Production Editor

$45,000 - $45,000/Yr

University of Georgia - Athens, GA

Full-time - Entry Level

Athens, GA

5,001-10,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Production Editor at the University of Georgia Press plays a crucial role in overseeing the editorial and production processes of book publishing. This position involves managing 20-30 projects annually, ensuring that manuscripts are prepared for publication, and acting as a liaison between authors, freelancers, and the press's production team. The Production Editor is responsible for copyediting, proofreading, and coordinating the production of front-list titles, contributing to the press's mission of publishing scholarly works and books of interest to general readers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare manuscripts and disks for freelance copyeditors, ensuring house style and guidelines are followed, coding for design, and preparing clear editing instructions according to standard schedules.
• Proofread and check accuracy of proof corrections, ensuring that page make-up and house style guidelines are followed and denoting any remaining editorial mistakes.
• Edit indexes, marketing copy, and occasional manuscripts, applying house style and rules of grammar and spelling, ensuring clarity and accuracy of bibliographic data according to schedule.
• Work closely with authors in the review of edited manuscripts and proofs, maintaining regular contact, setting deadlines, and providing necessary instructions about tasks and production.
• Manage design and production processes for book manufacturing from composition through completed product, establishing and tracking production schedules, maintaining communication with vendors, and reviewing samples and proofs for quality.
• Evaluate and organize illustrations and permissions, ensuring images meet print reproduction standards and that proper permissions have been requested and received.
• Evaluate manuscript drafts for potential problems, noting issues for acquisitions before transmittal, including adherence to press guidelines and structural problems.
• Coordinate and review the work performed by freelance copyeditors and proofreaders, assigning tasks, advising on style and technical requirements, and evaluating the accuracy and quality of their work.
• Prepare edited manuscripts for design and production, accurately denoting manuscript design codes and presenting an organized art program for design.
• Oversee departmental student interns, selecting qualified students, training them in manuscript editorial basics, and prioritizing their tasks according to press needs.

Requirements

• Technical knowledge in the field acquired through an apprenticeship, a 2-year degree, or professional certificate.
• One-year full-time experience with a book or scholarly journal publisher or equivalent freelance editorial experience with book publishers.
• Bachelor's degree, preferably in humanities/liberal arts or social sciences.

Nice-to-haves

• Some graduate-level studies.
• Electronic editing experience with MS Word.
• Experience editing book-length manuscripts.
• Experience working with XML.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Retirement plan (TRS)
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities