Production Editor

Springer Publishing is a leading healthcare education and exam prep company, committed to advancing people, ideas, and careers in nursing, advanced practice nursing, social work, and behavioral and health

sciences. We are seeking an experienced Production Editor to project manage delivery of our products on time and on budget. 

Job purpose:  

The Production Editor is responsible for managing new print, digital, and A/V product and associated supplements from unedited content through to release for distribution/sale and archiving, on time and on budget, with appropriate quality levels. Target is to handle 2 or 3 products and associated supplements per month plus any post-publication items or items resulting from related initiatives.

Duties and responsibilities:

Project evaluation: 

• Evaluate delivered content for copyediting and design requirements; select sample chapter(s) for “test” of copyeditor performance and design; create a copyediting style sheet 

• Evaluate for best production method considering project needs and/or if the project will challenge the current editing tool/CMS processes

• Ensure that the selected design reflects the content level and audience, addresses/highlights the unique features of the book; and provides the appropriate page count range

Project scheduling/budgeting:

• Create a detailed book schedule that addresses concerns and particular requirements resulting from the project evaluation stage and author availability

• Ensure that schedules and design/copyediting needs are appropriately connected, managing the different vendors assigned to each when necessary

• Work with vendors and freelancers to anticipate and adjust for delays or schedule issues. Report inadequate vendor performance asap to your manager to allow time to regroup/reassign.

• Understanding of relative production costs and per-project budget management

Quality assurance: 

• Review copy editing in CMS, another editing tool, or PDFs for copyediting quality, presentation accuracy, etc. Ensure that materials presented to the author appropriately represent the quality and level of care and attention expected from Springer Publishing.

• Review author corrections for atypical changes and for any general instructions or comments. If author changes or requests are atypical or corrections are heavy, are costly, or may result in a publication delay, consult with your manager.

• Assign appropriate level of freelance support (copyediting or corrections checking) to ensure high quality products. Ensure accurate front matters, tables of contents, covers, supplementary materials, etc. Review and route frontmatter and cover for approval.

• Ensure supplements are at the appropriate level, meet the company’s requirements, and address the primary audience; are copyedited to tie in with the book’s editing; are approved by the author and Editorial if required; and are available 1 month before the textbook is published (print or digital).

Other:

• Participate in project launch meetings, department meetings, one-on-one meetings with manager, monthly WIP meetings.

• Participate in department initiatives, offering suggestions and ideas, engaging with the team

• Ensure that the author experience is an excellent one, offering assistance, and content and schedule and process support within schedule and budget parameters

• Be a good communicator to the assigned managers, other departments as appropriate, etc.

• Maintain in real-time the production status report for the main product and supplements

• Support the department- and company-wide requirement for care and consistency in content, working with the assigned department chairperson as needed

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English or area related to our publishing disciplines

• Strong grammar, language, and communication skills

• Fluency in copyediting and copyediting styles (APA, AMA, Chicago)

• Understanding of and experience with rights and permissions process and requirements

• Knowledge of composition process and comfort with basic production technologies including A/V editing and production

• Able to work independently/proactively while keeping the department managers apprised of project status, quality, and cost issues

• Hands-on CMS experience highly desirable

• Very detail oriented and highly organized. Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work independently

• Five years’ minimum previous experience as textbook and supplements production editor

Physical requirements:

• Able to commute to our Princeton, NJ location when required. 

About Springer Publishing Company:

At Springer Publishing, our culture is focused on our customers and our communities, while empowering our employees to learn, grow and deliver. When you join Springer Publishing, you’re joining a company that values career growth, collaboration, innovation and diversity and inclusion. Bring your experiences, your perspectives, and your passion and join us on our mission to support customers from education to career.  

Named one of the fastest growing independent publishers in the United States by Publishers Weekly, we continue to grow our product portfolio in nursing, public health, healthcare administration, social work, counseling and medicine.  

Join us and grow your career at Springer Publishing

Interested candidates can forward their letter and resume to:  humanresources@springerpub.com

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability.