Print Production Manager

Do you love good design? Do you believe the world needs more inspiration? Bring your love of high quality printing and book production to a nonprofit organization that is growing rapidly because we inspire people every day. Letterform Archive is seeking an experienced and exceptional prepress and production management professional to support our ongoing growth in publishing. Reporting to the publisher, the production manager is responsible for prepress color correction and file preparation, and managing the production process from exploratory quotes to finished books.

 

About Letterform Archive
Letterform Archive is a nonprofit center for inspiration, education, and community. We offer hands-on access to a curated collection of over 100,000 items related to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design. Every year, we serve thousands around the world, including students, practitioners, and design enthusiasts. In addition to hosting visits, exhibits,  and public events, the Archive serves our global community through social media and an online archive featuring state-of-the-art photography. For more about us, explore our website: letterformarchive.org.

 

About Letterform Archive Books
Distributed in the trade by Artbook/DAP, Letterform Archive Books publishes exquisite books and gift products on graphic design, typography, and lettering, drawing from the collection and its talented community to tell rich stories with exceptional reproduction and unique design.

The production manager will collaborate closely with the publishing team and its vendors to create exemplary, visually driven books and print products that tell the story of graphic design — from exhibition catalogs to contemporary monographs, from deep dives into design movements to splendid dimensional gift titles.

This is a dream position for a book professional looking to establish and scale high production standards and efficient workflows for a growing art book publisher. An ideal candidate will have served at least five years in a production manager role with an illustrated trade book publisher, with demonstrated abilities in retouching and color correction, producing ambitious print packages, negotiating competitive prices, and overseeing all logistics of production, from pricing to proofing to shipping.

As production manager at an institution devoted to the history of graphic design and typography, this role calls for enthusiasm and respect for both design and printing history, as well as a willingness to collaborate and work iteratively, demonstrated technical strengths, and an ability to adapt in a dynamic environment with many moving parts and players.

 

 

Principle Responsibilities

Prepress

– Perform QC and retouching of digital artwork for the list, matching color to original artifacts when needed and generally ensuring a high reproduction standard, and managing freelance retouchers and proofing personnel when appropriate.
– Inspect all loose color, page proofs, and plotters.
– Lead the charge in exploring new print formats, identifying potential new vendors, and researching paper stocks and production finishes.
– Work proactively with designers to identify and address color and layout issues before going to press, and communicate and troubleshoot issues with print vendors.
– Traffic all press files, from wet proofs and cover tests to final press-ready PDFs.
– Consult on optimizing image capture and digitization processes for print.
– Manage final file storage and implement proper file naming and archival protocols.

 

Production Management
– Manage the production of over 30 projects a year, ranging from artist monographs, exhibition catalogs, and facsimile editions and prints to postcard decks, journals, instructional guides, and limited-edition artist collaborations.
– Manage relationships with printers, shipping partners, and other production freelancers/vendors, both internationally and locally.
– Negotiate competitive pricing and help maintain high quality standards within budgets.
– Manage production schedules and communicate print deadlines.
– Coordinate international shipping and delivery of all book product to designated facilities, including reprints and stock transfers.
– Perform or oversee receipt of shipments.
– Assist in the production of marketing and exhibition print collateral, as needed.

 

Collaborative Responsibilities
– Participate in team acquisitions and pipeline strategy.
– Coordinate with the collections team on digitization needs for the book program.
– Collaborate with the design and editorial teams in the ideation of new formats, trim sizes, and production effects.

 

Archive Responsibilities
– Develop familiarity with the Archive’s holdings and fluency in our mission.
– Help publicize Archive programs, publications, and services.
– Attend and provide support at periodic Archive events.

 

Minimum Qualifications

– 5+ years’ experience in a similar role at a trade publisher of highly visual books.
– Passion for or expertise in an area of specialization appropriate to our collections (e.g., graphic design, book arts, typography, lettering, etc.).
– Demonstrated strengths in Adobe Suite (including InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat), as well as familiarity with proofing software.
– Experience in operating and maintaining an inkjet proofing printer.
– Resourcefulness and budget conscientiousness.
– Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially with overseas vendors.
– Exceptional organization and time management skills.
Bachelor’s degree.

 

Ideal Characteristics

– Curious about design history and eager to obtain hands-on learning from our collection.
– Team player and willing collaborator.
– Highly detail-oriented.
– Committed to high standards in print.
– Flexible and comfortable in a rapidly changing environment.
– Willing to tackle a variety of projects, including new challenges.
– Some experience working in a museum or library setting is a plus.

 

Physical Demands
The production manager will regularly be required to perform desk-based computer tasks, including using a computer screen for long periods of time, typing, and making phone calls. They may also occasionally be required to move items weighing up to 10 pounds or push and maneuver a fully-loaded book truck weighing up to 60 pounds. If needed, the Archive will provide reasonable accommodations to an employee with a disability to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
To ensure the health and safety of the Archive’s community, all newly hired employees of Letterform Archive are required to be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions for medical, religious, or other reasons in accordance with all applicable laws.

 

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination
Letterform Archive is an equal opportunity workplace, community, and place of learning. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. The Archive does not discriminate in employment or in offering educational services and programs. Learn more.

 

Position Type, Schedule, and Location
This is a full-time, exempt position working 40 hours per week during the Archive’s normal office hours in addition to nights and weekends as required. It is onsite at Letterform Archive’s offices in San Francisco 3-4 days per week; work-from-home days are as agreed with your supervisor.

 

Compensation and Benefits
The pay rate for this role is between $90,000 and $110,000 per year depending on candidate experience and qualifications.

Letterform Archive offers the following benefits to all full-time employees:

– Medical, dental, and vision coverage with subsidized dependent coverage.
– Three weeks of Paid Time Off each year with incentive accrual up to four weeks per year.
– 10 paid holidays per year.
– Sick leave.
– Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
– 401(k) retirement plan.
– Pre-tax commuter benefit.
– Annual professional development budget.
– Complimentary Archive membership, and waived tuition to Archive workshops.

 

You’ll be surrounded by — and able to interact with — beautiful, meaningful materials from the Archive’s collection, as well as a diverse and dynamic community of those who love letters and design. Your colleagues will be a small group of people who are passionate about the organization and eager to share their enthusiasm through their work.

 

How to Apply
Please apply by submitting a résumé and a short cover letter explaining your interest in this position by Tuesday, November 5, 2024. You may address your cover letter to the “hiring team” and it should be no more than one page. The most effective cover letters explain your interest in the Archive and this position, and make clear how your qualifications match this role’s responsibilities.

 

Letterform Archive is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance applying or have questions about accommodations during the hiring process, please email hr@letterformarchive.org.