"Editorial, Design, and Production Manager"

Job Description

The University of Oklahoma Press seeks a highly organized, deadline-driven project manager with strong language and leadership skills to serve as our next Editorial, Design, and Production Manager (EDP Manager). This position is responsible for managing the full production lifecycle of approximately 30 new titles and 75+ reprints each year. The EDP Manager supervises an in-house team and coordinates a broad network of freelancers and vendors to ensure timely, high-quality books in print and digital formats.

The EDP Manager is responsible for overseeing production schedules, managing quality assurance on editorial work, and ensuring final deliverables meet standards for accuracy, consistency, and visual integrity. Working closely with the Director and senior staff, the EDP Manager contributes to strategic planning, seasonal scheduling, vendor selection, and process improvements across departments.

You don't need a background in scholarly publishing but you must be sharp, detail-focused, and capable of navigating deadline-sensitive, multi-phase projects involving text, images, editorial standards, vendors, and budgets. You should have excellent writing and communication instincts, experience managing people and projects, and an understanding of style guides (Chicago, AP, etc.) and their relationship to editorial quality.

The EDP Manager plays a key leadership role at the Press and will receive direct mentorship from the Director and support from experienced staff. This is a leadership role with clear ownership over press operations and opportunities for deeper publishing expertise and strategic growth.

This is an on-site position in Norman, Oklahoma with some flexibility for hybrid scheduling. Fully remote arrangements are not possible.

Job Duties:

• Responsible for program management and oversight of day-to-day operations
• Responsible for daily program management throughout the program lifecycle
• Aligns deliverables to the program's outcome
• Meets with stakeholders to discuss program status and goals
• Manages the program budget. Develops proposals, negotiates and administers grants and contracts
• Supervises staff, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation
• Provides oversight of ongoing projects
• Interfaces with university departments, funding sources, outside organizations and state & government agencies
• Assesses program effectiveness and identifies areas of improvement
• Manages program documentation, data collection, and reporting
• Develops program goals and objectives
• Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position

Job Requirements

Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, AND: 48 months of program development, program management or related experience

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 96 months of related experience.

Departmental Preferences:

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage production timelines, vendor coordination, and staff workloads across approximately 30 new titles and 75+ reprints annually
• Supervise and support a small in-house team (project editors, production coordinator, reprint coordinator, student intern(s))
• Oversee copyediting, proofreading, indexing, and composition by assigning, evaluating, and managing freelance editorial vendors
• Coordinate print manufacturing and digital file delivery (PDF, EPUB) with printers, conversion partners, and distribution systems
• Maintain data and status tracking in our publishing management system (Firebrand Title Management) and ensure accuracy across platforms
• Collaborate on seasonal publishing plans, launch meetings, and press-wide scheduling and planning conversations
• Help shape the design and quality of OU Press books in collaboration with our in-house art director
• Participate in strategic conversations about workflow, process design, and continuous improvement
• Provide mentorship and guidance to staff and freelancers, with support and training from the Director and other senior staff

Ideal Candidate:

• Proven experience managing complex editorial or production projects—books, magazines, educational content, reports, or similar
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including managing staff or contractors
• Strong grasp of written language, editing standards, and style guides (Chicago preferred)
• Familiarity with the basics of print production, digital publishing formats (EPUB, PDF), and file management
• Comfort working in structured digital systems (databases, spreadsheets, dashboards) and learning new tools
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• A proactive and collaborative mindset

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in book or journal publishing, print production, or editorial project management
• Fluency in Chicago Manual of Style, accessibility standards, and/or digital publishing tools
• Familiarity with metadata systems, version control, or content management platforms
• Comfortable coordinating with vendors, freelance teams, and internal stakeholders

Supervision: Supervises Production Coordinator, Reprint Coordinator, project editors, and Student Intern(s)

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma values our community's unique talents, perspectives, and experiences. At OU, we aspire to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere. You Belong Here!

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/expression (consistent with applicable law), age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services.