This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a wide range of Trade products, including mono fiction titles, colour reference and cookery books, bibles, co-editions and eBooks, working with award winning and bestselling authors.

 Reporting to the Production Manager for William Collins/4th Estate, the Production Controller will be working within the Group Production team to produce co-editions and reprints, as well as giving general support on front-list titles, eBooks and digital projects.  We’re looking for an experienced individual who will confidently produce the products within the agreed budget, quality and lead-time requirements. As well as strong organisation and communication skills, we’re looking for someone with a creative spark and a keen eye for detail.  You must be able to work to deadlines and be able to prioritise your workload. This is an ideal opportunity for a Production Assistant ready for their next step, or a Production Controller looking for a change.

Core responsibilities:

• Ensure products are produced within budget through estimating and maintaining costs (print, paper and bind costs as well as plant costs); negotiating with suppliers where applicable; presenting accurate final costs and processing invoices.

• Run costings, ensuring commercial decisions are made using the most accurate information.

• Manage schedules for co-editions and reprints, from pre-press through to delivery, ensuring effective communication to all stakeholders.

• Work with repro, print and freight suppliers in Asia, Europe and elsewhere to ensure effective production.

• Liaise with warehouse and client services staff on stock issues and the release of your titles.

• Manage the archiving process to ensure that all product is available via Telescope, the Digital Asset Management System.

• Where relevant manage eBook production/corrections.

• Maintain accurate records and data within the production system.

• Develop relationships with key suppliers.

• Check plotter proofs or InSite proofs, check colour proofs where necessary and make sure printing matches proofs or previous printed copies.

• Maintain communication with the appropriate creative and commercial teams, attending weekly reprints meetings.

• Assist other Production Controllers and Production Manager when required to manage workload and departmental needs.

• Ensure completed technical files are assembled for new titles prior to publication, and are up to date for reprints/co-editions as required

  Experience required:

• Negotiating with suppliers, establishing good working relationships

• Managing multiple projects simultaneously

• Good knowledge of book production

• Working with multiple stakeholders 

Skills required:

• Interest in print and eBook production

• Good communication skills

• Good numerical skills

• Ability to ask for help with solving problems, escalating as necessary

• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office

• Desirable: understanding of InDesign/print pdfs

  Benefits:

  • Hybrid working model (3 days in the office)

  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays

  • Private healthcare cover and life assurance

    28 days holiday plus bank holidays

  • Private healthcare cover and life assurance

  • Summer Hours 

  • Free access to HeadSpace, employee assistance programme (24 hour helpline), mental health first aiders, and a wellbeing portal

  • Relocation Rent Support Loan 

  • Employee networks: HC All In (open forum), Elevate (for ethnic minority colleagues), HarperParents, Menopause at Work, Pride at HC, Social Mobility Network and Neurodiversity at Work

  • Unlimited training on our Learning and Development portal

  • Virtual GP and eyecare vouchers

  • Gym membership discount

  • Onsite physiotherapy (London only)

  • Charitable donation matching and 2 volunteering days

  • We're a certified Carbon Neutral company

  • Free e-books and audiobooks, newspaper subscriptions and discounts on books

  • Subsidised canteen and retail discounts

  • Onsite prayer room 

  If you wish to discuss anything regarding this position and/or your application to this role, please reach out directly to stephanie.jemmett@harpercollins.co.uk with subject heading ‘Vacancy Query’ plus the job title and we will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.

  At HarperCollins, we value authenticity and integrity in our recruitment process. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of all applications, we ask that all responses to assessment questions reflect your own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities.  This allows us to fairly assess your knowledge, skills, and experience to determine how they align with the role. We value diverse perspectives and genuine contributions, even if answers are not perfect. The use of AI tools or external assistance to generate responses is discouraged unless explicitly permitted for specific tasks.

  Please note, if you are interested in the role you would need to submit your application via Applied. We do not accept email applications.