DTP Operator - Print & Digital Artwork Specialist

IMA; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IMA is a creative agency seeking a DTP Operator to translate concepts into production-ready artwork across print and digital channels, ensuring pixel-perfect assets aligned to brand specs. You’ll prepare files, check bleeds, colour profiles, run QA, and collaborate with Designers, Account Managers and Producers to deliver accurate, scalable output.

Join a fast-paced team delivering consistent quality and scalable production workflows, with opportunities to optimise templates and master files for

Qualifications

• Experience as a design artworker or production artist in a creative environment.
• Advanced knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and print workflows.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce production-ready files.
• Excellent file management and versioning practices.
• Clear communication with non-technical stakeholders and collaborators.
• Experience with packaging dielines, spot varnish and foiling workflows.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and finalise artwork for print and digital channels (POS, shelf-talkers, packaging dielines, posters, banners and social assets).
• Produce print-ready files: check bleeds, colour profiles (CMYK/spot colours), trapping and overprint settings; troubleshoot with printers and production houses.
• Maintain organised, versioned files and deliver handover packs (PDFs, assets, fonts, specs) to internal and external teams.
• Build and maintain production templates and master files to ensure consistency across rollouts.
• Run QA on layouts, typography, image resolution and colour; incorporate feedback quickly while preserving file integrity.
• Collaborate with Designers, Account Managers and Producers to clarify briefs, estimate effort and meet deadlines.
• Advise on file optimisation and best practices for digital and print production.

Skills

Design artworker

Adobe Creative Suite

PDF/X knowledge

Print workflows

Quality control

File versioning

Cross-team collaboration

Tools

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Figma

Google Web Designer

Celtra

Job description

IMA is a creative agency with a simple purpose: to create connections people buy into, emotionally and literally. Through everything from advertising and media to packaging and retail activations, we deliver work that earns attention, builds relationships, and gives people a reason to choose your brand in the moments that matter.

The Role

As a DTP Operator you’ll translate creative concepts into production-ready artwork, ensuring every asset is pixel-perfect, print-ready and aligned to brand and technical specifications for flawless execution at scale.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Prepare and finalise artwork for print and digital channels (POS, shelf-talkers, packaging dielines, posters, banners and social assets).
• Produce print-ready files: check bleeds, colour profiles (CMYK/spot colours), trapping and overprint settings; troubleshoot with printers and production houses.
• Maintain organised, versioned files and deliver handover packs (PDFs, assets, fonts, specs) to internal and external teams.
• Build and maintain production templates and master files to ensure consistency across rollouts.
• Run QA on layouts, typography, image resolution and colour; incorporate feedback quickly while preserving file integrity.
• Collaborate with Designers, Account Managers and Producers to clarify briefs, estimate effort and meet deadlines.
• Advise on file optimisation and best practices for digital and print production.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience as a design artworker, prepress technician or production artist, ideally in a creative agency, retail or shopper marketing environment.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and strong knowledge of PDF/X, colour management and print workflows.
• Strong attention to detail and a track record of error-free, production-ready files.
• Excellent organisation, including clear version control and consistent file naming.
• Clear communication with non-technical stakeholders and effective cross-team collaboration.
• Experience with packaging dielines, spot varnish and foiling workflows.
• Familiarity with content management systems.
• Experience with Figma and Google Web Designer/HTML5 Banner Production using automation tools such as Celtra.

What You’ll Get From Us

• Grow your craft in a people-first creative agency working with leading brands.
• A collaborative culture that values and supports your attention to detail.
• Ownership of end-to-end production with clear impact on campaign delivery.
• Experience across both print and digital disciplines.

Our Values at IMA

• Own it - take responsibility when it matters.
• Build Trust - nurture honest, open, lasting relationships.
• Stay Hungry - stay curious, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.

These principles shape how we work—with each other, with clients, and with the world.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups in line with the company’s Employment Equity Plan.

Informed by human behaviour. Fuelled by creativity. Connected by data, media and digital. We are IMA.