Audio Production Manager

We are seeking a skilled audio professional to manage our award-winning audio team and lead the production journey for a diverse and critically acclaimed author list. This pivotal role is for someone who can expertly blend commercial negotiation, streamlined operations, and innovation to consistently transform books into market-leading audiobooks.

Your team:
You will be managing a dynamic and collaborative audio team that has a successful track record of producing best-selling audiobooks. You’ll be working across all imprints at Pan Macmillan, so every day will bring new author delights – you’ll work with Booker Prize winning authors like Douglas Stuart at Picador, science-fiction & fantasy legends like Peter F. Hamilton and Olivie Blake at Tor, beloved brand authors from Pan and Mantle like Peter James, Kristin Hannah, and Percival Everett, insightful and award-winning authors like Patric Gagne and Mo Gawdat at Bluebird, the UK’s top-selling author, Julia Donaldson, and current Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, at Macmillan Children’s Books.

Your role:
As the Audio Production Manager, you will play a pivotal role by managing and inspiring our talented audio publishing team and overseeing the entire production lifecycle of our audiobooks. Reporting to the Audio Publisher, you will ensure that as a team we produce high-quality and commercial audiobooks and smoothly deliver a programme of over 300 audiobooks a year.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and coordinate audiobook production schedules, including assigning projects across the entire team, to ensure deadlines and production budgets are met.
• Effectively handle project management for audiobook recordings, which includes casting, author approvals, negotiating fees, and scheduling with external stakeholders while maintaining adherence to production budgets and strict publication schedules.
• Represent the audio team in cross-departmental meetings where publication goals will be discussed and set.
• Manage two Audio Editors, providing clear direction, support, and feedback. Encourage collaboration and experimentation with new tools and identify training needs.
• Manage relationships with third-party studios and audio-production companies ensuring high-quality audio productions and negotiating cost terms to ensure that the company has industry-appropriate spending on recordings. Work closely with these production partners to ensure any and all production innovations align with Pan Macmillan’s ethical and rights standards for AI use.
• Manage continuous team improvement by identifying and addressing potential workflow bottlenecks, and proactively seeking opportunities to enhance processes through the adoption of new and developing technologies, including AI. Maintain clear documentation of production processes to ensure all best practices are shared clearly with the team.

Essential experience, abilities and knowledge you’ll need to succeed:

• Audio Production Expertise: Comprehensive understanding and demonstrable experience of production workflows and technical processes in audio.
• Community: Line-management experience with a track record of mentoring and developing a team while fostering a supportive and inclusive culture.
• Problem Solving: Effective organizational and communication skills and proven ability to identify inefficiencies and propose practical, measurable solutions.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring on-schedule delivery.
• Integrity: Proven ability to manage budgets and conduct negotiations with talent, agencies, and studios in a manner that builds long-term trust.
• Curiosity: A proactive approach to exploring new technologies, production techniques, and industry trends, which drives continuous improvement.

Desirable skills we’d love you to have:

• In-depth technical knowledge of audio production.
• Experience working with new and developing technologies such as AI.
• Strong network within the audio production and publishing industry.
• Ability to innovate and adapt in a busy and active team.
• What you’ll get in return:
• In return we can offer you a range of great projects, a supportive and collaborative working environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.

Closing date: 2 November 2025

Some of the benefits we offer:

• 28 days’ annual leave increasing with years of service + bank holidays

• Generous Pension Scheme

• Discounted private medical insurance
• Group income protection scheme
• Enhanced family pay and leave
• Flexible working hours and summer hours (early finish on a Friday during summer months)
• 2 Volunteer Days per year
• 75% off all Pan Macmillan books and regular staff book sales (highly reduced rates)

• Season Ticket Loan/Advance

• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on shopping, Tastecard+ and gym memberships; Christmas club savings
• Daily free breakfast and monthly company lunch

This is a full time, permanent, and will be based in our offices in Farringdon, London, with some flexibility to work from home each week.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to live and work in the UK in order to be considered for this role.

At Pan Macmillan, we are highly committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. Our efforts to promote DEI are ongoing, and we continually strive to learn and improve our policies and practices. You can read our full Diversity & Inclusion Pledge here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion

Please note that all personal information which we process in connection with your application will be treated in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice available here: https://panmacmillan.com/recruitment-privacy-notice. Please read our Recruitment Privacy Notice before submitting your application.