Production Mgr, Professional/Clinical Pubs

American Academy of Ped•Itasca, IL

40d•$92,824 - $97,981•Hybrid

About The Position

Manage the publishing production process of assigned American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) medical textbooks and professional/clinical books, ensuring products are delivered within established timelines, budgets, and AAP editorial guidelines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and work experience required.
At least three years’ experience in all phases of print production required, including project management, budgeting, scheduling, purchasing print and related services, and vendor management/negotiations.
Experience with production of textbooks required, preferably with major publishing titles and health-related products.
Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously within strict deadlines, pay close attention to detail, take initiative, work both independently and as part of a team, collaborate with various internal and external constituents, and maintain a positive and cooperative team-oriented work environment with a commitment to fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and respected.
Excellent organizational, critical thinking, verbal/written communication, interpersonal, and writing/proofreading skills required.
Strong technical acumen essential with proficiency in MS Office and the ability to learn and apply new technologies; experience with project scheduling tools, virtual meeting platforms (e.g., WebEx, Teams), document collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint), and budgeting software (e.g., Acumatica) preferred.
Some travel and evening/weekend work required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with digital production and working in a non-profit association a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage all aspects of textbook and medical book publishing, including researching and choosing vendors for permissions, developmental editing, copyediting, typesetting, design, and printing working with editors and relevant AAP staff.
Serve as production staff liaison to internal staff and external partners/vendors to define and improve the process of metadata collection and distribution.
Research, prepare, and manage production schedules and facilitate workflow among relevant internal and external partners, troubleshoot potential variances, and implement effective solutions to ensure timely delivery and cost containment.
Develop and approve detailed print and digital book specifications, including size, paper, binding, metadata, and accessibility.
Establish and monitor detailed product budgets. Conduct ongoing cost analysis, communicate variances, and propose cost-savings opportunities such as alternate specification options. Track and reconcile production costs and provide final reports to relevant staff for inventory and P&L updates.
Keep current on publishing trends and recommend appropriate book formats to ensure cost effectiveness, improved process efficiency, and optimum user experience for diverse audiences.
Maintain collaborative relationships with vendors, solicit bids, and negotiate contracts for cost savings. Research and identify new vendors, including overseas printing and typesetting vendors where applicable.
Maintain knowledge of AAP editorial style guidelines and other established publishing requirements to ensure products are in compliance.
Conduct proof reviews and other quality assurance checks to ensure production of the highest quality products.
Participate on internal teams to understand the needs of the other areas and to recommend workflow process changes when applicable.
Perform all other duties as assigned.