Manager, Production Design (National Geographic)

Disney Cruise Line - The Walt Disney Company; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Medical benefits

Long-term incentives

Job summary

National Geographic Magazine seeks a lead print production professional to guide a team of specialists across multiple magazine brands. You will manage schedules, proofs, and release readiness while ensuring design integrity and production excellence.

You will collaborate with Design, Editorial, Photo, and vendor partners to resolve issues, maintain standards, and drive efficiency across publications. A strong background in InDesign and project management is essential to succeed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in print production, magazine publishing, or related media environments.
• Experience leading teams and managing complex production workflows.
• Advanced expertise in Adobe InDesign and print production processes.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of production specialists.
• Oversee production schedules, proofing cycles, and release readiness; ensure files meet technical specs.
• Partner with Design, Editorial, Photo, Graphics, and vendors to resolve issues.
• Maintain production standards, workflows, and quality control processes.
• Drive operational improvements and production efficiency across publications.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Publishing, Communications, or related field

Advanced degree in Publishing, Graphic Design, Production Management, or related discipline

Tools

Adobe InDesign

K4 publishing system

Job description

Lead the print production team supporting National Geographic Magazine, Kids/Little Kids, Bookazines, and History publications, ensuring efficient workflows, high-quality output, and on-time release while maintaining design integrity and production excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of production specialists.
• Oversee production schedules, proofing cycles, and release readiness. Ensure files meet technical, prepress, and printer specifications.
• Partner with Design, Editorial, Photo, Graphics, and vendors to resolve issues.
• Maintain production standards, workflows, and quality control processes.
• Drive operational improvements and production efficiency across publications.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in print production, magazine publishing, or related media environments.
• Experience leading teams and managing complex production workflows.
• Advanced expertise in Adobe InDesign and print production processes.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multiple publication brands or product lines.
• Knowledge of publishing workflow systems such as K4.
• Experience with printer/vendor management and release processes.
• Understanding of color correction, retouching, and image reproduction standards.
• Proven success improving workflows and production operations.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Publishing, Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education

• Advanced degree or specialized training in Publishing, Graphic Design, Production Management, or a related discipline.

The hiring range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $115,500 to $154,800 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.