Associate Director, Custom Publications

Experienced and visionary Associate Director to lead our Custom Publications team, as well as manage a list of approximately 50 custom editions a year. This pivotal role will drive the strategic direction, innovation, and operational excellence of custom publishing projects. As the Associate Director, you will be responsible for leading a talented team of four, fostering collaboration, creativity, and innovation to deliver high-quality custom publications.

The right candidate will be responsible for being a part of the creative process in production and manufacturing of custom book editions. This "Think Tank" atmosphere will foster creativity & collaboration which is a must. The right candidate is able to manage the production/manufacturing of approximately 75 custom edition titles a year in varying complexity and formats (books and novelty). They will work with internal stake-holders to be sure books are produced/manufactured according to the pub schedule and budget. They will collaborate with multiple imprint teams and Custom/Special Market Sales Teams on new formats, and using specs and effects in new and novel ways.

What you'll do:

• Collaborate and brainstorm with the Custom Sales team to develop new formats and product ideas
  including novel uses for specs and effects. Scout new production trends and printing developments and
  share with the Custom Sales Team.
• Communicate with editors, designers, production editors, managing editors, other in-house departments
  and vendors as needed as it concerns schedules, query solutions and issues impacting budget and quality.
  Make recommendations in response to changed circumstances.
• Request and analyze cost quotes from vendors, prepare preliminary pricing estimates and final cost
  estimates. Create production schedules for overseas and domestic titles. Evaluate and monitor
  production specs for adherence to budget. Recommend changes as needed to remain on budget.
• Work with vendors for R&D, and prototypes for possible new product types.
• Be comfortable researching and chasing ideas on new print techniques, unique materials and production
  methods.
• Manage quality at every stage of routing materials to finished book.
• Review, route, and color correct (as needed) production materials among Production Editorial, vendors,
  and other departments as needed. Provide design templates as necessary and work with design team on
  proofing needs.
• Issue purchase orders to vendors for compositions, separations, book components, and manufacturing.
  Communicate paper requirements and review paper specs in a timely manner with paper manager.
• Review and approve invoices.
• Manage team of four, providing guidance and helping to brainstorm ideas.

What you'll bring:

• Excellent knowledge of all facets of production and manufacturing with basic understandings of overall
  business of publishing and how production issues affect the success of a publishing company.
• Strong project management skills with ability to prioritize.
• Work collaboratively with others in a professional manner.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in work.
• Creative thinker/problem-solver who is able to adapt to changes, delays and unexpected events.
  Anticipates, identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.
• Extensive knowledge of different formats and product types as well the capabilities of a wide variety of
  suppliers
• Knowledge of the Fine Press world
• Comfortable using digital and web technologies
• Optional: knowledge of Google Workspace platform
• Optional: experience with Biblio

Ideal experience:

• 15 years of book and novelty production experience
• Must be highly organized and detail minded
• Work with 4/color interiors
• Ideally has worked with highly spec'd and/or custom books
• Minimum 5 years of people management
• Book Printing/Production or equivalent work experience

This role will have an annual salary of $108,000 - 115,000.

Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.

U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are actively seeking job applicants who reflect a broad representation of differences, including race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, neurodiversity, age, family status, economic background and status, geographical background and status, and perspective. We believe that the best companies reflect the incredible diversity in viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities of the world in their staffs, and are committed to inclusive hiring across departments and levels. The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.