Sr. Production Editor

Senior Production Editor

Department: Product Operations

Reports To: Director of Product Operations and Innovation

Position Summary:

Zaner-Bloser is an educational solutions company specializing in delivering instruction focused on developing foundational skills for PreK–6 students in ELA & Math. Our programs include Superkids, Building Fact Fluency, Kickstart Number Sense, Spelling Connections, Zaner-Bloser Handwriting, and more. As a member of the Highlights Family of Companies, we strive to always do what's right for children and make a significant contribution to their education.

This Senior Production Editor will perform copyediting and proofreading activities for K-5 educational materials, make change recommendations to improve content and layout, ensure all materials are error free, follow standard conventions, and align with Zaner-Bloser style guidelines. Creates production editor guidelines for new and revised products in development. Guides and supports external resources and freelancers in project work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for copyediting and proofreading product development content, including teacher guides, student materials, ancillary materials, web content, etc., for grammar, spelling, consistency, layout, flow, and style, with a high degree of accuracy, complying with editorial and product standards; reviews printer proofs
• Analyze content for clarity, logic, structure, and flow, working with learning design to revise, rewrite, or reorganize as needed; advises project teams on editorial guidance and recommendations for changes and updates
• Assist external production editors as subject-matter expert; support project leads in reviewing external content to ensure alignment; assist manager to determine if additional project help is needed
• Collaborate with team members to create production editor guidelines, updating as needed
• Engage on style guide committee, providing leadership and direction on standards to the group

Within your first month, you’ll:

• Learn internal systems and processes
• Get to know our products
• Build relationships within the team and with other departments to effectively complete your work

• Take on production editorial ownership of a full multi-component project
• Guide external production editorial resources on projects and standards

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Education and Experience:

Bachelors’ Degree in English or Journalism or appropriate related experience with 5 years direct work experience as a production or copy editor, working with print and digital materials.

Qualifications:

• Flexible with ability to pivot quickly and easily in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with tight timelines and short turnarounds
• Experience reviewing manuscript and layout
• Superb editing skills, including comprehensive knowledge of English grammar rules and spelling
• Working knowledge of book design and makeup, as well as methods of composition and typography
• Strong interpersonal skills, including a desire to engage with multiple team members
• Excellent writing and oral skills
• Proven organizational skills, attention to detail, and superior time management skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively with learning designers, copy writers, designers, and leadership in a team-oriented environment
• Experience with online editing tools, such as Acrobat Professional or K4. Experience with a task management system, such as Workfront is preferred. Proficient with office software, including Microsoft Office Suite
• Passing a production editorial assessment is a requirement of the role
• If not local to the Columbus, Ohio area, occasional travel for team meetings with be expected.