Production Director

The Production Director will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of Vendome Press’s global production programme, overseeing the full lifecycle of approximately 20 new titles and 10–15 backlist reprints annually. The role ensures that all publications are produced to the highest standards of design, craftsmanship, cost efficiency, and timeliness.

This is a full-time, in-office position based at Vendome Press’s UK headquarters:

132–134 Lots Road, London SW10 0LB
.

Reporting directly to senior management, the Production Director will work closely with Editorial, Design, and Management, as well as with international printers and suppliers in Europe, Asia, the UK, and the United States. The role will also include direct line management of one member of staff within the Production Department.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all aspects of book production, from final files through printing, binding, delivery, reprints, and special editions.
• Serve as the senior, UK-based production lead, ensuring close alignment with teams and management.
• Oversee and approve production budgets, schedules, specifications, and manufacturing plans across the list.
• Review, negotiate, and approve vendor bids and contracts, ensuring competitive pricing, quality standards, and dependable delivery.
• Establish and maintain high-level production schedules, aligning editorial, design, and manufacturing timelines with publishing objectives.
• Direct oversight of paper, materials, and binding specifications, balancing creative ambition with cost efficiency and production feasibility.
• Act as the primary production liaison with overseas printers, freight partners, warehouses, and key suppliers.
• Set and enforce quality control standards, reviewing key proofs, colour checks, advance copies, and special finishes to ensure consistency with Vendome’s brand.
• Oversee all logistics and distribution coordination, including printer-to-warehouse shipments (UK and US), author copies, stock transfers, and drop shipments.
• Review and approve invoices, track costs accurately, and maintain clear, auditable production documentation.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities and workflow efficiencies without compromising quality.
• Lead regular production meetings and proactively elevate risks, delays, or quality concerns to management, proposing effective solutions.
• Support management in monitoring inventory levels, forecasting reprints, and maintaining clear production status reporting.
• Oversee or ensure registration of new titles with the US Copyright Office.
• Line-manage and support one (or more members) of the Production Department, setting priorities, reviewing workload, and supporting professional development.

• 10+ years’ senior-level experience in book production and manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead a production function within a highly illustrated trade publishing environment.
• Strong leadership and decision‑making skills, with the confidence to manage complex, multi‑title programmes.
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail, paired with sound commercial judgement.
• Deep understanding of the publishing business and how production decisions impact margins, schedules, and brand positioning.
• Collaborative and authoritative communication style, effective with creative teams, senior management, and international suppliers.
• Ability to remain calm, decisive, and solutions‑focused under pressure.
• Advanced proficiency in Word and Excel; strong working knowledge of InDesign.

• 10+ years’ professional experience in highly illustrated trade publishing production, including leadership or director‑level responsibility.
• Extensive experience managing print production in Asia, Europe, the UK, and the United States.
• Expert understanding of colour proofing and print quality assessment, with the authority to direct corrections and uphold standards.
• Strong negotiation skills supported by rigorous cost analysis and pricing oversight.
• Clear, confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and able to oversee multiple complex schedules…