Publications Specialist

The role of the senior Publications Specialist is to oversee the production and quality control and dissemination process for all publications.

Pre-Opening

• Support the implementation of strategic publication priorities by managing the production process of catalogues, books, materials to ensure on time delivery in advance of museum opening.

Ongoing

• Ensure that all contracts for external consultants, suppliers etc are produced, approved by the appropriate parties and the legal department, sent out, received and processed as required.
• Formulates daily, weekly and monthly plans and ensure production of the publications according to original plan.
• Ensures cost effective resourcing and production standards & quality for the department, overseeing process & content, optimizing the business model of each publication, and supervising the deliverables of outsourced providers.
• Work on finding e-publishers and lead on all e-publishing projects, and ensure that each book published by the department has an e-book version.
• Create and implement processes and procedures to manage production of collateral and coordinate with the team.
• Manage the logistics of printing including assessment of suppliers, RFPs, the supplier database, etc.
• Organize shipping of catalogues and managing deadlines.
• Oversee the distribution of materials, determining print runs and managing stocks.
• Works with finance to process invoices related to publication production, projects and / or programme within the publications unit.
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly reports on the production of publishings to the Unit Head, analysing and summarizing the information and trends of the production of the publications, identifying gaps and variances, develop mitigation solutions and recommendations as required.
• Negotiate and supervises the external production contractors (designer, lithographer, print).
• Ensures that the production is consistent with the standards required.
• Maintains archives and publication files.
• Procures and registers ISBN numbers, ensuring payment/delivery of legal deposits.
• Plans, manages and reports on all print projects (as directed).

Key requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience with at least
• 2 years of leading print production projects.
• Strong project coordination skills.
• Proven ability and experience in all aspects of production and distribution.
• Experience of working with local and international publishing houses and distributors.
• Knowledge of copyright and local and international contract laws.
• Experience in colour correcting on various substrates (paper, electronic for eBooks, apps); and on complex illustrated publications (including eBooks, apps, etc.).
• Knowledge of design software and colour-management system