Creative Project Manager

About the role

As a Project Manager, you will be the key liaison between our clients and our Creative/Production team. You will manage projects including scheduling, estimating, obtaining job detail information, job tracking, and invoicing. This role requires proactive problem-solving, ultra-organizational skills, and a commitment to account satisfaction and service excellence.

The Project Manager will oversee the day-to-day execution and optimization of Creative Services projects, assessing marketing needs, determining goals, and coordinating projects while resolving and escalating issues and barriers.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary day-to-day liaison between clients and internal creative and production teams.
• Apply a broad knowledge of catalog/retail, packaging, and print production workflows.
• Manage projects, including scheduling, estimating, obtaining job detail information, and invoicing.
• Establish and promote excellent customer service through effective and proactive communications to inform clients and stakeholders on project status.
• Assemble appropriate resources and departments required to successfully implement customer campaigns.
• Enter and track a high volume of data related to work components and updates in the client project tracking system.
• Effectively manage multiple timelines and projects at various stages of the project life cycle.
• Peer-proof creative to ensure accuracy of specifications.
• Lead day-to-day management and optimization of projects, entering specifications using job management software, and ensure proper priority is given to each job to meet client expectations.
• Demonstrate understanding in each area of Creative Services, including design, print production, and prepress.
• Attend and set relevant client meetings, production, and project management status calls, bringing in appropriate resources from Creative Services as needed.
• Maintain contact with clients and print production to set project milestones, create project estimates, track schedules, advise on job progress, scheduling concerns, and requests for additional information or materials.
• Maintain pre-set deadlines and produce innovative design while understanding and adhering to client budgets for individual projects.
• Track and report on quality metrics and strategize with the client to develop customer loyalty.
• Train other employees as needed.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent working experience.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in project management or comparable experience with progressively expanding responsibilities.

Skills

• Background in the premedia and/or print industry strongly preferred.
• Excellent Mac computer skills; ability to learn new programs and provide basic troubleshooting.
• Proactive, collaborative, driven, and committed to excellence in task execution.
• Experience utilizing continuous improvement tools to create and track metrics.
• Complete understanding of the “Big Picture” to problem-solve, analyze potential solutions, and use sound judgment for business decisions.
• Ability to interpret and understand clients’ expectations and guide creative and production teams.
• Strong project management, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Proven track record with strong and effective client relationships and solution delivery.
• Superior presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to listen for understanding.
• Ability to manage multiple projects across multiple timelines in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; experience working with cross-functional teams, internally and client-side.
• Ability to anticipate client needs to serve the client and increase volume and profitability.
• Knowledge of administrative software, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Access; basic working knowledge of design or development software (Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat).
• Ability to work independently and manage high volumes of information during high-stress situations.
• Excellence in interpersonal skills, especially in consensus and team-building situations, with strong problem-solving skills.

Pay

RRD's current salary range for this role is $68,500 to $106,900 per year. The salary range may be adjusted based on the applicable geographic location of the hired employee and may change in the future. Compensation decisions may vary based on education, skills, experience, proficiency, performance, shift, and location.

Depending on the role, the total compensation package may also include participation in a bonus, commission, or incentive program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Disability insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Life insurance and other voluntary supplemental insurance coverages.
• Parental leave.
• Adoption assistance.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employer/partner discounts.