancillary marketing material, including sales quotes, reading group guides, bound galley cover copy.
• Proofread jackets/covers, insert captions, and additional material.
• Collaborate frequently and ongoing with Production, Design, and Editorial departments concerning scheduling, editorial revisions, and compliance with Legal department directives.
• Update progress of projects in various digital tracking systems, using correct file-naming conventions and adhering to documented best practices.
• Provide task- and project-specific support for other production editors to ensure coverage is maintained during planned vacation and discretionary days.

Requirements

• Extensive background in adult trade fiction and nonfiction.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, anticipating problems, troubleshooting solutions, and prioritizing.
• Strong working knowledge of grammar and punctuation, including expertise with the Chicago Manual of Style, with an aptitude for enforcing style rules while respecting author voice.
• Meticulous attention to detail; ability to work well under pressure; strong oral and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines while juggling multiple projects at once.
• Seven to ten years’ experience as a production editor, preferably in adult trade fiction/nonfiction.
• Copyediting and proofreading at a high level.
• Technical proficiency in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat (including comfort with PDF markup tools), and Workflow/Metadata systems.
• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000.