Associate Director, Production
Spencer Gifts

Job Info

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Overview

Come work with us at Spencer's & Spirit Halloween, where you'll be working with the best and brightest colleagues as you help us deliver the most fun experience and product possible to our guests. We're fast-paced and take our work seriously, but we always have a good laugh at the end of the day. Walk through our stores or the halls of our corporate office and you'll see firsthand that we're laidback and irreverent. We're firm believers in being true to YOU, so tattoos and piercings are as common as watercooler convos. Whether it's critiquing our new exclusive costumes or quality testing newly implemented software technology, our teams understand the importance of working collaboratively to challenge status quo and achieve our goals. We keep pushing ourselves to go above and beyond and are looking for top talent to become a part of our team!

Responsibilities

Spirit Halloween, Spencer's is seeking a Associate Director, Production to manage all print/graphics production departments and third-party printers. The Associate Director will work closely with internal team members to minimize issues and create efficiencies and best practices for design and production to work cohesively and efficiently. The Associate Director will work to execute the company packaging and creative marketing initiatives.

Essential Job Duties:

• Analyze and review graphics production operations, identify items that can be improved, and develop processes/solutions. Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure the graphics production and design departments are working efficiently and streamlining procedures.
• Create efficiencies through standard operating procedures and best practices for all printing processes done by the graphics production teams. This may include the development of color proofing when applicable, file transfer process, print production processes, packaging, and shipping.
• Develop and prioritize project timelines and delivery of project files to third-party printers, vendors and overseas factories.
• Generate print estimates, manage internal timelines, monitor and maintain project budgets.
• Strong skills at tracking live project data and reporting to teams. Workload reassignment as necessary.
• Proven ability to manage multiple project timelines, a high volume of deliverables (over 1.5K packaging mechanicals in a 3 to 4-month timeframe) and consistently produce quality results.

• Track multiple deadlines for all product packaging needs utilizing a Product Lifecycle Management tool.
• Continually tracks project status and reports on progress with internal teams, Product Managers Merchants, PD, Creative Team, Photography Team, etc.
• Communicates with International vendors and factories to compile and verify packaging needs before delivering projects to creative team.
• Maintains databases, color standards, filing systems and archives for all packaging.
• Support Consumer Marketing teams with creation and distribution of in-store signage and other print assets.
• Overseeing and tracking day-to-day production workflows, ensuring processes are documented, efficient, streamlined, and that designs are produced at the highest quality
• Meet regularly with the leadership group to review project schedules and assign workloads for maximum efficiency while also ensuring deadlines are met in all phases of graphic production
• Develop new and maintain current vendor relationships by managing communication, overseeing and reviewing work quality, and facilitating issue resolution
• Provide a positive attitude and collaborative goals with direct reports as well as all internal teams in order to maintain the strength and culture of Spirit and Spencer's.
• Develop Key Performance Indicators that will measure progress and business practices that will sustain department improvements. Monitor and benchmark graphics production department with Corporate Imperatives scoring system to gauge and measure productivity and efficiency.
• Coordinate attendance of press checks as needed.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (Graphic Design, production, packaging).
• 10+ years with packaging design and print production a must
• Proven leader who is process oriented and has successfully managed creative teams
• Must be a collaborative team player with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Train and mentor staff on best practices and procedures to guarantee consistencies.
• Drive and champion new technologies, collaborations, and improved processes to define, leverage, and implement best production and delivery practices for improvements in quality, cost reduction, production time, and capacity.
• This position includes prepress work for print projects, including preflight formatting and collecting, processing, checking and downloading/uploading files to meet our high quality standards.
• Ensure accuracy and prepare projects for print production. Requires both a creative and technical skill set and the ability to work quickly and efficiently while maintaining attention to detail.
• Prepare final press-ready files based on supplied specifications for several types of printing, resolve any artwork issues that arise during production.
• Hands-on experience with graphic design software and image editing tools, proficiency in all applicable MAC software (Adobe Creative Suite, MS Office)
• Ability to follow along with a standardized workflow and procedures
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently
• Excellent time management and organization skills
• Ability to work both independently and cordially and effectively with other staff members and to take direction as necessary

• Fundamental knowledge of packaging substrates and package types. Including: clamshells, blister packs, polybags, corrugated primary cartons, folding cartons, header/insert cards, shippers and internal protective packaging.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as in a team environment.

You'll love this job if you're:

• Comfortable in a fast-paced, fluid environment. You think quickly on your feet!
• A strong communicator and collaborator. You work effectively with all members of the organization, from individual contributors to top executives.
• A packaging expert who loves the creative field. You love educating and informing others and you keep close tabs on current projects and industry trends.
• A talented leader. Your communication and management skills are unrivaled.

This job has expired.