Senior Manager, Prepress Engineering

About the position

The mandate of the Pre-Press team is to translate card designs to beautiful, error-free, and quality-checked forms that are ready for press. Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a Sr. Manager of Prepress Engineering to oversee a team of specialists bridging the gap between Creative and Prepress production. The ideal candidate is a technical and organized self-starter who brings deep operational and leadership experience in the Creative/Prepress process, full understanding of the intricacies involved in Prepress file preparation, as well as a vast knowledge of trading card manufacturing. Candidates with a passion for sports and entertainment will likely find themselves a strong cultural fit.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of Production Designers, Graphic Productions Artists and Prepress Mastering to convert Creative concepts into Prepress execution
• Oversee creation of all program Engineering packets; providing visual reference for engineering, pre-press and manufacturing
• In partnership with all stakeholders, develop and implement standards across Prepress Engineering teams
• Establish consistent templates for how design files are ingested into Prepress utilizing common layers and organization to maximize automation
• Work cross-functionally with Creative, Prepress, and project management to ensure the timely execution of incoming designs and prioritization of programs
• Assist Creative with the development of print production separations to maximize printability - execution of white plates, die cuts, foil stamping/cold foils, spot color interaction with design elements and substrates
• Introduce, test, and implement evolving methods for automation, emerging print technology and process improvement across direct and downstream teams

Requirements

• Proven experience (10 years) in Creative, Prepress or Manufacturing leadership role
• Strong understanding of prepress and print production processes
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and collaborative abilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
• Expert level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat) and Microsoft Excel
• Automation skills a plus