What are the responsibilities and job description for the Book Production Specialist position at Select Source International?
Job Overview:
We are seeking print and digital production of books, reports, essays, and other materials from manuscript development to final product launch. The person in this role must manage multiple stakeholders, including authors, proofreaders, designers, and printers, while ensuring projects adhere to institutional style, branding, and quality standards.
Duties:
Handle production of print and digital projects, including books, reports, essays, and reprints, from manuscript to page proofs to print/digital product launch.
- Collaborate with Hoover fellows and staff to understand content requirements and target audience needs, adapting processes and formats as necessary.
- Hire and supervise work of composition vendors, freelance cover designers, proofreaders, and indexers. Oversee the print and digital production process, ensuring the timely execution of tasks. Review proofs of all components throughout the production process, including evaluation and transfer of author and proofreader corrections, and bluelines.
- Oversee cover and interior text and figure design and composition, both bespoke and templated. Manage templates and provide creative direction for new products, covers, and templates, ensuring alignment with institutional standards, branding, and series style.
- Execute title management tasks, including title submissions to distributor, file transmission to web team, digital ARC creation, ebook creation, permissions advising and research, and CIP applications.
- Design and/or coordinate production of special projects and ancillary marketing/publicity materials.
- Liaise with printers to schedule and budget print runs, and address prepress concerns for print products.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant work experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
- In-depth knowledge of all phases of book production, including copyediting, project management, the rudiments of art and design, traditional and digital printing, and ebook conversion, including a basic understanding of accessibility best practices.
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite. Demonstrated experience with Adobe Creative Suite preferred, but not required.
- Demonstrated expertise in overseeing complex production processes with exceptional attention to detail while adhering to schedules and budgets.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th and 18th editions, as well as experience with house style sheets.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external book publication/production partners to ensure publication deadlines are met.
Top 3 Skill
- Editing or proofreading experience
- Long form publication and print experience (such as books and essays)
- Email and in-person client communications
