Design and Production Coordinator (Remote - Detroit, MI)

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

This is a fully remote position; however, due to operational requirements, candidates must reside within the state of Michigan. 

About Mission Point Press

Mission Point Press is a growing hybrid publishing company dedicated to producing exceptional books while providing authors with comprehensive support throughout the publishing journey. We combine professional publishing expertise with a personalized author experience, helping writers bring their stories and ideas to life.

As a collaborative and entrepreneurial organization, we value creativity, accountability, adaptability, and a willingness to wear multiple hats in support of our authors and our mission.

About the Opportunity 

Mission Point Press is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and versatile Design and Production Coordinator to support the production, design, publication, and ongoing management of our books.

This is a hands-on, cross-functional position combining book production, graphic design, project management, author support, metadata management, vendor coordination, marketing support, and internal creative services. The position will help ensure that books move efficiently from final manuscript through design, publication, distribution, and reprints while providing responsive support to authors and the Mission Point Press team.

An important part of this role will be taking ownership of day-to-day production needs and identifying opportunities to bring work currently performed by outside vendors and contractors in-house when appropriate.

Because Mission Point Press is a growing company, the responsibilities of this position will continue to evolve. The design and production coordinator will be comfortable stepping into new projects and assisting with additional production, design, marketing, administrative, and creative needs as they arise.

Key Responsibilities

Book Production, Distribution & Author Support

• Upload and manage new titles through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, including print files, cover files, metadata, pricing, categories, keywords, descriptions, and related title information.
• Manage author publishing accounts as needed and ensure files, metadata, pricing, and title information remain accurate and current.
• Coordinate corrections, revisions, new editions, replacement files, and reprints for existing titles.
• Personally handle routine production revisions and prepare corrected files for upload when appropriate.
• Review files and production specifications to ensure they meet printer and distributor requirements.
• Troubleshoot issues involving files, uploads, proofs, printing, distribution, KDP, and IngramSpark.
• Serve as a production resource for authors and answer questions regarding proofs, printing, reprints, distribution, royalties, KDP, IngramSpark, and the overall production process.
• Assist authors with KDP and Ingram account setup and navigation when needed.
• Manage book orders and fulfillment coordination for authors, bookstores, organizations, events, and other customers.
• Take ownership of the quarterly royalty book-order process, including author communication, quantities, deadlines, pricing, ordering, printing, shipping, fulfillment, tracking, and issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate production information and track books through publication and post-publication needs.
• Oversight and upload of eBooks and eBook vendor.

Book Design & Creative Project Management

• Outsource and oversee the assignments to design contractors.
• Personally design an assigned number of book covers and typeset assigned book interiors based on workload, complexity, and project needs.
• Create and revise covers, interiors, promotional materials, and other publishing-related graphics.
• Handle routine design corrections and revisions internally when appropriate.
• Prepare final print-ready and digital files according to printer and distributor specifications.
• Assign projects to freelance and contract designers based on project needs, style, expertise, availability, and schedule.
• Manage the design workflow from assignment through final approval.
• Route covers, interiors, illustrations, and other materials for internal review and author approval.
• Consolidate and communicate feedback to designers and serve as liaison among designers, authors, and the Mission Point Press team.
• Track revisions, approvals, deadlines, and final sign-off.
• Recruit and onboard new designers and creative contractors as needed.
• Maintain organized project files, final assets, designer guidelines, templates, specifications, process documents, and SOPs.

Children's Books & Nightlight Projects

• Project-manage children's books from initial creative planning through final production.
• Help select appropriate illustrators, designers, and creative resources for each project.
• Work with Mission Point Press team members on art direction and creative development.
• Coordinate authors, illustrators, designers, and internal team members throughout the project.
• Review illustrations, layouts, covers, and other creative materials throughout development.
• Manage schedules, revisions, approvals, production handoffs, and final files.
• Help develop consistent internal standards and processes for children's book production.

Internal Operations & Special Projects

• Develop and maintain production SOPs, designer guidelines, templates, checklists, and process documentation.
• Help identify production bottlenecks and recommend more efficient processes.
• Maintain organized production and design files.
• Assist with onboarding designers, contractors, and other production resources.
• Attend weekly production and staff meetings and provide updates on active projects.
• Handle routine administrative work related to production, design, printing, fulfillment, and creative services.
• Coordinate with editors, designers, authors, printers, vendors, and other team members to keep projects moving efficiently.
• Identify work currently being outsourced that could reasonably and cost-effectively be brought in-house.
• Assist with new publishing programs, internal initiatives, creative projects, marketing needs, and other special projects.
• Take on additional production, design, administrative, marketing, project-management, or creative responsibilities based on company needs and available workload.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or as needs arise.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and project-management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple book projects, designers, authors, vendors, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with Amazon KDP and IngramSpark strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with book publishing, printing, print-on-demand, metadata, and book production processes.
• Graphic design experience and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and/or Illustrator.
• Experience with book cover design and interior typesetting preferred.
• Understanding of print-ready files, bleeds, trim sizes, resolution, color modes, typography, and other print-production requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating directly with authors, designers, printers, vendors, attorneys, and other professional partners.
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to take ownership of projects from assignment through completion.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small team.
• Comfortable moving between creative, technical, administrative, project-management, and client-facing responsibilities.
• Willingness to learn new systems and take on additional responsibilities as the position and company evolve.

Mission Point Press is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.