Purchasing Manager-Children's Publishing

Sourcebooks • Full-time • Naperville, IL • $80 - $100 / year • 3w ago

Sourcebooks is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager for our Manufacturing team to oversee all purchasing and printing work for our children’s and Callisto business. This leadership role requires balancing the needs of our authors and books with demanding production schedules, fostering an environment of innovation, quality, and excellence. The ideal candidate will possess a growth mindset and be excited by the opportunity to partner with a high-performance team on scaling our manufacturing operations to support our rapidly growing business. A passion for books and experience in publishing, production/manufacturing, and supply chain operations is essential.

This is a remote position with occasional trips to our office in Naperville. This position can be hybrid in Naperville or NYC, or fully remote in the following states ONLY: AZ, CT, LA, MA, MD, MN, NJ, NY, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, WA, AND WI

The annual salary range for this role is between $80K - $100k (salary to commensurate with experience.

Purchasing Manager Responsibilities:

Oversee all aspects of children’s and Callisto purchasing and printing operations.
Balance the creative and logistical needs of internal partners with the constraints and demands of printing and shipping schedules.
Lead and mentor a team of print buyers.
Develop and implement strategies to enhance efficiency, quality, and speed to market while maintaining high standards for the finished product.
Monitor industry trends and advancements in printing technologies, integrating new practices as appropriate.
Resolve complex supply chain issues, ensuring minimal disruption to schedules and quality standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including editorial, design, sales, marketing, and fulfillment to ensure seamless operations.
A willingness to commit to overtime as needed to meet demanding schedules.
A willingness to travel on occasion when needed for printer on site visits, in-person press checks, and meeting with external partners.

Required Skills/Abilities

Strong understanding of printing processes and current technologies.
Proficiency in project management tools and software (Smartsheet, Basecamp, Filemaker)
Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
Ability to develop new processes with out-of-the box thinking.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
Ability to think creatively and strategically.
Belief in the power of Growth Mindset.

Qualifications/Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of experience in publishing with a focus on production and manufacturing.
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
Proven experience in a leadership role, managing teams and processes.
Demonstrated success in balancing creative and logistical aspects of manufacturing.
Demonstrated success in creating structure, processes and workflows in support of new business models and growing workloads

Please include a strong cover letter outlining your experience and interest in the position. Only those including cover letters and salary requirements will be considered.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, & generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

As Newsweek’s #2 Most Loved Workplace in 2024 and a recognized leader in innovation by Fast Company (2024 Most Innovative Companies, 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators), we use a mission-driven, data-centered approach to drive success for our authors and their books. We’re a thriving entrepreneurial company that creates books that transcend categories and defy odds, and we’ve been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. We are passionate book lovers dedicated to connecting books to readers in innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, we have changed more than 300 million lives. Join us as we change 300 million more!