Production Controller, Books

Circa:

We are seeking a motivated and technically skilled Production Controller to join our Books Production team. This position is for a fixed-term contract of up-to 12 months covering maternity leave. This role is critical to the delivery of our books programme. As part of a small team, you will manage the production and delivery of our core book content. Internally, you will work closely with colleagues in Books Editorial, Creative and Production Services, and Sales teams to maintain quality standards, and meet customer expectations. Externally, you will coordinate and support third party suppliers and freelancers, as well as liaising with book editors and authors. Aside from core book production tasks, you will be expected to lead on additional initiatives, working with other directorates within the RSC and personnel external to the organisation. For example, these could include a focus on books XML, accessibility requirements, or continued provision of excellent customer service.

The role offers a chance to learn about and develop skills in scholarly publishing activities and build professional relationships through network growth. It offers excellent and diverse opportunities for project and supplier management, to tangibly contribute to RSC Books strategic goals, and to deputise as required for the Senior Production Controller.

At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. Although this role is contractually based at our Cambridge office, you will be able to work from home within the UK, with the expectation that you will attend the office as needed for your role, which is expected to be on an ad-hoc basis. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of the books production process, including copyediting, proofing, indexing, print and digital publication.
• Ensure that external suppliers carrying out these activities achieve RSC quality and timeliness targets, and that best practice and efficient workflows are applied.
• Liaise with freelance copyeditors and indexers and other third-party suppliers.
• Identify and investigate improvements to processes and policies, and implement relevant changes.
• Maintain excellent relationships with our editors and authors, with good communication and customer service through each step of the production process.
• Maintain our quality standards, and meet our annual publication target, which contributes directly to revenue generation and delivering our books strategy.
• Create and maintain up-to-date documentation to ensure clear understanding of policy, procedures and expectations.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external staff.
• Manage projects to achieve revenue diversification or legislative compliance.
• To deputise for the Senior Production Controller.

Qualifications and Skills:

• One of the following (or both):
  • A degree in science.
  • Experience of working in production or editorial roles in publishing.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines, working well individually as well as in a team.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with internal and external contacts, displaying tact and diplomacy where necessary.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to problem-solve and reprioritise tasks based on both business and customer needs.

About Us:

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a not-for-profit organisation with a thriving international community of over 60 000 members, an internationally renowned publisher of high-quality chemical science knowledge, and the professional body for chemists in the UK. Our purpose is to help the chemical science community make the world a better place.  

Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.

At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.

As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

If you have any questions, please contact us at jobs@rsc.org