Production controller, licensing - DK Production

Location: London

Salary: starting at £36,000 depending on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

Keep licensed book production running smoothly by coordinating suppliers, managing deadlines and controlling costs.

DK+ produces a diverse range of licensed books and branded products globally. Managing a portfolio focused on reprints, co-editions, and select frontlist titles, you will ensure products are delivered on time, to budget, and to required quality and safety standards.

We are seeking a detail-oriented, commercially-minded Production Controller to support our growing DK+ list. As the team continues to develop new products with complex schedules, finishes and licensing requirements, this role will help ensure that reprints and ongoing production activity are managed efficiently and accurately. It is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Production Controller to broaden their skills and gain experience of working on licensed titles.

As a Production Controller, you will join a collaborative team with deep expertise in licensing and print production, with opportunities to work across other lists within the business too. Working closely with Production, Creative, Sales, Inventory, Production Editorial , and co-edition partners, you will ensure products are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality and safety standards.

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator who can build strong relationships, negotiate to tight margins, and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone resilient who remains calm, focused, and clear-headed under pressure, with a supportive approach to sharing knowledge and assisting colleagues. You will understand the commercial significance of the role and enjoy the challenge of negotiating creatively to tight margins, in line with DK’s departmental strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage creation, costing, scheduling, and delivery for reprints, co-editions, and frontlist titles.
• Assist with coordinating LEGO reprints, and brick ordering.
• Maintain product safety technical files and act as an FSC Superuser.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and hit deadlines.
• Negotiate margins where possible, and maintain records in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.

What we are looking for

Essential Skills:

• Recent Production Controller experience in book publishing.
• Solid understanding of mono and four colour print processes, cover finishes, printing technology, paper, binding styles and FSC materials.
• Proven experience in Biblio 3 and Google Workspace.
• Strong commercial acumen, relationship management, and negotiation.
• Excellent organisation, communication, and problem-solving under pressure.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience managing product safety testing and maintaining safety technical files.
• Experience working on co-editions.

If you are a collaborative Production Controller who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in key details, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, submit your CV and cover letter. Applications reviewed as received.

Additional Information

We have a range of benefits to reflect our commitment to our people, some of which are:

• 25 days paid holiday entitlement in year one, plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Volunteering policy and charity matching
• Employee assistance programme
• 70% discount on company books
• Cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership
• Shopping discounts
• Flex Fridays (1pm Finish*)
• Up to 30 days remote working from abroad*

*Subject to certain criteria being met.

And we plant a tree for every new employee to our business

DK is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the varied communities that read our books across the world. We encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of age, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or social background. DK is proud to announce that we have adopted The Halo Code.

DK is a member of the disability confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.

DK supports flexible working and has introduced a new ‘smart-working’ policy with a hybrid approach of working weekly from home and in DK’s office. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in our Pimlico office. As this is non-negotiable, please ensure you are within a reasonable commuting distance of London before applying.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade, but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews or undertaking internships. For more information, visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.