Principal Production Designer

Principal Production Designer

Department: Product Design

Reports To: Creative Director, Design and Operations

Position Summary: Zaner-Bloser is seeking a Principal Production Designer with exceptional skills around print production file and asset management. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of production processes, superior software and technical troubleshooting skills, self-motivated, deadline-driven, and well-organized. This role will manage processes associated with all products within both the Reading and Supplemental portfolios, supporting print product development and creation of the digital assets associated with our customer-facing portals. This role will also support the errata processes associated with product lifecycle management. Interacts extensively with designers, learning designers, project managers, and vendors, monitoring team and vendor performance to ensure quality, consistency, schedule, and budget goals are achieved.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

* Manages the production processes for all new print product development and associated digital product requirements (portal files including epub development) in collaboration with the digital product team.

* Responsible for defining and documenting production processes and file-building standards across components. Collaborates with Visual Content Specialists to establish photo/art file requirements and standards.

* Manages internal team, freelancers, and/or production vendors, making project assignments, handling communication, quality review, contract creation, and invoice review and processing.

* Understands and defines accessibility (WCAG) requirements applied to production files. Communicates these needs to all team members in collaboration with project management.

* Collaborates across teams to identify production requirements, establish clear processes, and successfully implement to meet all production and schedule requirements.

* Supports Creative Director, Design and Operations with agreements, contracts, or retainers with outside resources.

* Coordinates design/production solutions across complex programs to ensure consistent application of visual concept across components.

* Monitors team and vendor performance, track progress, and provide feedback and coaching as needed.

* Remains well organized and prioritize workload to meet multiple project deadlines.

* Leads team to develop production templates, cover, and packaging files along the necessary written documentation to ensure that the approved design is accurately conveyed to production sources and printers. Establishes critical file preflight standards and monitors compliance.

* Reviews complete text/cover/packaging files based upon printer templates and file building guidelines.

* Provides Creative Director, Design and Operations with project status reports at regular intervals for current and upcoming projects.

* Experiments with new tools and innovative techniques to improve processes, efficiency, and product quality.

What you should show up ready to teach anyone on your first day:

* Expert level software skills utilizing Adobe Creative Suite.

* Extensive print product file-building, preflight, and technical troubleshooting skills.

* Ability to clearly define processes associated with print production and direct a team to consistently deliver error-free print production files on time and on budget with minimal direction.

* Collaboration skills necessary to train and support internal team of designers, production designers, and/or vendors.

* Strong, conceptual thinker who possesses a wide range of communication capabilities including oral, written, and presentation skills.

* Able to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects simultaneously with a high level of detail and accuracy.

Within your first month, you'll:

* Demonstrate outstanding production and problem-solving skills.

* Build Zaner-Bloser product and competitive market knowledge across product lines.

* Participate in product planning, production launches, and establishing production teams.

* Provide guidance within and across project teams to ensure product quality, budget and schedule goals are achieved.

Within your first year, you'll:

* Emerge as a reliable and knowledgeable resource within the design team, project teams, and cross functionally.

* Develop deep knowledge of Zaner-Bloser products and processes and exercise influence to extend impact quality and improve efficiency.

* Build expertise in Zaner-Bloser systems and platforms, such as WorkFront and Censhare, and leverage to build innovation and improve efficiency.

Supervisory Responsibilities: * Coaching, training, mentoring internal designers.

* Guiding vendors on Zaner-Bloser design and production best practices.

Education and Experience:

* Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design or Visual Communication, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

* 7+ years of experience within a product design/production team

* Previous experience in the educational publishing a plus.

Qualifications:

* Strong, conceptual thinker who possesses a wide range of communication capabilities.

* Ability to create and deliver error-free print product files on time and on budget with minimal direction.

* Effective oral and written communication and presentation skills.

* Highly proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office and the Mac Operating system

* Able to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects simultaneously with a high level of detail and accuracy.