About Mile Marker:

Mile Marker is the preeminent, end to end media agency deliberately built for the ambitions of growth marketers. We provide an unmatched range of capabilities, simplified access to data profiles and a carefully layered technology stack that holds accountable our media plans, and the humans that develop them, to deliver measurable, impactful business outcomes with true integrity. Mile Marker’s client roster includes FreshPet, DoorDash, Webster Bank, and Harry’s, among others. For more information, go to www.milemarkeragency.com.

Position Summary:

The Manager, Print Production, provides support to the Client Solutions teams by overseeing the execution of print production and mailing jobs for our Clients’ tangible media campaigns, ensuring optimized spend. This is a hybrid role with Mile Marker headquartered in New York City, and reports into the Director, Print Production, within the Print COE.

Responsibilities

• Work closely within Print COE and with Client Solutions teams to understand client needs and goals as relates to print production and mailing services
• Engage with vetted print production, lettershop and mailing vendors to execute production and mailing jobs.
• Follow established SOPs to initiate all production execution jobs, track various milestones through job completion, including review, reconciliation and processing of vendor invoices, all through Asana.
• Develop and source multiple print quotes (minimum triple bid) that may include various formats, numerous creative versions, lot sizes and commingling on-press for split testing, either for a specific production job or to provide pricing for prospecting efforts
• Check pricing against previous relevant quotes to determine if further negotiation is needed and act accordingly to ensure best pricing to clients; work with Director as needed to finalize pricing before presenting to Client Solutions team
• Provide accurate calculations for grossed up commissionable costs, plate costs based on coding or lasering and versioning, packaging/cartoning costs, estimated freight and postage costs and any other costs related to the execution process to aid Client Solutions team in supplying Production ATB to Client
• Work with vendors to develop preliminary production and/or mailing schedules based on target in-market/in-home campaign dates and finalize schedule once job is confirmed and Production ATB is signed by Client
• Along with the Director, monitor critical deadlines related to production execution process and follow up with Client Solutions team if deadlines are in jeopardy of being missed
• Collaborate with Client Solutions team in trafficking and reviewing of files and proofs to ensure all necessary creative and data sign-offs and mail file quantities by segment are approved prior to going on press
• Work with Director to structure print grids to maximize efficiency for each job
• Work with Client Solutions team and Director to coordinate and gang-run print jobs for multiple advertisers using the same format for print efficiencies
• Assist Director in monitoring vendor adherence to quality expectations, tight deadlines and budget specifications
• Work with Director to translate basic design concepts into appropriate layouts for printing
• For new Clients or formats new to the Client, work with Director to provide necessary information for production proposals including proposed formats, creative samples, production techniques, budget and any additional information to achieve Client objectives
• Provide paper samples, mocked-up samples, print templates and creative layouts upon request
• Attend press checks when necessary
• Work with Director to continuously identify and implement production and mailing best practices across the organization
• Consider and implement ways to improve on lead times
• Continuously look for ways to achieve savings for Clients
• Act as back-up when Director is out of office

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years print production and mailing experience and internal/external relationship management
• Strong relationships with industry vendors and proven ability to negotiate and secure efficient pricing
• Knowledge in Web, Mini Web and Sheet fed Press operations, variable data printing technology
• Experience with Direct Mail envelope, catalog and self-mailer format and/or various single sheet and multi-panel Insert formats
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets and working with complicated data files including segmentation
• Strong negotiating skills a priority
• Some understanding of current postal regulations and freight best practices a plus
• Experience with Asana or similar project management platforms a plus
• High attention to detail
• Strong problem solving and project management skills