Jobs

Creative Development Production Manager

$81,200/yr

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Production Coordinator to work with our Creative Development team at our location in Pleasant Grove, Utah. This is a full-time, exempt, in-office position, and it is not entitled to overtime.

Description

The Creative Development Production Manager will serve as the central coordinator ensuring seamless project execution while maintaining quality, deadlines, and budgets. They’ll work closely with our VP of Creative Development and art directors as part of department leadership, and they’ll manage our team of artists, designers, and coordinators to optimize workflows and scale our operations efficiently. The position requires strong logistical skills, excellent communication, and the ability to anticipate needs and solve problems quickly. They’ll need to be comfortable juggling multiple deadlines, managing creative assets and documentation, and supporting a variety of development efforts—from early concepting to final pitch materials. Importantly, this person will bridge the gap between company and department deadlines. This role offers the opportunity to gain deep, hands-on experience in the creative development process, working closely with writers, designers, and producers. It’s a chance to build meaningful relationships within a creative industry, strengthen project management skills, and contribute directly to the early stages of original content and storytelling. The most qualified candidates will have a passion for working collaboratively on marketing and product development tasks, have 7-8 years of professional experience and a degree in English, Communications, Publishing, or related field and exemplify the listed skills and qualifications. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced creative environment and is passionate about supporting the process of bringing ideas to life and will endeavor to make Dragonsteel an awesome place to work.

Responsibilities

  • Manage timelines, budgets, deadlines, and deliverables across multiple concurrent book and merchandise projects

  • Lead, mentor, and develop team members through open, candid relationships and regular one-to-one meetings

  • Provide constructive feedback and performance evaluations to empower and motivate team members

  • Administer company policies and procedures fairly and consistently across all warehouse staff

  • Manage assignments and keep meetings focused and productive, Follow up on tasks and assignments to ensure expectations are met

  • Manage schedules of at minimum four employees to meet workload demands. Monitor team capacity to prevent burnout, and help justify additional resources when need

  • Hire freelance talent and ensure they meet deadlines

  • Support a team culture of accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement through professional, empathetic, and engaging communication

  • Oversee department administration, team-building activities, and act as primary liaison with Operations and HR. This includes coordinating on quarterly team building activities and working with the department to create project and travel proposals involving Creative Development

  • Document, maintain, and improve departmental procedures and best practices

  • Act as the liaison between writers, designers, producers, executives, and other stakeholders to ensure project alignment

  • Manage book production processes from concept through print, including reprint coordination, working with Merchandise and Events to help establish the cadence and coordination of reprints on the Creative Development side

  • Schedule and facilitate creative brainstorms, pitch meetings, and review sessions

  • Track feedback and revisions throughout the development process and ensure they are addressed in a timely manner

  • Maintain department workflows, tools, and filing systems to support creative output and operational efficiency

  • Work with our team to develop and support strong relationships with our external partners including freelancers, printers, and manufacturers

  • Create weekly production reports and department updates

  • Tracking project metrics to identify bottlenecks

  • Manage and update a central repository of department procedures and policies. Works with department leadership to train, maintain, and enforce procedures and policies

  • Develop and maintain systems to monitor team capacity and workload

Skills & Qualifications

Education & Work Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Publishing, or related field

  • 7+ years of experience in project management, with at least 5 years in publishing and book production for 10+ books annually. Experience working in a professional publishing house preferred

  • 3+ years of experience managing personnel. Managing creative department personnel preferred

  • Experience managing complex creative projects with multiple stakeholders

  • Experience with different print formats (hardcover, paperback, specialty items)

  • Experience with vendor management and hiring and managing freelance talent

Availability

  • 100% In office, full-time 40 hours per week, Monday–Friday. No remote work

  • Must be able to pass a background check

  • Must be eligible to legally work in the United States and provide applicable documentation

Technical Skills & Knowledge

  • Proficiency with project management software and Microsoft Office Suite

  • Knowledge of book production processes including editing, design, and printing

  • Knowledge of both print and digital publishing processes

  • Ability to calculate production estimates and manage budgets

  • Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite

Physical Requirements

  • Must be able to work from a stationary sitting or standing position for at least 8 hours a day

  • Ability to work at a computer 8 hours a day; i.e. viewing a computer screen/monitor and utilizing a keyboard and mouse/trackpad

Leadership & Team Management

  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to train, coach, and motivate team members

  • Able to provide circumstances where employees can use their talents and contribute in their own best way

  • Experience giving constructive feedback when conducting employee reviews and 1-to-1’s

  • Dependable and even-tempered under pressure, especially during high-volume seasons

Time Management & Organization

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines

  • Excellent organizational and planning skills with strong attention to detail; able to adjust to shifting demands

  • Capable of improving and streamlining workflows for efficiency and productivity

  • Arrives on time for and works all scheduled shifts, and communicates requested schedule changes well in advance of an expected shift

Communication & Problem-Solving

  • Consistently demonstrates professional standards of communication, computer use, trustworthiness, and demeanor

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including cross-departmental collaboration

  • Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same

  • Willingly receives job performance feedback and makes improvements when requested, and adapts well to changes to their work responsibilities and environment

  • Treats all coworkers with politeness and respect, and adheres to all company policies and procedures including our anti-harassment and non-discrimination policies

  • Completes assigned tasks to the best of their ability, makes timely requests for task clarification, and shows focus and care for the consistency and accuracy of their work

  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, agile, and evolving environment

Benefits

  • Paid holidays

  • Paid time off

  • 401(k) matching

  • Insurance plans (medical, dental, vision, life, disability)

  • Company events for employees and their families

To Apply

Click the link below to fill out an application and attach your resume. You must include personal and professional references in your resume, or include them as a second document.

Dragonsteel Creative Development Production Coordinator Application


Dragonsteel, LLC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.