Production Controller in London

Overview Contract: Full time, permanent, 3 days a week in the London office
We are looking for a skilled and organised Production Controller to join our busy production team. The successful candidate will be confident in managing a complex workload and have experience handling mono titles with particular emphasis on special and exclusive editions.
Your team The Pan Macmillan production department is an expert, efficient and collaborative team who are an essential stage in the publishing of all our titles. We make books of all types which publish into every area of the market. We work closely with our colleagues in editorial, art, operations and sales to make sure every book is produced to the highest standards, on time and within budget.
Your role You will be an essential addition to the production team in our adult books division, managing titles from acquisition to completion. Controllers can potentially work on any title and any list but there will be particular focus on managing books with multiple editions on our Tor and Pan lists including handling tip-ins, proofs and materials for specific customers.
Your key responsibilities End-to-end Production Management: Manage the production process for a diverse range of adult titles, ensuring every book, from standard mono to high-spec special editions, meets Pan Macmillan’s quality standards
Manufacturing Oversight: Order and monitor printings, from initial confirmation through to final delivery, acting as the primary point of contact for suppliers to ensure a seamless supply chain
Financial Stewardship: Produce accurate costings at every stage of the critical path to support informed business decisions and maintain healthy project margins
Commercial Negotiation: Proactively negotiate schedules, specifications, and pricing with external suppliers to secure the best value without compromising on quality or deadlines
Data Integrity: Manage and update Biblio and other internal systems to ensure product records, schedules, and approvals are accurate and accessible to the wider business
Cross-departmental Collaboration: Partner closely with the Editorial, Design, and Sales teams to align production schedules with marketing beats and retail requirements.
Essential experience, abilities, knowledge and values you’ll need to succeed Book Production Expertise: Experience in book production (preferably within trade publishing), with a solid grasp of UK mono manufacturing and the end-to-end critical path
Special Edition Management: A proven understanding of the exclusive edition market, including the technical requirements for managing tip-ins, special finishes, and bespoke customer materials
Technical Literacy: A comprehensive working knowledge of typesetting, repro, and print processes, alongside proficiency in industry-standard software (such as Biblio and Adobe Acrobat)
Commercial & Financial Awareness: High level of numeracy with the ability to produce accurate costings, negotiate competitive pricing with suppliers, and manage invoices precisely
Project Management & Prioritisation: Excellent organisational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage a complex workload and maintain schedules across multiple high-priority titles
Inclusion and Representation: An active dedication to promoting diverse voices and inclusive practices, taking personal responsibility for ensuring our workplace and publishing reflect the communities we serve
Community: A collaborative approach to building a supportive and vibrant environment
Curiosity: A strong drive for learning and a readiness to embrace different perspectives
Integrity: A foundation of openness and honesty, taking responsibility for actions and learning from mistakes.
Desirable skills we’d love you to have Innovation Mindset : A proactive interest in how emerging technologies and AI tools, such as Gemini, can be harnessed to improve process efficiencies and creative problem-solving
Communication & Relationship Building : The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with both internal stakeholders (Editorial, Design, Sales) and external suppliers to ensure production standards are met while maintaining trusting relationships
What you’ll get in return In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.
Salary starting from: £31,000
Closing date: 2 February 2026
Some of the benefits we offer 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service +