Production manager

Closing date for applications: 17th April 2026

Salary: £40,000 (+bonus +benefits)

Location: The role will be based at our London or Sheffield office, with a blend of in-office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week

Contract: Permanent

Join the production team at one of the UK's largest children's publishers, helping bring to life beloved titles for children and young people.

Hachette Children's Group is one of the UK's largest children's publishers, our mission is to make it easy for children and young people everywhere to access books and see themselves reflected. We aim to maximise our readers' life chances by inspiring a lifelong love of reading, publishing books for every stage of their journey to adulthood from Enid Blyton to Alice Oseman's Heartstopper. Hachette Children's Group is a division of Hachette, one of the largest publishing groups in the UK, with 10 publishing divisions and over 60 imprints. Everyone here is proud to be in the business of opening doors and minds.

What you'll be doing

• Work across a range of colour books from origination to final copies ensuring timely delivery and to the highest quality standards
• Responsibility of one direct report where you will have regular one to ones, trouble shoot and advise on any issues, handle performance reviews and recommend training
• Monitor production schedules and ensure timely production of all projects
• Run accurate costings for all stages of production from acquisition to final print sign off
• Negotiate best prices globally on all non-scale or volume productions
• Be innovative, creative and solutions focused
• Be confident in making recommendations for the most cost-effective methods of production
• Ensure best practice and efficiency by streamlining systems and processes
• Represent production at meetings to monitor and disseminate information, as well as keeping stakeholders informed and up to date on progress
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers and ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled
• Help drive the use of more sustainable materials wherever possible, keeping abreast of the latest developments with a focus on sustainability and environment

Who we are looking for

• An experienced senior production controller or production manager with strong communication and negotiation skills, who is highly organised, works well under pressure and demonstrates great attention to detail.
• You’ll have a proven track record of handling multiple formats and complex projects, comfortable managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines and coordinating the day-to-day running of a busy list.
• You will have some experience line managing others and feel confident in offering support and advice.
• You will be a proactive, solutions-focused team player who can build positive working relationships with colleagues and suppliers alike.

Essential

• Hands on experience of colour book production and working with a range of suppliers in the UK and globally
• Knowledge of safety standards and compliance
• Experience of working in Biblio for costings, schedules and raising POs
• Proven experience in either management or mentoring and training others

What we offer

Our staff are our greatest asset, and our benefits reflect this:

• 28 annual leave days per year, increases to 29 days after 2 years' service and goes up to 30 days after 5 years' (+ bank holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Generous pension schemes
• Rent deposit loans
• 2 community days per year
• Summer hours (finishing at 1pm on Fridays during the summer months)
• Retail discounts through Hachette rewards
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development programmes (including mentoring)
• Up to 70% off book purchases
• A charity bookshelf
• 12 Staff-led employee networks that are voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks
• Season ticket loans
• And much more!

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds. If you are shortlisted and require any reasonable adjustments to support you in the recruitment process, you will have an opportunity to make this request in your application.

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 and undertaking junior roles. For more information visit www.booktradeentrysupport.org

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.