Longhorn Kenya Ltd is a leading book publisher with operations
in the East African region.
Job Title: Publishing Manager
Department / Division: Publishing
Reports to: Managing Director
Supervises: Senior Editors, Chief Designer and Production Controller
Job Summary: Drive the product development strategy of the Group.
Job Purpose
To oversee implementation of strategies and operations in product development and acquisition in order to achieve the set production targets for desired company sales performance.
Dimensions
The Publishing Manager consolidates and formulates the production, capital and overheads expenditure budget. The position also entails establishing and enforcing production processes to ensure an effective and efficient production, cost control and other time and resource management.
The position ensures achievement of desired profit margins through planning and application of set production budget. He liaises with suppliers for competitive pricing of services that meet quality and timeliness thresholds.
Agreements for authors, vendors and buyers of publishing rights and other suppliers of production related services are originated and serviced by the Publishing Manager.
Nature and Scope
The Publishing Manager reports to the Managing Director for direction in resource support and policy implementation. It is charged with the responsibility of reprinting existing titles, custody of intellectual property rights, product improvement and innovation, and sustenance of company competitiveness at the level of product range and appeal.
The Publishing Manager enforces production quality and timeliness in the work of senior editors, editors, designers and other suppliers to ensure product quality specifications are met, deadlines are adhered to, and staff in the department get necessary support services from other departments.
The Publishing Manager works in close consultation and liaison with the other line managers for specific task decisions as follows:
- Operations
Manager for determination of print quantities, product performance and
other market variables to ensure timely release and improvement of company
products.
- ICT
Manager for IT support for the designers and editors, product back up and
automation, availability of content and appropriate design for uploading
into e.learning media such as Kindle, Amazon, Google, mobile learning etc.
- Finance
Manager to financial facilitation for production services and budget
control measures.
- Human
Resource function for staffing, punishment and reward, and creation of an
enabling environment for departmental staff.
- Internal
Auditor for improvement and monitoring of production processes and
standards.
The Publishing Manager maintains direct contact with pre-press
firms and printers to ensure uninterrupted flow of services and stock.
He also manages the public relations and communication to
authors, evaluators and reviewers.
Units under the job holder and the main tasks of each
Editorial section: Manuscript improvement through moderation, editing and proofreading to come up with the required products for sale.
Units under the job holder and the main tasks of each
Editorial section: Manuscript improvement through moderation, editing and proofreading to come up with the required products for sale.
Design Section: Creation of product
designs and layouts, preparation of digital copies in readiness for
filming/printing.
Production Section: Quality control on
materials before filming and printing. They oversee filming, film storage and
security, product quality and approval to deliver stock.
Competition: Key task includes monitoring products and production plans of the competition to ensure a sustained competitive product range, product differentiation and overall expansion of the market share though higher product acceptability.
Government and public influence: The Publishing Manager keeps in close contact with curriculum developers and key government ministries to access vital information on expected projects, funding, change in policy and curriculum, and new set medium to long term government goals that would influence and affect the nature and composition of the product range.
Quality of personnel: The senior editors, editors and section heads must have a first degree to be able to effectively perform their tasks, and so are the editorial assistants that work with the editors.
Operational freedoms and restrictions: The position operates within the agreed budgets and company strategy, but may introduce new projects and innovations and seek new approvals before implementation. Once approved, the Publishing Manager has the freedom to implement with minimal or no further consultation, except where funding is required.
Geographical spread of operations: The Publishing Manager is in charge of the Group’s production programme- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and any other territory that the company may want to venture into.
Key Responsibilities
Competition: Key task includes monitoring products and production plans of the competition to ensure a sustained competitive product range, product differentiation and overall expansion of the market share though higher product acceptability.
Government and public influence: The Publishing Manager keeps in close contact with curriculum developers and key government ministries to access vital information on expected projects, funding, change in policy and curriculum, and new set medium to long term government goals that would influence and affect the nature and composition of the product range.
Quality of personnel: The senior editors, editors and section heads must have a first degree to be able to effectively perform their tasks, and so are the editorial assistants that work with the editors.
Operational freedoms and restrictions: The position operates within the agreed budgets and company strategy, but may introduce new projects and innovations and seek new approvals before implementation. Once approved, the Publishing Manager has the freedom to implement with minimal or no further consultation, except where funding is required.
Geographical spread of operations: The Publishing Manager is in charge of the Group’s production programme- Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and any other territory that the company may want to venture into.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify
and exploit publishing opportunities so as to satisfy consumer needs.
- In
liaison with other HODs initiate policy reviews and develop programmes and
schedules so as to achieve company objectives and set production targets
- Develop
annual production and publishing service budgets and rights acquisition/
sales budgets so as to seek the requisite resources for planning and
control
- Set
and assess performance standards to ensure that production parameters are
achieved
- Liaise
with suppliers of hard copy book production and e.book edition services to
meet set production targets and achieve the desired product quality.
- Prepare
and present publishing reports and production project proposals for
decision making
- Liaise
with Operations Department to obtain market information and enhance
product attributes
- Negotiate
publishing contracts to expand the product mix.
- Monitor
copyright matters to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
- Make
legal deposits for new publications/editions to ensure compliance with
statutory requirements
- Monitor
operations for cost control.
- Supply
publishing information to assist in marketing communication.
Knowledge and Skills
Educational Qualifications: Masters Degree in a relevant area
Professional qualification: Editing or management, with a flair for e.publishing/ e.learning.
Working Experience: 7 years, 5 of which must be in the publishing sector.
Job Skills: Leadership skills, Communication skills, interpersonal relations skills, negotiation skills, people management skills
Performance Standards
Educational Qualifications: Masters Degree in a relevant area
Professional qualification: Editing or management, with a flair for e.publishing/ e.learning.
Working Experience: 7 years, 5 of which must be in the publishing sector.
Job Skills: Leadership skills, Communication skills, interpersonal relations skills, negotiation skills, people management skills
Performance Standards
- Departmental
objectives are met with optimal efficiency
- Budgeted
production programmes/projects are achieved and quality benchmarks
observed
- Production
standards are enhanced and enforced in editorial, design and printing
- Documented
and other work ethic procedures and processes are adhered to with the
desired outcomes
- Effective
customer care with production suppliers and other contact points
- Optimal
security of intellectual property back up and support documents
- Legal
deposits made and complied with.
If interested, send your application and CV, giving 3 referees,
two of which must be your most recent employers, to jobs@longhornpublishers.com
or to the address below, so as to reach us on or before Tuesday 18th September
2012:
The Managing Director,
Longhorn Kenya Limited,
P.O. Box 18033 - 00500,
Longhorn Kenya Limited,
P.O. Box 18033 - 00500,
Nairobi.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
