Responsible for the management of the artworking, production and print buying for a wide range of books and components spanning children's  and adult's fiction, non-fiction and educational, including sticker and activity, soundboards, board, cloth, bath, treasuries, picture flats, hand/finger puppets, pop-ups, flaps, boxsets, touch and feel, as well as plus parts and components. 

Company Websites:

https://igloobooks.com

https://www.bonnierbooks.co.uk

Head of Studio and Production

March 2014 - September 2018

Job overview: Leading the Studio and Co-edition Production department to ensure that all titles were prepared and uploaded to press, printed and ready for onward transportation, accurately, on schedule and on budget, across all of Igloo's publications.

Key Responsibilities:

• Promoted into a newly created role following organisational restructure

• Leading a team comprising of Artworkers and Production Controllers (plus Freelancers as required)

• Managing the workflow of artworking and the uploading to press of annually approximately 3,000 titles spanning first publications, reprints, new editions and Co-editions in excess of 37 languages

• Sourcing, appointing, and managing the budget and workflow of translation agencies for approximately 100 titles annually, across 3 languages

• Quality checking and approval before upload to press, providing final plotter before print, and advance approval before shipping

• Liaising and negotiating with Printers in the Far East to ensure titles were printed accurately and on schedule

• Generating RAG reports and chairing weekly RAG meetings with Sales, Publishing and Operations to monitor every book's publication's progress, and troubleshoot any scheduling concerns

• Liaising with Publishing to ensure files are handed-over to Studio on time and accurately

• Providing technical support and troubleshooting file problems as required

• Monitoring the workload of the team versus schedules and identify the need for freelance resource, and subsequent management of Freelancers

• Ensuring style-guides were maintained

• File server management

Studio Manager 

May 2012 - February 2014

Job overview: Managing the workflow of the Publishing department, which included over 400 new 1st publications annually, in addition to approximately 30 weekly reprint and ad-hoc special titles. Working as a senior member of Publishing department, with over 27 people reporting directly and indirectly to me, I was responsible for allocating all projects to Editors, Designers & Artworkers. I managed the workflow and creation of schedules for all of igloo's publications from a publishing perspective, as well as liaising with Production to ensure that files were uploaded to print accurately and on time. I managed, developed, and briefed a variety of book products, spanning in complexity from simple picture flats to novelty products such as sounds, plush and pop-ups, with ranging paginations from 4 spread board books through to 300+ page adult reference titles. I worked closely with all other departments to ensure awareness of publication and file ready dates. I managed the briefing, ordering and production of sales dummies and the workflow of the associated sales material. In addition, I was responsible for the management and sourcing of freelancers and outside suppliers. Other duties included final sign off on all publications before upload to press, the workflow and checking of printer's proofs, and the approval of advance copies to ensure the highest standards were maintained.

Senior Production Controller

October 2010 - April 2012

Job overview: Production and Print Management of complex and high-profile projects across approximately 20 printed languages to ensure that files were accurate and received on schedule, and to specification. I was responsible for managing special requirements such as packing instructions, stickering, tight delivery dates and delivery splits. I worked closely with Printers and suppliers in the Far East, Co-edition customers and Sales and Operations to ensure that client requirements were met. Additional Production duties included raising and amending purchase orders, checking printer's proofs and advance copies, problem solving, discussing technical issues, and briefing specifications. I oversaw the Production Controllers' projects, and I carried out print buying across the department, through the sourcing and developing of new supplier relationships, price negotiation, and ensuring appropriate print suppliers were used for each project based on complexity, price and delivery schedules.