Production Specialist

BASIC PURPOSE

Responsible for printing, packaging, and delivery of print collateral for the marketing department via NCL's creative group. Monitors the progress of the production process. Meets with clients to discuss their specific goals, handle pre-production, and supervise the printing process. Ensure the products are as specified by the customer and meet company standards.

• Responsible for working with business partners, project management and marketing services teams to coordinate complete print production and promotional items manufacturing processes for assigned accounts.
• Coordinate all aspects of the production process including verifying artwork specifications and transfer to the vendor, secure creative and business owner approvals, troubleshoot, QC and all remaining aspects of the manufacturing cycle for the successful execution of printed materials for assigned accounts.
• Work with business owners and purchasing department to develop specs and establish production timelines.
• Coordinate the bidding process, including creation, review of estimates, issuance of purchase orders, logistics and billing reconciliation for projects and have management review. Organize and archive records.
• Upload art and specs to  for Purchasing to produce.
• Explore new production materials, options regularly.
• Organize resources - paper, material, signage, and printed samples.
• Identify and recommend appropriate vendor support to include letter shop, fulfillment, and print vendors based on project needs.
• Responsible for creating project documentation for accuracy and prepare job instructions for external vendor processing.
• Work with Traffic to develop print production timelines and ensure timely delivery.
• Facilitate weekly meetings with MSRs, Production and Traffic as needed to identify priority projects and action plans to ensure meeting project deadlines.
• Perform other job-related functions as assigned.

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Arts, Production or related field or equivalent work experience.

Minimum 3 years of production and project management experience in an advertising agency or in‑house design/production studio.

• Outstanding hands‑on print production, proofing, quality control, organization, asset management and pre‑press skills.
• Intermediate skills in the Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat) to make changes in pre‑press.
• Experience with prepress techniques, mechanical file preparation, and some retouching.
• Understanding of brand standards; overall QC for printability, including accuracy, clarity, content, registration, and color.
• Understanding of specification and printing standards for 4/cp, digital, offset, web printing.
• Thorough knowledge of the print production environment (i.e., sheetfed/web offset printing, rotogravure, flexography, screen, and digital printing), logistics processes and requirements, letter shop, personalization processes, direct mail, postal guidelines, materials management, and fulfillment operations.
• Strong financial and budgeting management.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to deliver presentations, express recommendations and produce reports.