Production Controller

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

We are looking for a Production Controller to join our team. The role is full time and permanent, working 36 hours per week.

As the Production Controller within the small Publishing team you will be the point of contact for the print production of all new books and reprints on the programme, maintaining relationships with our printers, requesting quotes, monitoring print quality and with key administrative functions to monitor and maintain the production schedules and act as the key point of contact for Retail in all aspects of stock monitoring and print production.

The Benefits

- Salary from £26,409, depending on skills, experience and location

- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pro rata, rising to 28 days after 3 years

- Matched pension contributions up to 10%

- Flexible hours

- The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector

- Apprenticeship opportunities

- Subscriptions to professional bodies

- Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members

- 25% discount in our shops and cafes

- Enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave

- Options to buy additional leave

- An inclusive working atmosphere everybody is supported from all backgrounds, religions and with different needs

- Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events

This is a great opportunity to be part of our team, where you'll be responsibile for these key tasks:

Print, production and stock:

- Compiling and maintaining the production end of the Publishing and Reprints schedules, monitoring changes, inputting necessary product, stock and print data, and ensuring the team is kept informed.

- Maintaining excellent relationships with the printers on our list, ensuring that when required to tender we do so in accordance with best practice for each job.

- Sending print specifications for new publications to obtain the best quotes from printers.

- Liaising with printers on all aspects of any given job and in investigating options for forthcoming projects, sharing with the team and Publishing Manager as appropriate, from discussing specifications, sending and receiving files and proofs, and setting and arranging print production schedules. Be prepared to visit the printers to press pass in person.

- Being the main point of contact between Publishing and Retail (and relevant site staff for locally managed properties) to ensure stock figures and annual sales are accurate; that print dates are updated and on track to maintain stock levels; and that warehouse delivery dates are confirmed.

- Checking all printer proofs with a particular eye to colour accuracy and image quality, and ensuring imprint information, barcode and all cover logos are correct.

Financial and other administration:

- Seeking approval for all costs and ensure purchase orders are raised for all print work on new books and, when needed, reprints, and share quotes and invoices with the Publishing Manager as appropriate, ensuring all print jobs and transactions are recorded on the print budget spreadsheet.

- Assigning ISBNs and obtain SKU codes from Retail for each new book.

- Distributing advance copies via post of new books, and new editions when required, according to the Complimentary Copies list provided by the Editor in question.

- Ensure the digital archive files after every printing (new and reprint) are received from the printers and uploaded to the digital archive, that the archive PDF of each is watermarked, dated and uploaded onto the shared drive, and that a physical copy is added to the physical book archive at Wood Street (clearing out redundant copies as required).

- Attend weekly Publishing meetings with the Publishing team and fortnightly Reprints meetings with Retail and the reprints Editor. Attend office-based meetings as required (typically one or twice a month).

- Undertake other tasks as could reasonably be expected by the Publishing Manager.

As Production Controller you will have a background in print production, with a good understanding of print processes, extensive experience of managing publishing schedules and budgets. You will have the ability work collaboratively, both within a small team and with a wider network of colleagues and external contacts.

To be considered as a Production Controller, you'll need:

- Demonstrable experience and good understanding of print production, paper buying, printing processes, and working with a number of different printers to secure the best deals and the highest standard of printing.

- Demonstrable experience of devising and managing production schedules.

- Demonstrable experience of creating and maintaining spreadsheets to record and track schedules and costs.

- Knowledge of printing methods and an ability to keep abreast of developments in the industry, notably the ability to assess and keep track of environmental credentials of our printers.

- Proven experience of on-screen colour correction, checking proofs and involvement in the print production process.

- Excellent numeracy and written English.

- Good working knowledge of Excel and an ability both to input data and to interpret it accurately.

- To be exceptionally meticulous, well-organised and systematic in approach.

- Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat, InDesign and Photoshop.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 16 March on MS Teams.

If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Katherine Davey, Publishing Manager, on [email protected]. No agencies please.

Find out more about us and what we do: You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us:

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe at work and can carry out their role. To support this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.