Reprographics And Print Lead

THE WHITE COMPANY; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discount

Holiday Entitlement

Pension Scheme

Discretionary Bonus

Hybrid/WFH

Job summary

The White Company is seeking an experienced Print Production Manager to lead planning, buying and production of printed brand and marketing materials.

You will collaborate with Marketing, Creative and suppliers to deliver direct mail, inserts and personalised print across campaigns, while innovating formats, managing budgets and ensuring quality from brief to delivery.

Hybrid working arrangements and a strong focus on cost control and sustainability are part of the role.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in print buying, production and reprographics workflows.
• Strong knowledge of prepress, colour management and proofs.
• Experience in direct mail production and postage optimisation.
• Ability to manage multiple campaigns and meet tight deadlines.
• Collaborative with Marketing, Creative and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Plan print requirements, quantities, formats, paper stocks, budgets and deadlines.
• Build production schedules across artwork, reprographics, data processing, personalisation, print, fulfilment and postage.
• Lead supplier briefs and procurement, sourcing and negotiating pricing and service agreements.
• Track full production costs and manage changes.
• Coordinate mailing houses and postal providers to meet delivery windows.
• Ensure print quality through proofing and final sign-off.
• Maintain version control and documentation.

Skills

Print planning & production

Procurement & supplier negotiation

Budget management

Project management

Job description

Our Role

You will lead the planning, buying and production of printed brand and marketing materials from brief to delivery, helping bring The White Company experience to life through beautifully produced print.

Based in the CRM team, you will work closely with Marketing and Creative colleagues and specialist suppliers to deliver direct mail, inserts, sampling materials and wider printed brand communications.

You will help shape production decisions from the outset, introduce innovative formats and materials, and improve the way we deliver print across our campaigns.

Print planning and buying

• Work with colleagues across Marketing and Creative to plan print requirements, quantities, formats, paper stocks, budgets and deadlines.
• Build and manage production schedules covering artwork, reprographics, proofing, data processing, personalisation, print, fulfilment and postage, aligned with campaign dates and customer delivery windows.
• Turn campaign requirements into clear supplier briefs covering materials, print methods, finishes, quantities, versions, proofing and delivery. Recommend the most effective production approach.
• Lead procurement for print, reprographics and mailing services, sourcing and evaluating suppliers, managing tenders, and negotiating pricing, contracts and service agreements to secure quality, value and reliable delivery within agreed budgets.
• Track the full cost of production and mailing, including reprographics, data processing, personalisation, fulfilment and postage. Manage changes and highlight cost or delivery risks early.
• Check invoices against approved quotes and agreed changes, resolving discrepancies with suppliers.

Mailing and fulfilment

• Coordinate mailing houses, fulfilment partners and postal providers to deliver agreed quantities, dispatch dates and customer arrival windows.
• Recommend the most appropriate postal services and tariffs for each campaign, working with Whistl and mailing partners to optimise postage costs, meet service requirements and achieve planned customer delivery windows.
• Coordinate data processing deadlines, personalisation requirements and mailing specifications with campaign owners and data partners.
• Manage production requirements across customer segments, formats and personalised versions, maintaining accurate version control throughout.

Reprographics and image production

• Brief reprographics partners clearly, providing annotated source files, references, requirements and deadlines.
• Check returned high resolution images against the brief and technical quality standards, coordinate corrections and secure Art Director approval.
• Work with Artworkers to prepare artwork for reprographics and proofing, resolving file or production issues before they affect print.
• Negotiate and track reprographics costs and check invoices against the agreed scope and fees.

Proofing and print quality

• Coordinate each proofing stage, checking image quality, colour, artwork accuracy, layout and production specifications.
• Check offer details, promotional dates, codes, terms, QR codes and personalised content against approved briefs across all campaign versions.
• Consolidate creative and marketing feedback into clear supplier markups, maintaining control of amendments, versions and outstanding decisions.
• Coordinate final creative, marketing and personalisation approvals, ensuring all corrections are complete before giving technical sign off to release work to print.
• Attend press passes where appropriate, assess production against approved proofs and resolve issues with printers, seeking creative approval for material changes.
• Review finished samples, resolve defects or reprints with suppliers and use findings to improve future production.

Suppliers and ways of working

• Manage day to day relationships with reprographics partners, printers, mailing houses, fulfilment partners and postal providers.
• Set clear expectations for service, quality, cost transparency and delivery, and review supplier performance.
• Maintain accurate records of briefs, specifications, quotes, approvals, proofs, final files and costs.
• Work with Creative and Marketing to identify materials and production methods that reduce waste and support the company’s sustainability commitments.
• Improve briefing, handover, proofing and approval processes, sharing relevant print developments and lessons learned.

Print innovation and campaign improvement

• Explore and deliver innovative print formats for testing across direct mail, inserts and sampling, balancing customer experience, quality, timing and cost.
• Support format and personalisation tests with costed options, production specifications and accurate implementation of agreed source codes and response mechanisms.
• Contribute production costs, quality findings and delivery information to campaign reviews, using the results to improve future print recommendations.

What skills & experience you’ll need

• Proven experience in print buying, production and managing reprographics workflows, ideally within a retail, brand, direct marketing, publishing or creative studio environment.
• Strong knowledge of prepress, retouching workflows, colour management, artwork preparation, proofing, print processes, papers and finishes.
• Experience in direct mail production, personalisation and fulfilment, working closely with mailing houses and postal providers.
• Strong knowledge of UK postal services, mailing tariffs and postage optimisation, including how format, weight, volume and mailing preparation affect costs and delivery times.
• Experience working with Whistl to manage mailing requirements, postal costs and delivery schedules.
• Commercial confidence in procurement, supplier evaluation, contract negotiation and cost management, with experience securing competitive terms and managing supplier agreements.
• Excellent attention to detail and sound technical judgement, with the confidence to challenge decisions when quality is at risk.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and fixed deadlines, communicate clearly and resolve issues calmly.
• A methodical approach to documentation, file version control and approvals.
• An interest in customer communications and print innovation, with the ability to turn campaign requirements and test findings into practical recommendations.

Key working relationships

Internal: CRM, Marketing, Creative Design and Artwork, Insights and Data, Finance, and the Chief Creative & Innovation Officer.

External: Reprographics partners, printers, mailing houses, fulfilment partners, Whistl and other postal providers, data partners and specialist production suppliers.

What we’ll offer you

At The White Company, we value our employees for always going the extra mile for every one of our customers; we reward this with great benefits and competitive salaries.

• Discount -Up to 50% discount and access to regular Sample Sales
• Holiday - 25 days rising to 28 with length of service
• Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to 5 days holiday
• Pension Scheme - enrolled in our Group Personal Pension schemes upon joining the business.
• Bonus - In addition to our competitive salaries, all our employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme (based on policy eligibility)
• Wagestream Money Management app - access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing
• Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub
• Salary Sacrifice scheme for Electric vehicles (dependent on grade and meeting policy eligibility)
• Continued Development - Inclusion on our Leadership Development Programme (eligibility for contracts of 6 months plus Grade D & E roles only)
• Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub
• Private Healthcare with additional Babylon Digital Healthcare (based on contract duration)
• Life Assurance
• White City House (Soho House Group)Tenants Membership at a discounted rate, offering access to facilities in the House

Additional Benefits

• Fruit basket daily
• Tea and coffee provided
• Working from Home - option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays
• Social - Christmas party/social events throughout the year
• Seasonal Sample Sales
• Volunteer Day - with a charity of your choice
• Great Location - Close to transport links - over ground Shepherds Bush station /underground White City & Wood Lane stations. Westfield shopping centre with shops restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms

Our Equality Diversity and Inclusion statement of commitment

At The White Company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities.

We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated. Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated. Where you can feel you belong.

We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process.

We'd love you to join us on our journey.

Our Sustainability statement of commitment

We are committed to building a sustainable legacy that will enable a brighter future for people and our planet.’ We believe this should be reflected in everything we do.