Duke University Press (DUP) seeks a Books Production Manager to develop, guide, and manage long-term strategy for first printings, reprints, and post-production publishing and asset management; to actively and continually work towards lowering costs; ensure quality, and tighten schedules for manufacturing and e-publication for all DUP books.

The Books Production Manager oversees the work of DUP’s Production Data Specialist, and manages timely publication of DUP books with print vendors by establishing and monitoring schedules and printing costs.

The Books Production Manager guides and manages all content initiatives and the re-purposing of DUP electronic books files. Working along with other Editing, Design & Production (EDP) managers on combined content initiatives, this role supports the integration of electronic content for both books and journals.

Residency within the Triangle region of North Carolina is preferred for this position. However, remote work is supported throughout all of NC, as well as in the following locations: AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, MA, MT, MD, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA.

If interested please submit the University-required electronic application, including your résumé and cover letter, before close of the position at Noon on Monday, April 3, 2023.

Duke University Press is strongly committed to fighting racism and to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We welcome applicants who share this commitment.

Primary Responsibilities: I. Print and Inventory Management (45%) • Assign printers and component vendors based on capabilities of vendors, best fit, prices, and schedule; set and manage the printing schedules for all frontlist titles, setting the requirements for receipt of text and cover files from internal staff in EDP, and for receipt of printrun orders from internal staff in Marketing & Sales; set and manage printing schedules with vendors to meet targeted publication schedules, including shipping dates needed for meetings and/or special events; manage production coordinator so that schedules are met, print orders are accurate, printer queries and issues are addressed, and invoices are processed accurately and promptly. • Direct printers to ensure that DUP requirements, specs, schedules, and pricing are understood and followed; build and manage good working relationships with all new vendors, including training or information on FTP processes, naming conventions, billing practices, and estimates; along with EDP Director, investigate and run comparison pricing for alternate vendors when necessary to meet technical and financial targets. • Manage reprints and print-on-demand (POD) printing program: manage reprints so that schedules are met, print orders are accurate, printer queries and issues are addressed, and invoices are processed accurately and promptly. Implement and manage efficient workflows for reprints; set up and manage distribution of reports on titles ordered and reprint ship dates • Continually monitor changes in equipment and capability with vendors; using that information, monitor costs and look for potential cost savings; standardize DUP work as possible to take advantage of cost-saving and time-saving opportunities offered by print vendors as they change their capabilities. • Set up and manage protocols for print-ready file assets management with all of DUP’s vendors; with EDP Production Data Specialist: set standards for internal file-archiving procedures for all new titles and reprint files (covers, art, inserts, and text). • Identify cost savings in reprint and inventory management, balancing stock needs with fulfillment needs and staff overhead costs. • Ensure completeness and accuracy of digital assets to support POD programs through Title Management (TM) data, Bibliovault (BV) data, and spreadsheets. • Oversee the primary quality check on print advances. Field quality queries or complaints passed to EDP from Book Acquisitions, Marketing, or Customer Relations. Follow up with vendors and keep stakeholders informed of resolution. • Liaise with accounting and Warehouse staff to address questions around shipments and release of titles for sale.

II. Electronic Production and Asset Management (25%) • Facilitate ongoing and new electronic initiatives and press-wide projects by ensuring considerations of production concerns. • Develop and manage protocols between EDP and DUP’s digital archiving partners; manage compliance with all EDP protocols by in-house staff for complete and thorough asset management; as necessary, make recommendations and institute changes arising from business needs. • Oversee ordering of e-assets from vendors so that all e-assets (e-pubs, UPDFs, and XML) are available to DUP for sending to all business partners simultaneously with delivery of printed books to the warehouse. • Develop and manage quality assurance checks of e-pub files; provide feedback to vendors; ensure timely delivery of files to BV. • Manage and report to the business on expected and actual delivery of DUP e-pub files to customers through BV deliveries. • Track e-rights and e-pub limitations for text and art in books; implement requirements in e-pub files, maintain accurate BV files, and update internal tracking databases or spreadsheets.

III. Financials (20%) • Along with EDP Director, analyze and manage printing and e-assets costs for an annual spend of approximately $1.6 million. • Work to lower costs in the context of DUP’s financial goals while balancing quality and schedule; determine printing trends in order to identify cost-saving opportunities and alternate technologies and workflows; present recommendations to EDP staff and/or books managers. • Estimate and track initial manufacturing and e-asset costs on all new book P&Ls; manage new title costs worksheets throughout production; ensure accurate, thorough, and on-time delivery of finalized new title costs worksheets to business accounting staff. • Manage so as to ensure that notifications of deliveries and costs on all new titles and reprints are prompt, so as to ensure that proper financial reconciliations can be completed in a timely fashion by business accounting staff. • Approve manufacturing invoices for all new titles and reprints; manage staff to ensure that all invoices are checked against quotes or scale pricing; troubleshoot invoice problems with vendors. • Create, maintain, and manage protocols and documentation for complete and accurate accounting records of all invoices paid for departmental archiving.

IV. Staff Supervision (10%) • Hire, train, and manage the Books Production team of production coordinators, production assistants, and student workers. • Manage staff workloads; review and balance work assignments; outsource work as necessary; hire new staff as necessary; reassign work as necessary. • Advise and direct work of EDP Staff Specialist: Data Manager on e-pubs and e-assets, monitor and review those tasks.

University-Required Education/Training: Work requires a general business background generally equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a business-related field.

University-Required Experience: Work requires 2 years related business or administrative experience to become familiar with general personnel practices, accounting and budgeting principles and coordination of major office activities. A master's degree in a business-related field may be substituted for 2 years of experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.