Print Producer

INNOCEAN•Huntington Beach, CA

5d•$75,000 - $78,000•Hybrid

About The Position

INNOCEAN USA, a full-service ad agency, is seeking a Print Producer to manage all aspects of Hyundai’s print advertising needs, including print ads, out-of-home, point-of-sale (pre-press), collateral, and direct mail. This role involves supervising time, quality, scope, and cost to ensure client satisfaction. The Print Producer will be the lead contact for assigned projects, collaborating with Account, Creative, Art Buyer, and Studio teams to gather necessary assets within specifications, budget, and timelines. They will also work with Project Managers to maintain schedules and status reports.

Requirements

3 years of Print Production experience from an ad agency, in-house client, or print vendor.
Passion for, and in-depth knowledge of pre-press and print production needed.
Experience and knowledge of process color reproduction is necessary.
Leadership experience with a multifaceted and busy team greatly encouraged.
Project and client management skills
Ability to manage finances on large-scale work with multiple external vendors and internal billable resources.
Working knowledge of these technologies: Microsoft Office, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and printing presses.

Nice To Haves

Automotive experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Leads and drives assigned print projects from start to finish.
Functions as primary Account contact on assigned projects and attends project meetings.
For print ads: Reviews media buy and creative rotation against client signed estimate and obtains approval for cost overages as required.
For out-of-home: Works with media vendors and installers to confirm concept has required permits prior to production as required.
For point-of-sale: Works in partnership with client’s contract print vendor to supply element list and print ready files as required.
For direct mail: Manages vendor relationships, acquiring paper samples, paper dummies, ink drawdowns, pre-press, print, lettershop, QC and fulfillment. Works with supplier and USPS for approvals.
Attends vendor press checks and fulfillment quality inspections as required.
Ensures client satisfaction with completed product.
Guides significant project documentation creation.
Retains key project records (soft and hard) and functions as project historian for use in future projects, training and internal/external audits.
Coordinates with and utilizes internal team members and vendors.
Structures plan for needed resources and allocation.
Elevates Issues to Print Production Supervisor, VP, Studio Director and Creative Director as needed, and keeps him/her fully informed before issues escalate to high-risk levels.
Drafts, reviews, and adjusts project process as needed for department evolution and project/workplace improvement.
Assists Print Production Supervisor with project evaluations, initial cost estimates, workload balancing, timeframe, complexity, and job assignments.
Improves team performance by building team cohesiveness, leading, mentoring, training, and motivating in order to facilitate cooperation, ensure efficiency and boost morale.
Ensures that project process and timing requirements are met and adhered to as required by various team members (creatives, account, product information).
Summarizes and proposes solutions to core challenges that the team may face.
Maintains expertise in the pre-press and print medium: Participates in new vendor evaluations, reviewing equipment list, samples and plant tours or in-house presentations as required.
Evaluates vendors on project performance to continually improve performance.
Attends relevant industry events such as paper shows, vendor showcases and local ad club meetings.
Communicates to and manages collaboration with cross-disciplinary supporting departments.
Defines project scope, timing, budget, estimate and guarantees meeting those definitions within agreed variance.
Reviews and approves invoices for payment against purchase orders following client and IWA procedures.
Cuts purchase orders to vendors in compliance with client signed estimate and IWA procedures.
Functions as contact for client’s cost consulting company and meets audit requirements on assigned projects.