PrePress and Print Production Contractor (Fall 2026 issue)

Cal Alumni Association•Berkeley, CA

23d•$5,000 - $5,000•Remote

About The Position

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) is seeking a PrePress and Print Production Contractor for the Fall 2026 issue of California magazine. This role involves working closely with the Design Director and editorial team to ensure the accurate and timely production of print editions. The contractor will be responsible for ensuring all files meet design standards, are high quality, and are ready for printing. This is a contract position for the two months of production leading up to press, with the possibility of renewal on a quarterly basis. The contractor will serve as the main point of contact between the Design Director and the printing partner, Quad, and will also collaborate with marketing and business development departments for ad and content inclusion. The work can be done remotely within the United States, with meetings and deadlines based on the Pacific Time Zone. The CAA values diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and seeks candidates who demonstrate an understanding of diverse backgrounds.

Requirements

2+ years print production experience, preferably working for a magazine
Strong understanding of prepress and print industry standards
Software fluency in graphics programs (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat)
Ability to meet deadlines under pressure
Must have flexibility in work schedule to permit occasional evening and weekend commitments during print production
Availability and flexibility in work schedule during late June to late August
Ability to participate in weekly virtual editorial meetings

Responsibilities

Manages the preflight/prepress processes for all ads, inserts, and editorial content
Creates template-based layouts for several back-of-book pages
Creates page (InDesign) files to place ads and inserts
Creates organized folders on Google Drive for ads and insert pages
Creates the map for each issue
Pours final editorial copy as needed to determine word count
Circulates final layouts to the Design Director and editorial team for approval
Makes edits on the InDesign files and maintains the files on the server
Circulates proofs to the Design Director and editorial team for approval
Processes all images, places final images in InDesign files, and uploads them to Quad
Uploads press ready PDFs to Quad
Creates and exports text files of final editorial content and the cover for web publishing
Creates issue PDFs for web publishing, awards, and promotion
Assists with image research as needed
Other duties as assigned