Layout Designer at Spectrum Books Limited

Spectrum Books Limited has a long history in placing worthy books in the hands of readers in West Africa. Our mission is to change the publishing landscape in Nigeria as well as the whole of Africa, through the combination of dynamic and dialectical intervention in academic/educational and special publications.Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-orientated layout designerto join our publishing team.
The layout designer will be responsible for transforming manuscripts, editorial content, illustrations, tables, graphics, and other materials into professionally designed and publication-ready books and other print materials.
The ideal candidate must have strong experience in book layout, typesetting, page composition, and publishing production, with excellent proficiency in Adobe In Design.
The successful candidate must be able to independently handle the layout of a book from the beginning to the end, ensuring that the final product meets the required editorial, design, technical, and printing standards.
This role requires someone who combines design creativity with exceptional attention to detail, understands the publishing process, and can work efficiently under tight production deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

Design and develop professional page layouts for books, magazines, journals, educational materials, and other publications.
Transform approved manuscripts and editorial content into well-structured and visually appealing publication layouts.
Create consistent page structures, including headings, paragraphs, tables, illustrations, captions, footnotes, headers, footers, and other publication elements.
Apply appropriate typography, spacing, alignment, margins, grids, and visual hierarchy to ensure readability and professional presentation.
Develop and maintain consistent layout styles across publications in accordance with established publishing standards.
Format and organise manuscripts and other publication content for final production.
Apply paragraph, character, object, and other styles consistently throughout publication documents.
Ensure accurate pagination, chapter sequencing, section breaks, page numbering, and placement of publication elements.
Format tables, charts, illustrations, equations, references, footnotes, indexes, and other complex content where required.
Ensure consistency in fonts, styles, spacing, alignment, indentation, and other formatting elements throughout publications.
Make corrections and adjustments to layouts based on editorial feedback and approved revisions.
Use Adobe In Design proficiently to create, format, revise, and prepare publication files.
Use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or other relevant design software where required to edit and prepare visual assets for publication.
Manage linked files, fonts, styles, master pages, templates, and other InDesign features effectively.
Maintain organized and properly packaged working files for production and archival purposes.
Review completed layouts carefully to identify formatting, alignment, pagination, typographical, and visual inconsistencies.
Ensure that text and visual elements are accurately placed and correspond with approved editorial content.
Check publications for missing pages, duplicated content, incorrect page numbers, inconsistent formatting, and other layout-related errors.
Incorporate approved corrections and ensure that final files meet the required publishing standards.
Conduct final quality checks before files are released for printing or digital publication.
Prepare publication files according to required print specifications and production standards.
Ensure correct document size, margins, bleeds, colour settings, image resolution, and other technical specifications.
Export and package final files appropriately for printing and digital distribution.
Liaise with printers and relevant internal teams where necessary to resolve production or file-related issues.
Work closely with editors, proofreaders, graphic designers, and other members of the publishing team to ensure smooth production of publications.
Review and implement editorial and management feedback accurately and within agreed timelines.
Communicate layout or production challenges promptly to the appropriate team members.
Manage multiple publication projects simultaneously while meeting established deadlines.
Develop and maintain layout templates and design standards for different publication formats.
Ensure consistency in the application of the company's publication and design standards.
Identify opportunities to improve layout processes, reduce production errors, and improve efficiency.
Maintain organized records of completed and working publication files.

Required qualification / Job specification

B.Sc. or HND in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Publishing, Computer Graphics, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 2-3 years' relevant experience in publishing, book production, typesetting, graphic design, or layout design.
Previous experience working in a publishing company is highly desirable and is an added advantage
Demonstrable experience in designing and laying out complete books/publications.
Strong proficiency in Adobe In Design is mandatory.
Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw is required.
Knowledge of printing and prepress production processes.
Ability to work with manuscripts, edited documents, illustrations, tables, photographs, and other publishing materials.
Strong understanding of typography and publication design.
Ability to work under pressure and meet strict publishing deadlines.

Key Skills & Competencies:
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

Advanced book layout and typesetting skills
Excellent Adobe InDesign skills
Strong graphic design ability
Strong understanding of typography
Excellent page composition skills
Strong visual and aesthetic judgement
Attention to detail and accuracy
Excellent understanding of spacing, alignment, hierarchy, and proportion
Knowledge of print production and pre-press requirements
Image editing and manipulation skills
Strong proofreading and error-detection ability
Ability to work with long documents and complex publications
Ability to work independently from manuscript to final artwork
Strong problem-solving skills
Creativity and innovation
Ability to interpret design briefs and editorial instructions
Ability to manage multiple publications/projects simultaneously
Strong time-management skills
Ability to work within tight deadlines
Ability to receive and implement corrections effectively
Good communication and interpersonal skills
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
High level of professionalism and accountability.