Print Project Manager

Spectraforce Technologies; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is looking for a Creative Production Manager for an 18-month onsite role in Austin, TX. You will plan and execute integrated production across channels, ensuring brand consistency and coordinating with Brand, Marketing, Creative, Digital, and Media teams.

You will build production plans, manage budgets and external partners, enforce QA standards, and drive on-time launches. The ideal candidate has 2–5+ years in print production, experience with Workfront or Basecamp,

Qualifications

• 2-5+ years' experience managing print production with an agency or internal design team.
• Experience working with creative staff and studio production teams.
• Familiarity with Workfront or Basecamp.
• Ability to understand file construction and utilize Adobe PDF preview.
• Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite and ability to create or revise native files.
• Experience working on projects with third parties either on client or vendor side.
• Knowledge of Direct Mail best practices and Postal Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Brand, Marketing, Creative, Digital, and Media teams to plan and execute integrated production across channels ensuring consistency with brand standards.
• Build and maintain integrated production plans, including scopes, estimates, schedules, milestones, and dependencies; proactively identify risks and drive solutions to keep work on track.
• Own cross-channel delivery and asset handoffs to support timely launches and downstream trafficking to platforms/partners.
• Establish and enforce integrated QA standards across formats and ensure deliverables meet brand, legal/compliance, and channel requirements.
• Manage external production partners, including SOWs, bids, rights/usage, and deliverable acceptance-driving cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Designers and outside vendors to take projects from conception to fruition.
• Develop and lead promotional strategies for product launches and brand initiatives across channels.
• Monitor trends and best practices to inform promotional strategies.
• Negotiate costs and ensure quality of materials before delivery.
• Manage large budgets and advise internal partners of budgetary options as they relate to design deliverables.
• Develop production timelines and coordinate deliverables with outside print vendors.
• Be the ultimate owner of production QA, including file construction, image quality, color and typography.
• Understand vendor capabilities and direct competitive bid analysis.
• Develop template design programming to generate content on demand.
• Be the expert in Direct Mail practices and the data-driven content rendering.

Skills

Production management

Vendor management

Budgeting & cost control

Project scheduling

QA standards

Cross-functional collaboration

Direct mail knowledge

Tools

Workfront

Basecamp

Adobe Creative Suite

Peoplesoft

Ariba

Adobe PDF preview

Job description

Creative Production Manager

Duration: 18 months

Work schedule: Monday - Friday

Hours: 8AM - 5PM

Location: Onsite 4 days weekly Austin, TX

What you'll do:

• Partner with Brand, Marketing, Creative, Digital, and Media teams to plan and execute integrated production across channels ensuring consistency with brand standards.
• Build and maintain integrated production plans, including scopes, estimates, schedules, milestones, and dependencies; proactively identify risks and drive solutions to keep work on track.
• Own cross-channel delivery and asset handoffs (specifications, naming conventions, versioning, and final file packages) to support timely launches and downstream trafficking to platforms/partners.
• Establish and enforce integrated QA standards across formats (color/typography, accessibility, functional testing, proofs, and preflight) and ensure deliverables meet brand, legal/compliance, and channel requirements.
• Manage external production partners (studios, retouchers, developers, printers, and fulfillment vendors), including SOWs, bids, rights/usage, and deliverable acceptance-driving cost efficiency without sacrificing quality.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Designers and outside vendors to take projects from conception to fruition.
• Develop and lead promotional strategies for product launches, seasonal campaigns, and brand initiatives across various channels.
• Monitor competitive trends and industry best practices to inform innovative promotional strategies.
• Work with outside vendors to engineer the project and advise the design/production department of specifics regarding file construction and delivery. Negotiate costs and ensure quality of materials before delivery.
• Manage large budgets and advise internal partners of budgetary options as they relate to design deliverables.
• Manage the project specifications for various deliverables and align schedules internally and externally to ensure delivery milestones are met.
• Develop and track all production timelines for internal partner needs and coordinate various deliverables with outside print vendors.
• Be the ultimate owner of production QA, managing elements around file construction, image quality, resolution, color, fonts, paper stock, design construction, mailing and fulfillment.
• Understanding current vendors, capabilities and easily assessing specific vendor pools to direct competitive bid analysis.
• Work with vendors to develop template design programming to generate content on demand that can be personalized.
• Be the expert in Direct Mail practices and constraints. Understand the connection between data files and variable content rendered with the xml transfer.
• Develop and track all production timelines for internal client's needs and coordinating various deliverables with outside print vendors. Develop and implement cost-saving measures.

Requirements:

• 2-5+ years' experience managing print production with an agency or internal design team.
• Experience working with creative staff and studio production teams.
• Familiarity with creative workflow systems such as Workfront or Basecamp.
• Ability to understand file construction and utilize Adobe PDF preview.
• Fluency in Adobe Creative suite and ability to create or revise native files, including creation and revising of PowerPoint decks.
• Experience working on Projects with third parties either on the client or vendor side.
• Expertise in writing Production Specifications that translate file information into production instructions.
• Knowledge of paper, stocks, weights, coatings and the ability to understand visual outcomes based on ink configurations a plus.
• Knowledge of purchasing specifics, figuring unit costs and calculating change requests.
• Working knowledge of procurement systems such as Peoplesoft or Ariba, or other purchasing instruments.
• Understanding of Direct Mail best practices and Postal Regulations.
• Ability to estimate production times based upon specifications and quantities needed.
• Strong attention to detail. Ability to work well under pressure.