Production Controller / Project Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Title: Production Controller / Project Manager at Hoxton Mini Press
• Application closing date: midnight on Sunday 13th March
• Salary: £24–30k dependent on experience
• Start date: March/April 2022 or ASAP
• Interviews: At least two rounds, the first will be on Zoom
• Location: Working at home / in studio by London Fields (if/when safe to do so)

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and exceptionally organised individual to manage the production of 25+ art and lifestyle books per year. You will have a number of years’ experience in high quality four-colour print production or in a project management role that has a comparable skillset from which you wish to move into publishing. We may also consider exceptional candidates who have recently graduated if you can present relevant experience or skills. Our focus is on quality, so you’ll need to have excellent attention to detail and a calm, positive and flexible work ethic – even when under pressure. In particular you’ll have an excellent grasp of figures and be ultra-fluent in spreadsheets. We are a small company so the ability to work off your own initiative is a must, but equally you should have a desire to be a part of a growing team and be happy to be involved in all aspects of the publishing process. If you have worked in a bigger company you will need to understand that in a smaller team the roles are not so tightly defined: we all work closely and collaboratively.

WHO ARE WE?

Hoxton Mini Press is a young independent publisher based in east London. Our goal is to make art books affordable and accessible (while still making them beautiful enough that you'll pass them down to your grandchildren). In the past five years we have received critical acclaim from the likes of Martin Parr, Time magazine and the Guardian and have won multiple awards for design, publishing and production. We are a very small team who care. We care about each other, we care about the environment and we care deeply about every book we make.

WHAT IS THE ROLE?

• Managing the production of 25+ titles per year working closely with the in-house team as well as project-specific freelancers to bring to life high-quality photographic books on time and within budget.

• Creating detailed production schedules based on set publication dates and liaising with all team members to ensure their own schedules are maintained while knowing where every book is on its journey at any given time.

• Sourcing quotes from printers, negotiating best prices and analysing the costs to establish profit margins.

• Making sure all our books are carbon offset, that we only use the most sustainable materials and that for every book sold online we plant a tree in the Hoxton Mini Forest.

• Working with the in-house designer to ensure best possible choice of book materials.

• Understanding the colour management of photography and working with external repro houses to ensure best possible quality of photographic printing.

• Managing reprints for all backlist titles and analysing sales history to advise on reprint quantities and timings.

• Managing stock levels across three different warehouses.

• Keeping track of our e-commerce sales and ensuring the warehouses are fulfilling the orders.

• Updating sales figures on all titles on a monthly basis and tracking profits on each title.

• Actively seeking to establish new relationships with printers while maintaining good working relationships with our current pool of printers.

• Liaising with printers and distributors on delivery dates.

• Managing stock deliveries between the office, the UK warehouses and the US warehouse.

WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED?

• Two years’ experience in book production or an equivalent project management role, ideally with a good understanding of all aspects of the print production process, particularly in photographic / four-colour books.

• In some cases we MAY consider outstanding recent graduates.

• Great experience with spreadsheets and a good understanding of finances, budgets and simple profit-and-loss calculations.

• Ideally some experience working with printers both in Europe and the Far East.

• Confidence in managing multiple projects from start to finish.

• Good communication skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people.

• An excellent eye for detail.

• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent time management and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

• Advanced use of Mac is essential as is knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel.

• Experience with Photoshop and InDesign would be useful.

• Knowledge of project management software/Gantt charts would be helpful.

• You will be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in photobook publishing and photography in general with a good eye for design.

(Please note: you must be dog-friendly. There are two lively mini-schnauzers in the office!)