Production Editor - Children's - Temporary

Sourcebooks•Naperville, IL

18h•$62,000 - $66,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Sourcebooks is seeking a Temporary Production Editor to uphold quality control standards for the children’s managing and production editorial team. The Production Editor plays a critical role in ensuring books and digital materials are produced on schedule and to the highest quality standards. This position manages the day-to-day execution of assigned projects, coordinating editorial production from manuscript through final files while collaborating with internal teams and external freelancers to keep projects moving efficiently. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented project manager with strong editorial expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to solve production challenges in a fast-paced publishing environment.

Requirements

5+ years of editorial production experience in a publishing environment.
Strong understanding of the publishing production process from manuscript through final print and digital files.
Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Excellent copyediting and proofreading skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Experience with project management tools and publishing systems, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Smartsheet, or similar platforms.
Outstanding organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
Ability to build productive relationships with freelancers and cross-functional teams.
Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
Adaptability, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning and process improvement.

Nice To Haves

Experience in children’s books or highly illustrated full-color projects a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage assigned book projects through all stages of editorial production, ensuring schedules, scope, and quality expectations are met.
Oversee copyediting, proofreading, page production, and final file preparation for print and digital formats.
Coordinate with editorial, managing editorial, manufacturing, and freelance partners to ensure seamless project execution.
Assign projects to freelance copyeditors and proofreaders in partnership with the Freelance Resource Manager.
Monitor production schedules, identify risks, and proactively resolve issues to keep projects on track.
Review page proofs and editorial corrections for accuracy, consistency, and completeness prior to final approval.
Prepare and approve final print and Advance Reader Copy (ARC) files, ensuring they meet quality and technical specifications.
Track production metrics and identify opportunities to improve workflows and operational efficiency.
Serve as the primary point of contact for production-related questions after manuscript handoff.
Contribute to workflow documentation, process improvements, and cross-functional collaboration initiatives.
Adapt quickly to changing priorities while maintaining high editorial and production standards.