Creative Production Associate Manager

Fuse is a full-service marketing agency based in Winooski, Vermont that creates authentic brand engagements for teens and young adults. Fuse specializes in planning and executing sports, sampling, campus, culture, and customer marketing programs. Named one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont, Fuse believes that life should be a balance of creating great work and making first chair on a powder day.

We foster a creative environment that encourages people to share insights and inspiration. If this sounds like a lifestyle made for you, then Fuse wants to hear from you.

Fuse specializes in sports, sampling campus, and lifestyle marketing. We work with top-tier brands to concept and execute impactful work that captivates and engages young audiences. We are looking for a talented Creative Production Associate Manager to join our team and help elevate our marketing efforts.

Fuse offers a hybrid working environment. Fuse employees are welcome to work remotely 2 days per week (Wednesday and Friday) and work in the Winooski, Vermont headquarters on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to collaborate with coworkers and clients. At this time we are only interviewing candidates based in or willing to relocate to Vermont within driving distance of the office.

The person in this role is responsible for helping create innovative marketing materials that match youth-focused, music, fashion, and cultural marketing initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to, print designs, sourcing promotional items, mobile marketing vehicles, and items for events and trade shows. The Creative Production Associate Manager works with both internal and external clients as well as outside vendors involved in production.

The candidate must have experience managing the production of marketing materials, working with both internal and external clients, and coordinating with outside vendors. The ability to juggle multiple ongoing projects is crucial in our fast-paced work environment.

• Develop (and assist in developing) proposals and estimates for production items. This includes:
  • Gathering project objectives and goals from the client
  • Proficiency with creative services traffic management
  • Developing or expanding on ideas for production of marketing materials (such as premium items, brochures, event items, vehicles, etc.)
  • Generating ideas through brainstorming, meetings, research, or other methods
  • Developing options and costs for marketing materials, including sourcing expenses from multiple vendors.
  • Creating visual mockups of options
  • Developing budgets and schedules for production

• Present professionally prepared and formatted production proposals and estimates to internal or external clients.

• Participate in project kick-off meetings and coordinate with group account staff, directors, New Business staff, Fuse partners, HR, Ops, and finance personnel. Additionally, lead the “production management” segment of each project kickoff meeting.

• Oversee the creation of client-approved marketing materials.

• Collaborate closely with production vendors and both in-house and external designers on all production and design projects that need production support.

• Provide timely and thorough project updates to your internal clients (Fuse managers, supervisors, and directors) and/or external clients through weekly status meetings, written weekly reports, and daily updates.

• Oversee budgets for all production projects and invoice project expenses and fees when applicable.

• Coordinate internal, client, and vendor meetings, including creating agendas and preparing follow-up notes (level of detail varies depending on meeting importance).

• Bachelor’s Degree required, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 2+ years of relevant Creative Services experience
• Intermediate knowledge of graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop for mockup and logo placement use
• Sound understanding of general business and agency business practice
• Experience in youth and alternative sports marketing programs (preferred)
• Understanding vendor processes for print, promotional, event items, and custom vehicle vendors.
• Demonstrated project file traffic management skills and experience
• Knowledge of printing processes
• Ability to identify and produce professional, error-free business documents and project reports, and assist staff in achieving this standard.
• Ability to manage organized and error-free project budgets
• Ability to negotiate beneficial contracts and other relationships
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work to successfully complete projects on time.
• Possesses verbal and written communication skills to convey complex project details to supervisors, associates, vendors, and clients.
• Experience interacting and communicating across business divisions within an organization is a plus
• The role requires the ability to work with minimal supervision on a weekly basis. Major business successes, challenges, and lessons learned, as well as…