Creative Project Manager (Print)

Aquent; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Paid sick leave

401(k) matching

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a seasoned project management professional to lead marketing and production initiatives. You will connect creative teams, external partners, and internal stakeholders to execute campaigns from concept to delivery, ensuring quality and on-time results.

In this role you will own production timelines, budgets, and vendor negotiations, driving promotional strategies for launches and brand initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of experience managing print production
• Experience collaborating with creative staff and studio production teams
• Familiarity with creative workflow systems
• Strong understanding of file construction and PDF preview tools
• Proficiency in design software and native source files
• Experience managing projects with third-party partners
• Experience writing production specifications
• Knowledge of purchasing specifics and change requests
• Working knowledge of procurement systems
• Understanding direct mail practices and postal regulations
• Ability to estimate production times accurately
• Attention to detail under pressure

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage print production across campaigns and promotions
• Collaborate with creative directors, designers, and external vendors
• Develop promotional strategies for product launches and brand initiatives
• Oversee production timelines and supplier deliverables
• Ensure production quality, from file construction to final materials
• Estimate costs and optimize procurement and budgets
• Evaluate vendor capabilities and conduct competitive bids
• Coordinate on-demand content templates and XML data transfers
• Monitor schedules to meet deadlines and milestones
• Implement cost-saving measures across production processes

Job description

About the Company

Join a leading organization in the financial services sector, dedicated to empowering individuals and institutions through innovative solutions and unwavering commitment to client success. This company is at the forefront of its industry, constantly evolving to meet the dynamic needs of its diverse clientele. As an Aquent talent, you will play a pivotal role in contributing to their mission and driving impactful projects forward.

About the Role

Are you a seasoned project management professional with a passion for bringing creative visions to life? We are seeking a dynamic individual to spearhead the execution of critical marketing and production initiatives. In this role, you will be the linchpin connecting creative teams, external partners, and internal stakeholders, ensuring that every project, from concept to delivery, is executed flawlessly. Your expertise will directly influence the success of promotional strategies, product launches, and brand initiatives, making a tangible impact on how our client connects with its audience. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, possess exceptional organizational skills, and are ready to own the quality and delivery of high-profile projects, this is your opportunity to shine and make a significant contribution.

What You’ll Do

• Manage projects using various procurement and project management systems, ensuring accurate documentation, tracking, and reporting.
• Collaborate seamlessly with creative directors, designers, and external vendors to bring projects from initial concept to successful fruition.
• Develop and lead compelling promotional strategies for product launches, seasonal campaigns, and brand initiatives across diverse channels.
• Monitor competitive trends and industry best practices to continuously inform and innovate promotional strategies.
• Partner with external vendors to engineer projects, advise design and production teams on file construction and delivery specifics, negotiate costs, and ensure the highest quality of materials before delivery.
• Manage significant budgets, providing internal partners with strategic budgetary options related to design deliverables.
• Oversee project specifications for various deliverables, aligning internal and external schedules to consistently meet delivery milestones.
• Develop and track all production timelines for internal partner needs, coordinating various deliverables with external print vendors.
• Serve as the ultimate owner of production quality assurance, meticulously managing elements such as file construction, image quality, resolution, color, fonts, paper stock, design construction, mailing, and fulfillment.
• Assess current vendor capabilities and easily evaluate specific vendor pools to direct competitive bid analysis.
• Collaborate with vendors to develop template design programming for on-demand, personalized content generation.
• Act as the subject matter expert in direct mail practices and constraints, understanding the intricate connection between data files and variable content rendering via XML transfer.
• Develop and implement cost‑saving measures across all production processes.

What You’ll Bring

• 2-5 years of experience managing print production, either within an agency or an internal design team.
• Proven experience collaborating effectively with creative staff and studio production teams.
• Familiarity with creative workflow systems.
• Strong ability to understand file construction and utilize PDF preview tools.
• Proficiency in design software and the creation of native source files.
• Experience managing projects with third-party partners, whether on the client or vendor side.
• Expertise in writing clear and comprehensive production specifications that translate file information into precise production instructions.
• Solid knowledge of purchasing specifics, including figuring unit costs and calculating change requests.
• Working knowledge of procurement systems.
• A deep understanding of direct mail best practices and postal regulations.
• Ability to accurately estimate production times based on specifications and quantities needed.
• Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to perform effectively under pressure.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Knowledge of paper, stocks, weights, coatings, and the ability to understand visual outcomes based on ink configurations.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match.

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer.

We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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