Manager, Production Editorial - Romance

Sourcebooks•Naperville, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sourcebooks is seeking a strategic, highly experienced production editorial leader to manage a select list of high-profile and complex romance titles while mentoring Production Editors and strengthening the workflows that move books from manuscript handoff through final print and digital production. This role is ideal for someone who combines rigorous editorial judgment, calm problem-solving, and strong project leadership with a genuine commitment to developing people and improving processes. The Manager, Production Editorial – Romance will balance hands-on ownership of a reduced but highly strategic title list with team leadership responsibilities. You will troubleshoot complex production challenges, maintain high quality standards, communicate risks clearly, and partner across Editorial, Managing Production, vendors, and freelance resources to keep projects moving successfully.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in editorial production, publishing operations, project management, or a closely related field.
Advanced knowledge of copyediting, proofreading, and production editorial workflows.
Demonstrated success managing high-profile book titles, complex projects, shifting priorities, and detailed schedules.
Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop team members through clear guidance, practical feedback, and growth opportunities.
Strong strategic problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the judgment to navigate ambiguity and resolve issues proactively.
Proficiency with project management tools such as Smartsheet and Basecamp, along with editorial tracking systems.
Exceptional attention to detail and a consistent commitment to high editorial standards.
A deeply collaborative, agile, and accountable working style, with strong communication skills across teams and with external partners.
A coachable, always-learning mindset and an interest in emerging publishing practices, workflow improvements, and process automation.

Responsibilities

Own a select list of high-priority and complex romance titles, guiding each project smoothly through all production editorial stages.
Oversee titles from manuscript handoff through final print and digital production, ensuring schedules, editorial consistency, accuracy, and quality standards are maintained.
Anticipate and solve complex workflow challenges, assess scope changes, and communicate schedule risks or adjustments to senior leadership.
Partner closely with Managing Editorial, Editorial, Production, the Freelance Resource Manager, copyeditors, proofreaders, vendors, and other cross-functional stakeholders.
Manage, mentor, and provide real-time feedback to Production Editors, helping them strengthen editorial judgment, project management skills, and confidence with increasingly complex work.
Support hiring, onboarding, training, and the development of best practices for production editorial workflows.
Analyze workflows, quality-control metrics, and available data to identify bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and recommend process refinements.
Develop and document best practices for high-complexity projects and contribute insights on production editorial trends, challenges, and opportunities.
Stay current on publishing innovations, workflow best practices, process automation, and professional development opportunities.