Assistant Production Editor

The role

The Assistant Production Editor’s main responsibility is to ensure that allocated book titles are produced to Bristol University Press standards, and to time and budget in all required formats. The role requires a thorough understanding of production processes, the ability to prioritise and the ability to react swiftly to changing circumstances.

What will you be doing?

• Maintain and update production schedules (in Klopotek database) and report any changes to colleagues and authors.
• Allocate title budget to freelancers (and ensure work is completed by the deadline, adheres to quality standards and to budget).
• Respond to external enquiries from authors, freelancers and suppliers and use judgement when to involve other colleagues.
• Prioritise tasks and respond to internal queries from colleagues and line manager to ensure titles are produced on time and to budget.
• Organise and brief freelance externals suppliers (copy-editors with information about the level of editing required, proofreaders, typesetters, indexers) and provide relevant data (schedules and budgets) to ensure effective production.
• Prepare back cover copy and brief cover designers.
• Liaise with colleagues in commissioning and marketing to ensure they are informed of processes and updates where necessary.
• Assess routine queries and use initiative to make decisions to refer complex queries to relevant senior colleagues.
• Use initiative to solve problems (for example, using diplomacy and negotiation skills to manage/resolve disputes between authors/copy editors during production process) and then to involve senior colleagues if unable to find a solution.
• Pass on feedback from authors and suppliers to improve current working methods.
• Keep production skills up-to-date and gain further knowledge from production colleagues and online resources where necessary.
• Give guidance and support to volunteers and interns when required.

You should apply if

You should apply if you have an excellent command of written English, a proven ability to proofread text, effective organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail, knowledge of digital publishing, experience of preparing text and cover files for print, experience in a relevant production assistant or production editor role and experience interacting with authors.

Additional information

For informal queries about the role please contact: 

Vaarunika Dharmapala, v.dharmpala@bristol.ac.uk 

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Sunday 16th March 2025

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